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 149 of 215
Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 142
Early New High German
p. 142einige beschriebene Rinde / wachsene noch andere tabulas, auch jrgent ein Papieren oder Pergamenen Buch gesehen / geschweige dann gelesen) auff das GOTTliche LIECHT der Natur / in der grossen vnd kleinen Weld; auch Biblischer Schrifftē Analogisch-harmonischen consensum: dieweil sie aus vnd von derselben Fundamentis hero fliessen / können sie vberall wol stehen vnd gehen.
SIHE! Ich habe EIN BVCH / durch vielseltiges Reisen / grosse Mühe vnd Kosten / auch nicht aller dinge ohne gefahr meines Lebens / zusammen bracht / welches (fast in die dreyhundert) literas† die Natur selbst geschrieben hatt; Sol manchem Hochgelehrten (der nicht auch tieffgelehrt darneben vnnd zugleich mit ist) schwer gnug fallen / dieselben zu kennen; Wil geschweigen (wo
Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum: Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum
p. 142saw any written Bark, nor waxen nor other tablets, nor any Paper or Parchment Book at all, let alone read one — upon the DIVINE LIGHT of Nature, in the great World and in the little; also upon the Analogical-harmonious consensus of Biblical Writings. Since these flow out of and from the Foundations of that same, they can stand and go well everywhere.
SEE! I have brought together ONE BOOK, by manifold Travelling, great Pains and Cost, and not in all things without peril of my Life — a Book whose (near upon three hundred) letters† Nature herself has written. It will fall hard enough for many a Highly-learned man — one who is not also deeply-learned besides and along with it — to know them; I will say nothing of (where
Socrates
Reading Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 142
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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.