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 97 of 215
Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 90
Early New High German
p. 90vnd Goldt. Jst doch dieses von Mir niemals verneinet worden! So wird auch noch nicht demselben wiedersprochen: Jch weis (ohne meister Klüglings Naseweises vermahnen) für Mich selbst gar wol / quod ARS teneatur imitari Naturam in principijs atq; seminibus naturalibus. Alhier aber stecket es: Sollē Silber oder Gold / sie seindt nun entweder noch Metallische nur dunne laminirete corpora; oder aber hierzu zuvor auch præpariret wie sie wollen; Als / entweder in Mercurios coporeos currentes verkehret; oder aber durch allerhandt Corrosiua / oder auch Vncorrosiuische Wasser / in liquores gebracht; oder sonsten zu andere weise zerbrochen; damit sublimiret; oder gar vbern helm gejagt; rein widerumb außgesüsset; Jtem / mit oleo Tartari niedergeschlagen; calciniret / oder
Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum: Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum
p. 90Silver and Gold. And yet this has never been denied by Me! Nor is it even now contradicted: I know very well for Myself (without master Smart-aleck’s pert admonishing) that ART is bound to imitate Nature in natural principles and seeds. But here is where it sticks. Are Silver or Gold to be so used? — they are then either still Metallic bodies merely beaten thin; or else prepared beforehand for this purpose as they please — as, either turned into corporeal running Mercuries; or brought into liquors by all manner of Corrosives, or by Non-corrosive Waters too; or otherwise broken up in some other way; sublimed therewith; or driven right over the helm; washed clean sweet again; likewise, precipitated with oil of Tartar; calcined, or
Socrates
Reading Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 90
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.