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 26 of 215
Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 19
Early New High German
p. 19spruch / QVOT RES, TOT Philosophorum LAPIDES, so viel als Dinge / so viel auch Philosophische STEINE können künstlich daraus gemacht werden / vnd verhanden sein. Dieweil aber die RES seind Speciales, siue SIC vel SIC specificatæ, ALSO oder ALSO / jedes auff seine besondere ARTH / gewiß-geartet / So werden vnnd können auch die daraus Naturgemeß-Alchymisch præparirten LAPIDES dennoch gewißlich keine andere als speciales siue specificati sein / vnd mit nichten VNIVERSALES: Dem Natürlichen Lauff nach / wie der SAME / also auch die FRVCT; Dahero Gleiches seines Gleichen herfür gibt oder bringet. Ein Catholischer Same / eine Catholische Frucht; specificirter, specificirte. Goldt gibt /
Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum: Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum
p. 19saying, QVOT RES, TOT Philosophorum LAPIDES — as many things, so many Philosophical STONES can be made by Art out of them, and be to hand. But since the RES are Speciales, siue SIC vel SIC specificatæ — THUS or THUS, each fixed in kind after its own particular KIND — so the LAPIDES prepared out of them in a Nature-conforming and alchemical way will and can assuredly be no other than speciales siue specificati, and by no means VNIVERSALES. According to the Natural course: as the SEED, so also the FRUIT; whence Like brings forth or produces its Like. A catholic Seed, a catholic Fruit; a specified seed, a specified fruit. Gold gives,
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Reading Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 19
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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.