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 78 of 215
Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 71
Early New High German
p. 71jhr Erst - materialisches auch specificirtes Wasser oder Wesen / zu jhrer Vegetation, Regeneration, Plusquamperfection, vnd Multiplication / an vnd für sich selbst alleine / dienlich; Sie werdens auch nicht also / stunden sie schon hydrargyrisch; Item / mit frembder wassere izusätzen / oder aber Liquorisch für selbst / in digestione viel viel Jahre! Warumb dann nicht? Darumb / das Sie / durch MATERIAM Metallorum PRIMAM VNIVERSALEM in MATERIAM PRIMAM nicht reduciret worden sein / nach dergestalt / als an vnd für sich selbst alleine / darein bracht werden.
Die Schwertze / darauff man sich diesfals möchte beruffen / vnd andere mancherley Pfawenschwētzische† farben / so in gemelten præparationibus sich erzeigen; auch an den Seiten der Gläser / in
Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum: Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum
p. 71their First-material and also specified Water or Being, of itself and for itself alone serviceable to their Vegetation, Regeneration, More-than-perfection and Multiplication. Nor will they become so — not though they stood already quicksilver-wise; likewise, with additions of foreign water, or else Liquor-wise of themselves, in digestion many, many Years! Why then not? Because THEY have not been reduced into THE FIRST MATTER through THE FIRST VNIVERSAL MATTER OF METALS in such a manner as they are brought into it of and for themselves alone.
The Blackness, to which one might appeal in this matter, and other manifold Peacock’s-tail colours† which show themselves in the said preparations — also on the sides of the Glasses, in
Socrates
Reading Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 71
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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.