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 113 of 215
Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 106
Early New High German
p. 106sey; Vnd dann auch / fürs Ander/ dz er wisse dieselbige in Mercurium Philosophorū Catholicon aquosum / das SJE FONTIna Philosophorum PRI - MATErialis fluens werde / Naturgemeß - künstlich zu resoluiren vnd depuriren; das fület der jenige am besten / der getrieben von GOtt die Warheit des grundes des Philosophischen STEJNS in seinē von Sophistereyen Theosophisch gereinigten Hertzen vnd Hirn schmecket; Sintemal / wie zuuor auch recht vnd wol gesagt / in diesen beyden VERBORGENHEJTEN dieser Kunst / stecket der Grund des VNIVERSalis Philosophorum / auch alle der vnteren Metallen in die Oberen Verwandlungs TINCTVREN, ELIXEIRIEN, vnd dergleichen warhafftigen PARTICVlarium. An MATEria Metallorum PRI-
Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum: Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum
p. 106and then also, in the Second place, that he know how to resolve and purify that same Nature-conformingly and artfully into the watery Catholicon Mercury of the Philosophers, so that SHE become the flowing PRI-MATERIAL FOVNTAIN of the Philosophers — that man feels best who, driven by GOD, tastes the Truth of the ground of the Philosophical STONE in his Heart and Brain, Theosophically cleansed of Sophistries. Since, as was also rightly and well said before, in these two HIDDEN THINGS of this Art there lies the Ground of the VNIVERSAL of the Philosophers, and of all the transmuting TINCTVRES and ELIXIRS of the lower Metals into the Upper, and of the like true PARTICVLARS. Upon the FIRST MATTER of Metals
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Reading Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 106
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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.