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 120 of 215
Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 113
Early New High German
p. 113Goldt-STEINEN/ darauff Sie damals gearbeitet / dannoch aber mit Hülffe MATERIAE PRimæ Naturgemeß / wie bishero erwiesen ist; Oder aber schlecht Pri-materialiter, als de materia Metallorum CATHOLIca Prima, vnnd nicht von der Metallischen leiblichen harten frücht/noch von irgend etwas aus denselbigen hero genommen / zu jhrem VNIVERSali gemeinet wehre? Was sagt ihr hierzu / meine lieben nudè ac purè Metallisten? Bedencket euch wol.
¶ Etliche Artisten sprechen; Bringen wir doch Silber vnnd Gold in jhre Erste Materiam, in deme wir dieselbigen scheiden in jre Tria, ex quibus constant; Als/deñ Sulphur oder Animam extrahirē; den Mercurium oder Spiritum in gestalt eines klaren Wassers/ per
Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum: Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum
p. 113Gold-STONES, upon which They worked at that time — yet with the help of THE FIRST MATTER, Nature-conformingly, as has been shown hitherto? Or else simply Pri-materially, as of the FIRST CATHOLIC matter of Metals, and not of the Metallic bodily hard fruit, nor of anything taken from the same — that it was meant, toward their VNIVERSAL? What say you to this, my dear nakedly and purely Metallists? Bethink yourselves well.
¶ Certain Artists say: But do we not bring Silver and Gold into their First Matter, in that we separate them into their Three, of which they consist? namely, extract the Sulphur or the Soul; the Mercury or the Spirit in the shape of a clear Water, by
Socrates
Reading Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 113
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.