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 126 of 215
Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 119
Early New High German
p. 119Auri derselbe zum Golde sein/oder Argenti, zum Silber? Lieben Laboranten bedencket doch/ was für eine Arbeit jhr fürhabt? Wollet jhr nicht durch Naturgemesser kunst hülffe Silber oder Goldt Plusquamperficiren? Ja. Seind nicht Sulphur, Mercurius vnd Sal, alle dreye zugleich/ des Silbers vnd Goldes wesentliche theil; Ausserhalb derer einem / wo es dauon were / Silber nicht Silber / Goldt nicht Goldt were? Anders nicht. Silber vnd Gold / sollen sie Newe oder Wieder geborne Metalla werden/ müssen in jhrer Mutter leib je wieder eingehen/ darinnen Faulen/ vnd in materiam Primam wiederumb zurücke tretten? Gewißlich Ja. Jrer Mutter leib aber ist nichts anders / als materia Metallorum Prima Catholica, der Eine vnd Allein wahre Regeneration A-
Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum: Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum
p. 119of Gold be the same for the Gold, or of Silver for the Silver? Dear Laborants, do but consider what a Work you have in hand. Would you not, by Nature-conforming help of Art, More-than-perfect Silver or Gold? Yes. Are not Sulphur, Mercurius and Sal, all three together, the essential parts of Silver and of Gold — apart from any one of which, were it away, Silver were not Silver, nor Gold Gold? Not otherwise. Silver and Gold: if they are to become New or Reborn Metals, must they not go into their Mother’s body again, rot therein, and step back once more into the First matter? Assuredly, Yes. But their Mother’s body is nothing else than the First Catholic matter of Metals, the One and Only true Regeneration F-
Socrates
Reading Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 119
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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.