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Diotimos Library · Esotericism & Spirituality Collection · Bilingual Edition

Attributed to Jean d’Espagnet

The Secret Work of the Hermetic Philosophy

A Fresh English Translation from the Complete 1623 Latin Arcanum

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The Secret Work of the Hermetic PhilosophyThe 138 Canons · English

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The 138 Canons · English

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Latin

Argentum vivum partim naturale est, partim innaturale: Intrinsecum & occultum in Naturâ radicem habet, quod nisi per praecedentem mundationem & ingeniosam sublimationem evocari non potest: Extrinsecum extra Naturam & accidentale est: Separa ergo purum ab impuro, substantiam ab accidentibus, & fac occultum manifestum per viam Naturae, secus siste gradum, hoc enim est totius artis & operis fundamentum.

English

Quicksilver is partly natural and partly non-natural. Its inward and hidden part is rooted in nature and cannot be called forth without prior cleansing and skilful sublimation. Its outward part is outside nature and accidental. Separate, therefore, the pure from the impure, substance from accidents, and make the hidden manifest by nature's path; otherwise halt your steps, for this is the foundation of the entire art and work.

About This Reading Edition

The complete anonymous 1623 Arcanum, conventionally attributed to Jean d’Espagnet, with Latin and a fresh English translation, 138 canons, original marginalia and errata, 88 modern annotations, separately identified historical reception documents, and the complete supplied Diotimos study apparatus.

Historical Text and Translation

Anonymous, Arcanum hermeticæ philosophiæ opus. Paris: Nicolas Buon, 1623. Bibliothèque municipale de Lyon copy, digitised by Google Books, uJNr_M9LDGgC. Conventionally attributed to Jean d’Espagnet; the original title page is anonymous.

About Diotimos Editions

This historical edition credits Diotimos Editions as its English translator.

Rights

Historical texts are public-domain works. The supplied 2026 fresh English translation, Latin reading transcription and Diotimos editorial material are published with the site owner’s authorization. The historical Signifer is credited to the Getty Research Institute copy and Internet Archive.