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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Facing Pages · Branch 125 of 215
Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 118
Early New High German
p. 118vnd Gewalt hat dasselbe zu thun / sonsten durchaus kein ander Ding / künstlicher Weg noch Handgriff; Darumb es auch/ ohne neben anwendung materiæ Metallorum primæ, keines weges geschehen / noch also der Natur / zur Regeneration vnnd Plusquamperfection Silbers vnd Goldes / gnugsame Hülffe gethan werden kan.
¶ Dieweil dann diesem / dem Lauff der Natur/ auch aller wahren Philosophorum vnwiedersprechlichen Zeugnissen / zusampt Naturgemesser Vernunfft nach / also/ wie von Mir bishero erzehlet vnd erwiesen ist / so bleibet je materia Metallorum omnium Prima Catholica, auch des Silbers / Goldes / vnd aller anderer Metallen Allgemeiner Regeneration ACKER alleine; Wie können dann Mercurius vnd Sal
Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum: Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum
p. 118and Might to do the same — nothing else whatever, no artful Way nor handling. Wherefore it can in no wise be done, either, without the employment besides of the first matter of Metals; nor can sufficient Help thus be given to Nature toward the Regeneration and More-than-perfection of Silver and Gold.
¶ Since, then, according to this — to the Course of Nature, to the incontrovertible testimonies of all true Philosophers, and to Nature-conforming Reason besides — thus, as has been recounted and shown by Me hitherto: there remains indeed the First Catholic matter of all Metals, and it alone, as the Common Regeneration FIELD of Silver, of Gold, and of all other Metals. How then can the Mercury and the Sal
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Reading Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 118
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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.