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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

Summum huius operis arcanum consistit in modo operandi, qui totus circa rotationem elementorum versatur, materia enim Lapidis de natura in naturam transit, elementa successiuè extrahuntur, ac per vices dominium obtinent, vnumquodque autem per circulos humidi & sicci agitatur, donec omnia vertantur deorsum & ibi quiescant.

English

The supreme secret of this work lies in the manner of operating, which is wholly concerned with the rotation of the elements. For the matter of the Stone passes from nature to nature; the elements are extracted in succession and each takes its turn in ruling. Each is driven through circles of wet and dry until all are turned downwards and rest there.

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.