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 87 of 215
Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 80
Early New High German
p. 80das sie darnach ad & in Vegetationis actū treten / vnd zur Plusquamperfection regeneriret werden können; wo von in diesem gegenwertigen Tractatu fürnemlich gehandelt wird: Als nemlich / MERCVRIVS Philosophorum CATHOLICVS, in MAGNESIA Pri-materiali Catholica Sapientum.
Alhier wehre manchem zu der erkendtnis MAGNESIAE mit wenigen worten viel zu helffen; Dieweil aber ALLES seine Zeit / Person vnd Orth hat / sparet man es bis dahin.
Wiewol Jch gerne gestehe / das Wundertreffliche Kreffte / Tugenden vnd Wirckungen / auch in vnd auff die Metalla, verstehe dieselben / dadurch præparando / zu Artzneyen / vnd sonsten zu andern sachen / subtil vnd wunderbarlich zu tractiren / in kurtz hiebeuor ge-
Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum: Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum
p. 80so that they may afterwards step into and unto the act of Vegetation, and be regenerated to More-than-perfection: of which this present Treatise chiefly treats — namely, the CATHOLIC MERCVRIVS of the Philosophers, in the Catholic Pri-material MAGNESIA of the Wise.
Here many a one might be helped much toward the Recognition of MAGNESIA with few words; but since EVERYTHING has its Time, its Person and its Place, one spares it until then.
Although I gladly grant that Wonderfully excellent Powers, Virtues and Workings — also in and upon the Metals (understand, upon those same Metals, by preparing them thereby, into Medicines, and otherwise to treat them subtly and wonderfully for other purposes) — may lie in the just-
Socrates
Reading Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 80
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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.