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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Facing Pages · Branch 82 of 215
Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 75
Early New High German
p. 75Sie nit schlecht vnd an sich selbst / wie Sie ohne MATERIAE Metallorum PRIMAE Vniuersalis zuthuung præpariret worden sein / hierzu brauche; Sondern wann sie ferner in jhren Pri-materialischen Natürlichen vnnd Naturgemeß - künstlichen Destruction / Vegetation vnd Regeneration, wesserigen Acker geseihet worden oder werden; Auff das sie solcher gestalt / per MATERIAM PRIMam in MATERIAM PRIMAM warhafftig reduciret, vnd / recht Putrescendo, durch die wahre Zerstörung vnnd Aufflösung in jhrer MVTTER Leib / zur Newen Geburt in die Plusquamperfection vnnd Multiplication Naturgemeß - künstlich tretten können / vnd versetzet werden mögen.
Gleicher gestalt wird man es mit den gifftigen flüchtigen Materijs beym selbgediegenen wasch-
Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum: Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum
p. 75use THEM to this end not simply and in themselves, as they have been prepared without the help of THE FIRST VNIVERSAL MATTER OF METALS; but rather when they have been, or are, further sown into the watery Field of their Pri-material, Natural and Nature-conformingly artful Destruction, Vegetation and Regeneration: to the end that in such fashion they may, through THE FIRST MATTER into THE FIRST MATTER, be truly reduced, and, rightly Putrefying, through the true Destruction and Dissolution in their MOTHER’S Body, step Nature-conformingly and by art into the New Birth, into More-than-perfection and Multiplication, and be translated thither.
In the same fashion one will deal with the poisonous volatile Matters in native washing-
Socrates
Reading Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 75
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.