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 45 of 215
Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 38
Early New High German
p. 38schedlich es sey? O Leichtsinnigkeit!
Wil derwegen hiemit bitlich vermahnet / vnnd trewhertzig er-innert haben / Alle / wes Standes oder Würden sie seind / das sie keinem / er sey auch wer er wolle / weder pro noch contra vollkommen glauben geben / als wisse derselbe VNSERE (zuuerstehen / Aller wahrer Philosophorū, vnd Meine) MAGNESIAM CATHOLICAM vnfehlbar / Er gebe dann deswegen richtigen / satten bescheid von sich / wie obenangedeutet. Wolte sich ein* ignorant sein scheffen entschüldigen / Er were ein einfeltiger Leye / Er hette nichts / oder doch wenig / studiret, könte derwegen nicht förmlich / wie es wol sein solte / von den sachen reden ; dannoch aber wuste er die Materiam gar gewis: Man solle jhme nur gleuben / oder ja auff sein
Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum: Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum
p. 38harmful it is? O Frivolity!
I will therefore herewith have admonished, in entreaty, and faithfully reminded, All — of whatever Estate or Dignity they may be — that they give no one, be he who he will, complete credence either for or against, as though that same person knew OUR (that is to say, All true Philosophers’, and Mine) MAGNESIA CATHOLICA unfailingly, unless he then gives a right and solid account of himself in the matter, as intimated above. Should an ignorant* wish to excuse his being so — that he is a simple Layman, that he has studied nothing, or at least little, and cannot therefore speak of the matters formally, as it ought properly to be done, but that he nevertheless knew the Materia quite certainly, and that one ought only to believe him, or indeed to trust his
Socrates
Reading Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 38
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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.