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 159
Early New High German
p. 159Welcher Naturgemeß lehrender Philosophus hat jemals dergleichen sich verlauten lassen? Warlich gar keiner: aus vhrsach / das ein solches der Warheit / auch Mügligkeit vnd Willen der Natur / gantz vnd gar zu wieder / &, consequenter / durchaus vn-Philosophisch ist. Betrachte es doch ein jeder Doctrinæ filius! Wie kan Lapidis Philosophorum materia allbereit bestendig Transmutatoriè tingiren, dieweil noch keine derselbigen Regeneratio, Plusquamperfectio, vnd andere darzu nothdürfftige Qualificatio mehr (wie den Natur-gemes geschehen mus ) vorhero gegangen sein? Könte man also rohe vnd vn-præpariret stracks darmit Transmutatoriè tingiren, wozu bedürfften die Philosophi (wie jre vielfeltige vnnd fast vnzehlbare Schrifften Naturgemes gnugsam
Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum: Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum
p. 159What Philosopher teaching Nature-conformingly has ever let himself be heard to any such effect? Truly not one: for the reason that such a thing is wholly and utterly contrary to the Truth, and to the Possibility and the Will of Nature, and, consequently, altogether un-Philosophical. Let every son of the Doctrine consider it! How can the materia of the Lapis Philosophorum already tinge lastingly by way of Transmutation, while as yet no Regeneration of that same, no More-than-perfecting, and no other Qualification further needful thereto (as must happen Nature-conformingly) have gone before? Could one, raw and un-prepared, straightway tinge by way of Transmutation with it, what need had the Philosophers (as their manifold and well-nigh innumerable Writings Nature-conformingly enough
Socrates
Reading Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 159
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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.