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 165 of 215
Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 158
Early New High German
p. 158auch dieser Naturgemessen doctrin, welche Ich in gegenwertigen Tractatu handele / nicht zuwieder lauten / est enim Veritas semper & vbiq; sibi consona; das ist wol gewiß vnd vnfehlbar. Lasset einen solchen ankommen / so wollen wir es hören / vmb welche zeit es ist.
Lieben / höret doch (reveren-ter) eine tapffere Lügen / die etliche Leute vnuerschambt dörffen auff die Bahn bringen / in deme sie ernstlich vorgeben / sie wollen / zum krefftigen beweis wahrer Materiæ LAPIDIS Philosophorum, mit jhrer noch rohen materia, die sie für die Rechte materiam des STEINS der Weisen aus vnd angeben / allbereit die vnteren Metalla in die obern bestendig transmutiren, vnd also schon eine prob des Goldmachens thuen. Ist dis nicht ein grewlicher Schus?
Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum: Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum
p. 158— also not sound contrary to this Nature-conforming doctrine which I handle in the present Treatise; for Truth is always and everywhere consonant with itself: that is indeed certain and infallible. Let such a one come forward, and we will hear it, and what o’clock it is.
Dear people, hear now (with reverence) a stout Lie which certain folk are shameless enough to dare to bring upon the course: in that they earnestly give out that they will, for a forcible proof of the true Materia of the LAPIS Philosophorum, with their still raw materia — which they give out and declare to be the Right materia of the STONE of the Wise — already transmute the lower Metals lastingly into the upper, and so already make a proof of gold-making. Is this not a hideous shot?
Socrates
Reading Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 158
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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.