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 72 of 215
Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 65
Early New High German
p. 65PRIMA, disputiret, nur an euch / sonst möchtet jhr euch grewlich schneiden. Es ist dasselbe alles (auch ohne frembde erinnerung) Mir nit vnbewust / vnd zuuor wol bewogen; Es thut wieder MAGNESIAM CATHOLICAM nichts : sintemal aus gegenwertigem TRACTATV allenthalben also viel gnugsamb erscheinet / das Jch keinesweges der meinung sey / welche wolgedachter GRAF / an angezogenē orte refutiret. Er fiere† Mich dannoch / mehres verstandes halben / zum vberfluß jetzo mit Rosario Philosophorum dahin / Quod MERCVRIVS Philosophorum Crudus, (nimirum MAGNESIA) sit talis, quem NATVRA paullulum operata est, (puta, ex Corpore, Spiritu & Anima eum componendo & figurando in massam Catholicam; in Mineram artis) & in formam (externam siue
Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum: Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum
p. 65MATTER — keep it only to yourselves, or else you might cut yourselves grievously. All of that is not unknown to Me (and without any prompting from outside), and was well weighed beforehand; it tells nothing against MAGNESIA CATHOLICA: since from the present TREATISE it appears everywhere abundantly enough that I am by no means of the opinion which the aforesaid COUNT refutes in the place he cites. Let him nevertheless lead Me† — for fuller understanding, and for good measure — now with the Rosarium of the Philosophers to this: That the Crude MERCVRIVS of the Philosophers (namely, MAGNESIA) is such as NATVRE has worked upon a very little (that is, by composing and shaping him out of Body, Spirit and Soul into a Catholic mass; into the Mine of the art) and has formed him into a form (an outward one, or
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Reading Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 65
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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.