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 184 of 215
Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 177
Early New High German
p. 177Arg-Chymisten / mit jhren / auff entweder *Vegetabilische, Anima**lische,* oder aber blos *Minerali**sche* vnd Metallische arten specificirten / vnd darumb disfals vnd hierzu (als zum LAPIDE Philosophorum CATHOLICO) keines Weges gehörige / Sophistischen vnd verführische Materialien oder Pseudo-Magnesijs / jhn nicht können vberweltigen noch verführen.
Darneben auch / so GOTT jhme einen guten Man zufügete (wie wol ehemals geschehen / auch noch geschehen kan) der in materia debita laborirete, oder laboriret hette / vnd also auff dem rechten Wege des Anfangs zur Kunst / vielleicht auch wahrer Præparation / oder doch nahe dabey were / das er wuste denselben zu hören / gute nachrichtungen zu vberkommen / vnnd von jhme et-
Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum: Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum
p. 177arrant Chymists — with their Sophistical and seductive Materials or Pseudo-Magnesias, specified upon either Vegetable, Animal, or else merely Mineral and Metallic kinds, and therefore in no wise belonging to this business or to this end (namely, to the CATHOLIC LAPIS of the Philosophers) — cannot overpower him nor lead him astray.
Besides which, if GOD should join a good Man to him (as has well happened before now, and can happen still) who laborated in the due matter, or had laborated, and so were upon the right Way of the beginning of the Art — perhaps even of the true Preparation, or at any rate near to it — so that he knew how to hear that man, to come by good instruction, and from him some-
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Reading Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 177
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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.