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 177 of 215
Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 170
Early New High German
p. 170Khue vom Dantzen. So wol seind sie in der Natur gegründet / vnd also gewiß jhres dinges / das sie fast alle Monate ( ja / bisweilen wol in einer Wochen etliche mahl) von Lapidis Philosophorum Materia, was nemlich dieselbige sein solle / eine newe meinung haben. Sobalde nur ein newer Vogel Federlos / oder jhres gleichen Goldtkäfer / dahero geflogen kompt / der von vielen Sil-ber oder Goldmachen gros schreihand herein hummelt vñ summet / auch den Leuten jhr Silber vnnd Gold / ohne Wurmsamen solcher gestalt heuffig abtreiben kan / plumpen sie ohne Philosophisch nachdencken stracks zu / wie ein Fliege in die Buttermilch / oder ein schwein in die Saw schüssel. O / schlimme Vögel / die jhres dinges aus der Natur nicht besserē grund habē / das sie ein jeder leimb-
Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum: Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum
p. 170Cow of Dancing. So well are they grounded in Nature, and so sure of their matter, that almost every Month (yes, at times several times in one Week) they have a new opinion about the Materia of the Lapis Philosophorum — namely, what the same is to be. As soon as some new Featherless Bird, or Gold-beetle of their own sort, comes flying along — one who comes bumbling and buzzing in with much loud crying of Silver- or Gold-making, and who can in that fashion drive people’s Silver and Gold out of them by the heap without worm-seed — they blunder straight at it without Philosophical reflection, like a Fly into buttermilk, or a swine into the sow’s dish. O, wretched Birds, who have no better ground for their matter out of Nature than that any lime-
Socrates
Reading Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 170
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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.