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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Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 123
Early New High German
p. 123det obbesonders liegen / wie die Kernen im Apffel: Zu deme auch so seihet man die Apffel Kernen nicht wiederummb in den Apffel/daraus sie herfür genommen / Sondern in die Allgemeine Erden der grossen Weldt/ daraus desselben Apffels Stam vnd Baum auch herfür gewachsen. Hettest derowegen mit deinem vngleichen gleichnis / bey wahren Philosophis, wol mögen zu Hausse bleiben / vnd solches bis zu deines gleichen Physicunculis sparen / allda es / vielleicht/ gelten mag/ was vnd so viel es kan.
¶ Damit dir aber etwas zu rechte geholffen werde / so wisse / das mit dem Kern Silbers oder Goldes es also beschaffen sey / (wo man ja von Kernen reden wil) das solcher nicht alleine ist nur jhr Sulphur, sondern viel mehr/ (wie auch oben recht gesaget) das reineste Totius,
Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum: Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum
p. 123nd it lying apart, as the Kernels do in the Apple. Besides which, one does not sow the Apple’s Kernels back again into the Apple out of which they were taken, but into the Common Earth of the great World, out of which that same Apple’s Stem and Tree grew forth as well. You might therefore have stayed comfortably at home with your unlike likeness, among true Philosophers, and have saved it up for Physiclings of your own sort, where it may perhaps pass for what, and for as much as, it can.
¶ But that you may be helped somewhat aright, know that it stands thus with the Kernel of Silver or of Gold (if one is to speak of Kernels at all): that such a Kernel is not their Sulphur alone, but far rather (as was also rightly said above) the purest of the Whole,
Socrates
Reading Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 123
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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.