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 115 of 215
Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 108
Early New High German
p. 108beydes geschriebene vnd gedruckte Bücher durchstöret / aber allda fast nichts / oder doch gar wenig / dauon klar vnd helle antroffen. Nun / wz sol man thun? jedes ding hat seine Stelle vñ Zeit; GOtt weiß wol Warumb / Wan / Wo / vñ Wehme. Derohalben lasse jme / bishero gesetzte doctrinas vnd distinctiones, ein Artista nicht nehmen / als lieb jhme die Warheit ist / so wird er nicht alleine aus dem Labyrintho derer dem eusseren ansehen nach gantz streitigen vnd wiederwertig - lautenden Schrifften der Philosophorum (neben verleihung Göttlicher Gnade) sich leichtlich können richten; Sondern auch mit ersparung vieler grossen Kosten / vergebenen Müge† vnd Arbeiten / aus den Al - vnd Arg - Chymischen Processen wissen das gute zu erwehlen / vnd das böse zuverwerffen. Wer Ohren
Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum: Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum
p. 108both written and printed books, ransacked; but found there almost nothing, or at any rate very little, upon this, clear and bright. Now — what is one to do? Each thing has its Place and its Time; GOD knows well Why, When, Where and to Whom. Therefore let an Artist not let the doctrines and distinctions hitherto laid down be taken from him, as the Truth is dear to him; so shall he not only be able (with the granting of Divine Grace besides) to find his way easily out of the Labyrinth of those Writings of the Philosophers which, to outward appearance, are wholly at odds and contrary-sounding; but shall also, with the sparing of much great expense, of wasted Pains and Labours, know how to choose the good out of the Al- and Arg-Chymical Processes, and to cast the bad away. He that hath Ears
Socrates
Reading Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 108
Ask about a concept, passage, contradiction, or connection.
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.