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 132 of 215
Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 125
Early New High German
p. 125Mit dem Spruche der Philosophen/ SAL METALLORVM est LAPIS philosophorum, hats/ bey NATVR - kündigen Philosophis, auch weit einen andern verstand / als wie die/ der Natur vnverstendigen einfeltigen Laboranten, gedencken/ die da vermeinen/ die Metalla, als Silber oder Gold/ entweder blos vnnd für sich alleine durch Langwiriges Calciniren vnd Reuerberiren zu zerstören; nachfolgends durch öffters/ in hierzu von jhnen insonderheit deputirten Wassern / Soluiren; Extrahiren; Reinigen; vnd endlich das Silber zu blawen / das Gold zu Roten Saltz - steinlein schiessen zu lassen; Welche ich hohe Medicinas zu Menschlicher Gesundheit / innerlich vnd eusserlich zugebrauchen hochnützlich/ trefflich dienende/ gantz gerne sein vnd bleiben lasse; Oder aber / die mit Zusatz
Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum: Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum
p. 125With the Philosophers’ saying THE SALT OF THE METALS is the STONE of the philosophers, the case stands, among Nature-knowing Philosophers, in a far other understanding than the simple Laborants — who have no understanding of Nature — imagine. These suppose that the Metals, as Silver or Gold, are to be destroyed either bare and by themselves alone through long-drawn Calcining and Reverberating; then Dissolved by repeated treatment in Waters specially appointed to this by them, Extracted, Cleansed, and at last the Silver made to shoot into blue and the Gold into Red Salt-crystals — which things I very gladly let be and remain high Medicines, highly useful and excellently serviceable to Human Health, taken inwardly and outwardly. Or else, those who with an addition
Socrates
Reading Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 125
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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.