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.
Explore the LexiconSwipe or use the arrow keys.
Facing Pages · Branch 76 of 215
Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 69
Early New High German
p. 69seriger Geist; Oder aber sonsten ein subtiler auch in Metall forthin vnreducirlicher liquor; Oder aber ein lucker / entweder Leichtflüssiges oder vnflüssiges / Puluer oder Massa; oder aber in hydrargyrischer gestalt / das ist Mercurij (wie man es nennet) Corporum Corporei currentes / Nemlich / Metalla, igne quodam Essentiali à vinculis coagulationum relaxata, von jhren härtungsbanden entbundene Metalla / also / das SIE ohne Elementisch fewer stetig im fluß vnd in Quecksilberischer gestalt stehen mögen.
Hieher gehöret auch das mit oleo Tartari niedergeschlagene Gold / so da vmb sich schlecht vnnd stost / wanns zur vnzeit regē gemacht wird; ist sehr subtil / auch also / das man dasselbe balde zum Mercurio Solis, corporeo, currente, reuifici-
Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum: Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum
p. 69-tery Spirit; Or else otherwise a subtle liquor, and one thenceforth not to be reduced back into Metal; Or else a loose Powder or Mass, either Easily-flowing or Not-flowing; or else in quicksilver form — that is, the Corporeal running Mercuries of Bodies (as they are called): namely, Metals, loosed from the bonds of their coagulations by a certain Essential fire, Metals released from their hardening-bands, so that THEY may stand continually in flux and in quicksilver form without Elemental fire.
Here belongs also that Gold precipitated with oil of Tartar, which strikes about it and pushes when it is stirred out of season; it is very subtle, and so much so that one may soon bring the same to the Mercury of Sol, corporeal, running, revivi-
Socrates
Reading Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 69
Ask about a concept, passage, contradiction, or connection.
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.