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 79
Early New High German
p. 79SILBERS oder GOLDES specificirte MVTTER vnd Erste MATERia oder Pri-materialische Soluta siue Liquores; & consequenter, neq; Regenerationis Metallorum TERRA vel AGER, vermittelst derer oder dessen die Metalla warhafftig vnd Naturgemeß Regeneriret vnnd Plusquamperficiret sollen werden; so seind Silber vnd Gold / zur Plusquamperfection, in dieselbigen nicht Naturgemeß - künstlich zu seihen; vnd ist / durch gesagte / gewünschtes Ende der Regeneration vnd Plusquamperfection Silbers vnd Goldes / auch keines weges zu erlangen noch zuerhoffen: Sondern das jenige ist es alleine / das nach Azotischer wesseriger præparation, aus Pri - materialischen Natürlichem gewalt / Krafft vnd Macht hat Silber vnnd Gold In Materiam primam zu reduciren /
Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum: Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum
p. 79specified MOTHER and First MATTER of SILVER or of GOLD, or its Pri-material Dissolved things or Liquors — and consequently, neither the EARTH nor the FIELD of the Regeneration of Metals, by means of which the Metals are to be truly and Nature-conformingly Regenerated and More-than-perfected — therefore Silver and Gold are not to be sown into them Nature-conformingly and by art for More-than-perfection; nor, by the things named, is the wished-for End of the Regeneration and More-than-perfection of Silver and Gold in any wise to be attained or hoped for. But that alone is it, which after an Azotic watery preparation has, out of Pri-material Natural power, the Force and Might to reduce Silver and Gold Into the first Matter,
Socrates
Reading Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 79
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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.