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 41
Early New High German
p. 41geübter vnbedachtsamkeit halben / von sich selbstē dahin fallen: Gleich wie auch Saulo, der Christum vnd seine gliedmassen / aus vnwissenheit / mit drawen vnd morden / tro-tziglich verfolgete / geschehen; Welcher / nach dem jhne der HErr vom Himmel vmbleuchtet / vnd auff dem wege erschienen / auch auff anmelden Göttlichs befehlichs durch Ananiam / des HErrn Namen zuuerkündigen / die schupen der blindheit von seinen augen abgefallen / vnd das Liecht der Warheit in jhme auffgegangen / also bald Christum gepredigt / das derselbe Gottes Sohn sey: Also auch jhr / wann aus Gottes erbarmung / euch vorgesagten das Liecht der Natur leuchten / vnd auff annemung Meiner (der Ich / ohne vergebenen Ruhm / jedoch mit warheit zu sagen / Von GOTT; der NATVR; vnd einem wolwis-
Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum: Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum
p. 41for heedlessness practised, fall away of themselves: just as happened also to Saul, who out of ignorance persecuted Christ and his members defiantly, with threatening and slaughter. Who, after the LORD had shone round about him from Heaven and appeared to him on the road, and after the announcing of the Divine command through Ananias to proclaim the LORD’S Name, had the scales of blindness fall from his eyes, and the Light of Truth rise up in him, and straightway preached Christ, that He is the Son of God. So also you: when, out of God’s mercy, the Light of Nature shall shine upon you — you who have been spoken of above — and upon your acceptance of Mine (I who, without idle boasting, yet to speak truly, have been faithfully instructed herein by GOD, by NATURE, and by a well-know-
Socrates
Reading Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 41
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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.