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 34
Early New High German
p. 34Lassen sich auch etliche wol bedüncken / ja offentlich / beydes mündlich vnd schrifftlich / verlau-ten / Sie wissens gar gewis vnd vnfehlbar; Item / wo dieselbe anzutreffen vnd gut zu bekommen sey.
Wann man sie fraget / was es sey? sprechen eins theils / es sey Wißmuth; Andere sagen / es sey Rüß aus den Schornsteinen; Etliche reden von Kiselsteinen; Diesem mus es Salpeter sein; Jenem gemeine / oder aber Rote Erden / Bolus genand; Andern Rötelstein; Calx viua; Ziegelstein; Vitriolum; Arsenicum; Sterngeschoß; Hornfarber Fewerstein; Antimonij Ertz; Goldtquärtze; Blutstein; etc. Vnd was des dinges mehr ist: Kützeln sich damit / verlachens / verspottens / vnd reden gar schimpflich dauon. Fraget man weiter / Warumb dañ gesagter jhnen eingebildeten Stü-
Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum: Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum
p. 34Some also think well of themselves, indeed give out publicly, both by mouth and in writing, that they know it quite certainly and unfailingly; likewise, where the same is to be met with and readily obtained.
When one asks them what it is, some say it is Bismuth; others say it is Soot out of chimneys; several talk of Pebbles; for this one it must be Saltpetre; for that one common earth, or else Red Earth, called Bolus; for others Ruddle; Quicklime; Brick; Vitriol; Arsenic; Star-shot; horn-coloured Firestone; Antimony Ore; Gold-quartz; Bloodstone; and so on. And whatever else of that sort there is. They tickle themselves with it, laugh at it, mock at it, and speak of it altogether scornfully. If one asks further, why then the aforesaid piece they have imagined to themselves,
Socrates
Reading Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 34
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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.