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 179 of 215
Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 172
Early New High German
p. 172Arbeiten / was dieselben herfüro bringen vnd dich lehren / beneben rechtem Philosophischen Nachdencken / nicht auch darbey sein oder ist. Was sol man thun? Ich mus bekennen / man trage (aus Christlicher erbarmung) schier bil-liger / mit solchen elenden / groben / tölpischen Thieren vnd verworrenen köpffen / mitleiden / als das man sich mit jnē hefftig solte zancken vnd viel schelten. Quô fugiam, linguas vt effugiam? Attamen Caballus generosus non curat latratus insequentis catelli. Idem & Ego faciam, in Nomine DOMINI.
Ein solcher Artista, der in vnd mit MAGNESIA Philosophorum CATHOLICA laboriret, suchet freylich aus gar gutem gewissen grunde des LIECHTS der NATVR den LAPIDEM Philosophorum VNIVERSALEM:
Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum: Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum
p. 172Works — what these bring forth and teach thee — are not there beside it, together with right Philosophical Reflection. What is one to do? I must confess that one almost more justly bears (out of Christian compassion) pity with such wretched, coarse, oafish Beasts and confused heads, than that one should quarrel violently with them and scold much. Whither shall I flee, that I may escape tongues? And yet a well-bred Horse heeds not the barking of the puppy at his heels. The same will I also do, in the Name of the LORD.
Such an Artist, who laborates in and with the CATHOLIC MAGNESIA of the Philosophers, seeks — and assuredly upon a right good and sure ground — out of the LIGHT of NATURE the VNIVERSAL LAPIS of the Philosophers:
Socrates
Reading Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 172
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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.