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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 · Latin

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The 138 Canons · Latin

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Latin

Quarta digestio omnia Mundi mysteria consummat, & per eam terra in præstantissimum fermentum conuersa omnia imperfecta corpora fermentat, quia in cœlestem quintæ essentiæ naturam priùs transiit, illius virtus ab Vniuersi spiritu effluxa omnibus omnium creaturarum morbis est præsens Panacæa & catholica medicina. Hoc Naturæ & artis miraculum furnus secretus philosophorum repetitis primi operis digestionibus tibi pandet. Rectus sis in operibus tuis, vt Deum propitium habeas, secus vana Terræ tuæ fiet trituratio, neque enim Illa seges demum votis respondet auari Agricolæ.

English

The fourth digestion brings all the mysteries of the World to completion. Through it the earth, converted into a most excellent ferment, ferments all imperfect bodies, because it has already passed into the heavenly nature of the quintessence. Its power, flowing from the spirit of the Universe, is an effective panacea and universal medicine for all the diseases of all creatures. The philosophers’ secret furnace will reveal this miracle of Nature and art to you by repeating the digestions of the first work. Be upright in your deeds, so that God may favour you; otherwise the threshing of your Earth will be in vain, for That crop at last does not answer the prayers of the greedy farmer.

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.