The Chymical Marriage of Christian Rosencreutz

Translated by Arthur Edward Waite
Published in 2009
Hardcover


Originally published in 1888, this is Arthur Edward Waite's version of this Rosicrucian publication. Although its authorship is anonymous, it has been attributed to the theologian Johann Valentin Andreae. It is commonly associated with the Rosicrucian documents Fama Fraternitatis and Confession of the Rosicrucian Fraternity (which are also available on this website in one combined volume).

This allegory tells the story of Christian Rosenkreutz's invitation to the wedding of the king and queen. During his seven day journey, Rosenkreutz experiences progressive tests, purification, and death. The Chymical Marriage of Christian Rosenkreutz is a romantic expression of the journey and eventual goal of the philosophy and practice of Alchemy.

From the back cover:

The whole Rosicrucian controversy centers in this publication, which Buhle describes as "a comic romance of extraordinary talent." It was first published at Strasbourg in the year 1616, but it is supposed to have existed in manuscript as early as 1601-2, thus antedating by a long period the other Rosicrucian books. Two editions of the German original are preserved in the Library of the British Museum, both bearing the date 1616. It was translated into English for the first time in 1690 under the title of "The Hermetic Romance: or The Chymical Wedding".