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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English Page · Branch 121 of 215
Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 114
Early New High German
p. 114se, pur lauter vnd Rein / ohne frembder Wassere oder Liquorū zusatz/ manifestiren: Endlich auch das Saltz oder Corpus daraus rein zu wege bringen; Folgendes die Sulphura in jhre eigene Mercurios vnd Saltze (jeden in seine) als in jhre Regeneration ACKERE seihen†; in digestione lassen Putresciren vnd Soluiren; hernacher vollents Coaguliren vnd Figiren; das wir also zum LAPIDE Philosophorum vel Argentifico vel Aurifico, vnd Transmutation TINCTVREN kommen mögen. So sagen sie auch / es habe das Silber seinen eigenen Silber Sahmen; Gold / Goldes Samen / in sich selbst: Vnd verhalte sich damit gleich wie mit einem Apffel; denn so man denselbigen auffschneide/ finde man in jhme seinen Samen /zuverstehen/ die Kernen; Also sey es auch mit
Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum: Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum
p. 114itself, pure, clear and Clean, without addition of foreign Waters or Liquors, manifest it; finally also bring the Salt or Body out of it clean; thereafter sow† the Sulphurs into their own Mercuries and Salts (each into its own) as into their Regeneration FIELDS; let them Putrefy and Dissolve in digestion; afterward wholly Coagulate and Fix them; so that we may thus come to the STONE of the Philosophers, whether Silver-making or Gold-making, and to the TINCTVRES of Transmutation. So they say also that Silver has its own Silver Seed, and Gold, Gold’s Seed, in itself; and that it stands with it just as with an Apple: for if one cut the same open, one finds in it its Seed — that is to say, the Kernels. Just so is it too with
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Reading Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 114
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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.