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 146
Early New High German
p. 146sion vom Hylealischen CHAO weitleufftig angezeiget worden.
Es wisse auch ein jeder; Wird der jenige / deme GOTT MAGNESIAM hat erkennen lassen / Sie böß-vorsetzlich vnnd mit trotzigem ernst gtring schetzen; oder aber derogestalt; / aus leichtfertigkeit / böß-verächtlich tractiren; auch die / seinem Præceptori, vhraltem Philosophischen löblichen Brauch vnd Gewonheiten nach / darüber (als einer Ehrlichen vnd Billichen sache) vngezwungene freywillig gethane Gelöbtnis vnd Pflichte (quæ non sunt vincula iniquitatis) allezeit / sein gantzes Leben hindurch / nicht candidè atq; syncerè & sinè fraude ac dolo, steiff / fest vnd vnverbruchlich (ein jeder pflicht - schüldiger prüfe sein Gewissen) halten / sondern Gewissen - los - vergeslich an die Wand hencken / den wird
Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum: Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum
p. 146-sion on the Hylealic CHAOS it has been set forth at large.
Let every man know this too: if he to whom GOD has let MAGNESIA be recognized shall esteem Her lightly, wickedly-of-set-purpose and with defiant earnest; or else in that fashion, out of frivolity, shall handle Her wickedly-contemptuously; and if moreover he shall not keep — always, his whole Life through, candidly and sincerely and without fraud or guile, stiffly, firmly and inviolably (let every man bound by a duty examine his Conscience) — the Pledges and Obligations (which are no bonds of iniquity) made freely and unconstrained to his Preceptor thereupon, after the ancient Philosophical and laudable Usage and Custom, as an Honest and Equitable matter; but shall rather hang them Conscience-less and forgetful upon the wall: then will
Socrates
Reading Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 146
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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.