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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Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 94
Early New High German
p. 94lici pri - materalem† siue Mercurialem philosophicam / durch das Erst-Materialische FONtinlein / nothwendigst müsse reduciret werden / sollen anders SJE in & ad actum VEGETationis treten / vnd Naturgemeß regeneriret werden. Vnde & dictū Aristot: 4 Meteor: quem & Auicenna sequitur, alijq; Philosophi quam plures ita allegant, inquientis, In- uanum operantur Alchymistæ / Metalla perficere conantes, nisi reducant illa in MATERIAM PRIMAM. Ob schon / solch dictum heutiges tages in Aristotele nicht funden wird / so gehört es dannoch hinein; Auicenna würde es sonsten daraus nicht allegiret haben. Ohne zweiffel hat ein Alchymiæ feind mit diesem Loco vmbgangen / wie an etlichen örten Jüden / Arrianer / vnnd andere in vnserm seculo; mit der Bibel.
Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum: Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum
p. 94-lic pri-material or philosophical Mercurial [Water]†, through the First-Material FOUNTLET — if THEY are otherwise to step into and unto the act of VEGETATION and be Nature-conformingly regenerated. Whence also the saying of Aristotle, Meteorologica IV — which Avicenna follows, and which a great many other Philosophers cite thus — who says: In vain do the Alchymists labour who strive to perfect Metals, unless they reduce them into THE FIRST MATTER. Although such a saying is not found in Aristotle at this day, it belongs there nonetheless; Avicenna would not otherwise have cited it out of him. Without doubt some enemy of Alchemy has tampered with this passage — as in certain places Jews, Arians and others in our age have done with the Bible.
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Reading Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 94
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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.