Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum

Name: Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum
Author: Heinrich Khunrath

The 1599 German text with a new English translation, introduction, glossary, and notes.

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Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica PhilosophorumMagnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 45

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Early New High German

p. 45

Es nicht erkennen; nur allein die jenigen wenigen Erkennen / die GOTT aus seiner sonderbaren GVTE vnd BARMHERTZigkeit es wil erkennen lassen; Ja wol vnter zehen / oder viel viel mehr Tausenden kaum einen. Es ist in den augen des vnuorstendigen ein ^a schlecht verächtlich ding / jederman bekand / von sehr wenigen aber erkand. Es ist nur vmbs wissen zuthum!) Augenscheinlich zeigen / warhafftig fürlegen / vnd fierlich^* erwiesen würde / das dasselbe EINE DING (wie dann alle Naturkündige Chymischen wahre philosophi einhelliglich bezeugen / das SVBIECTVM LAPIDIS philosophorum VNIVERSALIS VNIVERSALE nur alleine EIN DING sein solle / sein müsse / vnd auch sey; Welches in Sich habe ^b ALLes / was es zu des LAPIDIS Philo-

Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum: Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum

p. 45

do not recognize It; only those few recognize it whom GOD, out of his especial GOODNESS and MERCY, will let recognize it — yes, scarcely one among ten, or among very many more Thousands. In the eyes of the undiscerning it is a mean, contemptible thing^a, known to everyone, but recognized by very few. It is only a matter of the knowing!) — were one to show it to the eye, truly to set it forth, and to demonstrate it^*, that the same ONE THING (as indeed all true Nature-knowing Chymical philosophers unanimously testify: that the VNIVERSALE SVBIECTVM of the LAPIS philosophorum VNIVERSALIS should be, must be, and also is, one single THING alone) — which has in Itself ^b ALL that is needful for the constitution of the LAPIS Philo-

95.Marginal gloss, keyed to Khunrath’s a: ‘Look, O man, upon Magnesia, and lay aside thy haughtiness. In Her there dwells, Naturally and Theosophically, the treasure of true Wisdom and of good Knowledge.’ — Second gloss: ‘Ocular proof, and the testimony of all the World.’ — Es ist nur vmbs wissen zuthum is flat and colloquial in the German: the whole difficulty is the knowing, and nothing else. The register allows it to stay flat.

96.Marginal glosses: ‘The one Catholic Thing is the matter of the Catholic Stone of the Philosophers. Only learn to recognize the ONE Thing.’; keyed to b: ‘ALL — as it stands alongside, by this sign^*’. ^*A chymical character stands here, centred on its own line in the margin, and signo hoc points at it: a short stem rising from a broad wavy base, carrying three elements — a C-curl opening right, a taller central figure like a 2 or đ, and a mirrored C-curl opening left, each of the outer curls budded at its crown. It matches no standard planetary or metal sign and is left unidentified; it cannot be reproduced in this type. ^*fierlich is not a recorded form and is doubtful in this copy; the sense requires something like zierlich, neatly, or sicherlich, surely. Left as printed.

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.

supplied-bilingual-editionSupplied complete German–English scholarly edition