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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Early New High German Page · Branch 102 of 215
Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 95
Early New High German
p. 95Werden nun diese in MATEriam primam per MATeriam primam, h. e. Fontinam siue AQuam MAGNESIAE pri-materialem reducirte Silbere oder Goldere / verstehe SAME vñ MVTTER oder ACKER / darein sie Philosophisch geseihet worden / beyde miteinander zugleich vnd zusammen (dieweil auch sonsten im Bauch der Erden die mit den Silberischen oder Goldischen special füncklein der NATur besamete allgemeine MVTTER vnd PRIMA Materia der Metallen zur frücht selbst wird) in Philosophischen ATHANOre, (darzu mein ATHANOR mit dem vnuorbrenlichen Tocht nicht vntüchtig sein würde) Natur gemeß - künstlich follends coaguliret, figiret vnd inceriret / so wird (DEO volente) verhanden sein Argentum siue Aurum regene-
Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum: Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum
p. 95Now if these Silvers or Golds, reduced into the first Matter through the first Matter — that is, into the pri-material Fountain or WATER of MAGNESIA — understand, SEED and MOTHER or FIELD, into which they have been Philosophically sown — if both together, at once and in company (since elsewhere too, in the belly of the Earth, the universal MOTHER and FIRST Matter of the Metals, seeded with the special sparks of NATVRE, silvern or golden, becomes the fruit herself), be in a Philosophical ATHANOR (for which my ATHANOR with the unburnable Wick would not be unfit) Nature-conformingly-artfully at last coagulated, fixed and incerated: then there will be at hand (GOD willing) Silver or Gold regene-
Socrates
Reading Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 95
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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.