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 84
Early New High German
p. 84teriam: Item, aus Clangoris Buccinæ vnd anderen / Quod in Aqua Philosophorum primateriali, NATVRaliter lateat spiritus QVINTAE ESSENTiæ, cuius solius est Magistraliter corrumpere, & in suam materiam primam transformare Metalla. Darbey es billich bleibet.
Alhier fellet ein auch mit zugedenckē / das etliche sprechen / man solle vnd müsse Spiritum Mundi secretissimum, den Geheimbsten Geist der Weld / zum Philosophischen TSEIN‡ / aus dem Lufft / oder aber vom Firmament des Himmels / in gewisse Materias, so auff künstliche anordnung des Artisten darzu insonderheit hingestellet werden / erst fohen. Doctor Khunrath Fohe mir jhn! O du Thore! Gickes geckes / hats auch Narren geregnet? Er ist one zuthuung Menschenhand oder Hülffe /
Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum: Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum
p. 84-ter: likewise, out of the Clangor Buccinæ and others, That in the pri-material Water of the Philosophers there lies hidden NATVRALLY the spirit of the FIFTH ESSENCE, whose alone it is Masterfully to corrupt Metals and to transform them into their own first matter. And there it rightly rests.
Here it falls in to be remembered too, that several say one should and must first catch the most secret Spirit of the World, the most Hidden Spirit of the World, for the Philosophical TSEIN‡ — out of the Air, or else from the Firmament of Heaven — into certain Matters which are set out for the purpose by the artful arrangement of the Artist. Doctor Khunrath, catch him for me! O you fool! Gickes geckes — has it rained fools as well? He is, without the doing of Man’s hand or Help,
Socrates
Reading Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 84
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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.