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 67
Early New High German
p. 67IPSIVS: Vnd dann / dz wol angedeutete Materia (in CHAO vniuersali præfato) sey id super terra ex quo Natura generat siue producit Metalla in terra: Vnde (Regenerationis nimirū & Plusqua-perfectienis† methodo) iuxta vnanimē Philosophorum orthodoxorum omnium consensum, (Deì nutu) conficitur MEDicina CATHOlica & summa. Darbey man es dismal lesset wenden.
WEITER: Jch weis gar wol was für mancherley feine præparationes Silbers vnd Golds / von vielen laboranten hin vnd wider geschehen / sonderlich auff vorhero gegangene derselbigen Metallen Zerbrechungen in starcken corrosiuischen Wassern: dann förder nach Abziehung oder Niederschlagung / auch gebürlichen Absueßsungen / durch Calcinationes vnd Reuerberationes zu Subtilen
Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum: Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum
p. 67-ITSELF: And then, the well-intimated Matter (in the aforesaid universal CHAOS) is that upon the earth out of which Nature generates or produces Metals in the earth: whence (by the method, namely, of Regeneration and of More-than-perfection), according to the unanimous consent of all orthodox Philosophers, there is made (at God’s nod) the CATHOLIC and highest MEDICINE. With which let it rest for this time.
FURTHER: I know very well what manifold fine preparations of Silver and Gold are made by many laborants here and there — especially upon a prior breaking-up of those same Metals in strong corrosive Waters; then, after Drawing off or Precipitation, and due Sweetenings, by Calcinations and Reverberations, into Subtle
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Reading Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 67
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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.