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 97
Early New High German
p. 97weg lesset sich auch MATERIA PRIMA CATHOlica selbst / gesagter gestalt / auff Silbers oder Goldes eigēschaffteē / in Erster jhrer beyder Künstlichen Composition / vnd darauff folgender Natürlicher Mixtione & Vnione, durch den Philosophū imprægniren vnnd specificirē: Bleibē auch vñ wirckē (idiomatibus Naturarum utrarum hinc inde communicatis) Silberisch oder Goldisch miteinander allezeit Vnione hypostatica vnzertrenlich vnd vnabscheidlich also vereiniget.
Wird aber MATERIA PRIma CATholica limpidissimè depurata, AZOTH siue MERcurius Philosophorum Animatus, Catholicus, Viuus, die pri - materialische FONTIna, (daraus auch alle Metalla in gemein jhren Vrsprung hero beginnen ) per se, für sich selbst alleine ohne einigen
Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum: Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum
p. 97way THE FIRST CATHOLIC MATTER lets itself too, in the manner said, be impregnated and specified by the Philosopher upon the properties of Silver or of Gold, in the First artful Composition of them both and in the Natural Mixture and Vnion that follows upon it. They also remain and work thus united — the idioms of both Natures being communicated to one another on either side — Silverly or Goldenly, always with one another, inseparably and indivisibly joined in hypostatic Vnion.
But if THE FIRST CATHOLIC MATTER, most limpidly purified — the AZOTH, or the Ensouled, Catholic, Living MERCVRY of the Philosophers — the pri-material FOVNTAIN (out of which all Metals in common likewise take the beginning of their Origin) — if this, of itself, for itself alone, without any
Socrates
Reading Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 97
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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.