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.
Explore the LexiconSwipe or use the arrow keys.
Facing Pages · Branch 99 of 215
Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 92
Early New High German
p. 92Das dieselbige durch die REGENERAtion oder Widergeburt dahin / wie gesagt / kommen vnnd befordert werden müssen.
Wie können aber / Sag mir es einer / Silber oder Goldt Regeneriret oder Newgeboren werden / wo sie in jhrer MVTTER (welche vrsacherin wahrer corruption vnd destruction, & consequenter nouæ generationis / ist) LEJB nicht wiederumb eingehen? Was ist dann jhrer Mutter Leib? Gewißlich vnnd ohne allen zweiffel MATERIA Metallorum PRIma, FONTINA h. e. AQVA PRI-MATERIALIS / so auch dem philosopho von GOTT (gleich wie forne gelehret ) durch die NATVR in CHAOS MAGNESIAE Sapientum, (darinnen QVINTA ESSENtia siue SPIRITVS MVNDI secretissimus OMNIA VEGETare faciens
Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum: Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum
p. 92— that those same must come and be brought to it, as has been said, by REGENERATION or New Birth.
But how, let someone tell me, can Silver or Gold be Regenerated or New-born, if they do not enter again into the BODY of their MOTHER — who is the causer of true corruption and destruction, and consequently of a new generation? What then is their Mother’s Body? Assuredly and beyond all doubt, the FIRST MATTER of Metals, the FOVNTAIN — that is, the PRI-MATERIAL WATER — which is also given to the philosopher by GOD (just as was taught above), through NATVRE, in the CHAOS of the MAGNESIA of the Wise (wherein the FIFTH ESSENCE, or the most secret SPIRIT of the WORLD, which makes ALL things to VEGETATE,
Socrates
Reading Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 92
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.