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 193 of 215
Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 186
Early New High German
p. 186kandten vnd bekandten Warheit / von MATERIA PRIMA CATHOLICA, so in wolgedachter MAGNESIA oder CHAO Philosophorum anzutreffen / nur feste / steiff vñ vnuerrücklich wird halten / So lesset SIE in tentationibus dubitationum, & tribulationibus disputationum, de LAPIDE Phiosophorum† / jhn auch nicht stecken.
Das ist gewißlich wahr.
Tanto namqúe CHAOS cum fructu discitur in- gens!
Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum: Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum
p. 186-cognized and confessed Truth of the MATERIA PRIMA CATHOLICA — which is to be met with in the aforesaid MAGNESIA, or CHAOS of the Philosophers — only hold fast, stiff and immovable: then SHE will not let him stick fast either in the temptations of doubts, and in the tribulations of disputations, concerning the LAPIS of the Philosophers†.
That is assuredly true.
Socrates
Reading Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 186
Ask about a concept, passage, contradiction, or connection.
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.