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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

Lapidis generatio fit ad exemplum creationis Mundi; suum enim Chaos & materiam suam primam habeat necesse est, in quâ confusa fluctuant elementa, donec spiritu igneo separentur, separata autem leuia sursum, & ponderosa deorsum feruntur: luce exortâ tenebræ recedunt: Congregantur aquæ in vnum, & apparet Arida. Tandem duo luminaria magna successiuè emergunt, producunturque in terrâ philosophica virtutes minerales, vegetabiles & animales.

English

The generation of the Stone follows the pattern of the creation of the World. It must have its own Chaos and its own first matter, in which the elements drift in confusion until they are separated by a fiery spirit. Once separated, the light things are carried upwards and the heavy things downwards. When light arises, darkness withdraws. The waters are gathered into one place, and dry land appears. At last the two great lights emerge in succession, and mineral, vegetable and animal powers are produced in the philosophical earth.

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.