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 152 of 215
Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 145
Early New High German
p. 145schen brauch nach / auff vorhero gegangene Ehrliche gewisse Conditiones, vnnötig allhier zu erzehlen. Die Zeit vnd Gelegenheit werden dieselbigen wol geben.
Das Geheimnis von Erkentnis MAGNESIAE öffentlich für jederman ohne vnterscheid kommen zulassen; kan / soll vnd mag / noch zur zeit / nicht sein; Sintemal GOTT / seinem vnergründlichen Willen nach / von anfang der Welt hero / bis auff diese zeit / jmmerdar es also hat geschehen lassen / das dasselbe zu jederzeit nur wenigen / von Jhme insonderheit darzu erwehleten doctrinæ filijs / kund gewesen / wie solches die Erfahrung bezeuget / vnd aus der Philosophen Schrifften / auch allerley Historijs / hin vnnd wieder gnugsam zu ersehen; So wol auch in dem 1. Cap. meiner Confes-
Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum: Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum
p. 145-ical usage, upon Honest and certain Conditions previously gone before, which it is needless to recount here. Time and Occasion will duly give them.
To let the Secret of the Recognition of MAGNESIA come out publicly before everyone without distinction cannot, shall not, and may not yet be; inasmuch as GOD, according to His unfathomable Will, from the beginning of the World hitherto, up to this present time, has ever let it so come about that the same has at all times been known only to a few sons of doctrine, especially chosen thereunto by Him — as Experience attests, and as may sufficiently be seen, here and there, out of the Philosophers’ Writings and out of all manner of Histories; as also in the 1st Chapter of my Confes-
Socrates
Reading Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 145
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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.