Diotimos Library · Renaissance Collection · Bilingual Edition
Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum
The 1599 German text with a new English translation, introduction, glossary, and notes.
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English Page · Branch 148 of 215
Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 141
Early New High German
p. 141vorbedacht / damniren vnnd ausschreiben möchtet. Ich habe es von den Propheten vnd Aposteln CHRISTI / ja vom HERRN selbst / aus heiliger Biblischer Schrifft (wie / GOTT lob / gnugsamb zu erweisen ist) also gelernet. Zu deme / so kan ich auch den Papisten / Lutheranern / Caluinisten vnd anderen / einem jeden aus seiner Theologen Schrifften / dergleichen similium sehr sehr viel exempla / auff den Nothfall / vorstellen. Was woltet jhr euch dann zeihen / mich viel zu vexieren. Turpe est Doctori, cum culpa redarguit ipsum.
Meine Beweisungen seind nicht nur allein gegründet auff Papierne Bücher / Eines oder des Andern scribenten; noch auff blosses wehnen; sondern vielmehr vernünfftig (wie auch des aller ersten Philosophi / der niemals
Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum: Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum
p. 141-thought. I have learned it so from the Prophets and Apostles of CHRIST, yea from the LORD himself, out of holy Biblical Scripture — as, GOD be praised, can be sufficiently demonstrated. Besides which, I can also set before the Papists, Lutherans, Calvinists and the rest — to each out of the Writings of his own Theologians — very, very many examples of the like similitudes, against the case of need. What would ye then accuse yourselves of, by vexing me so much? Turpe est Doctori, cum culpa redarguit ipsum.
My Demonstrations are founded not upon Paper Books alone, of one writer or another; nor upon bare supposing; but rather reasonably — as also was that of the very first Philosopher, who never
Socrates
Reading Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 141
Ask about a concept, passage, contradiction, or connection.
Socrates will begin with this book and its sources.About This Reading Edition
Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum argues that alchemy has one universal subject, that this subject cannot be extracted from the metals, and that nothing in the work can begin without recognizing it. This complete reader begins with the supplied seven-part introduction and orientation, then presents every printed page of the 1599 German treatise opposite its new English translation.
Historical Text and Translation
The German reading text is a fresh diplomatic transcription from 600 dpi images of the Magdeburg copy printed by Johann Bötcher in 1599. It preserves Khunrath’s capitalization, word division, authorial marginal keys, glosses, errata, and three unnumbered closing pages: the errata leaf, owl emblem, and colophon.
About Diotimos Editions
Diotimos Editions prepared the new English translation, introduction, notes, glossary, collation, and editorial apparatus. The translation follows Khunrath directly, retaining his technical vocabulary, changes of register, repetitions, rhetorical questions, and distinctions between German, Latin, and coined terms.
Rights
Heinrich Khunrath’s 1599 German work is in the public domain. The 2026 English translation, introduction, notes, glossary, editorial arrangement, and related matter are original to this edition and remain © 2026 Diotimos.