Diotimos Library · Esotericism & Spirituality Collection · Bilingual Edition
The Secret Work of the Hermetic Philosophy
A Fresh English Translation from the Complete 1623 Latin Arcanum
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The 138 Canons · English
Latin
Leges motus huius circuli sunt, vt lentè & paulatim decurrat, ac parcè effundat, ne festinando à mensurâ cadat, & aquis obrutus Ignis insitus, operis architectus hebescat, aut etiam extinguatur: Vt alternis vicibus cibus & potus administrentur, quo melior fiat digestio, ac optimum sicci & humidi temperamentum; indissolubilis enim vtriusque colligatio finis ac scopus est operis; propterea vide, vt tantùm irrigando adiicias, quantum assando defecerit, quò Restauratio corroborando deperditarum virium tantùm restituat, quantùm euacuatio debilitando abstulerit.
English
The laws of this circle’s motion require it to flow slowly and gradually and pour sparingly, lest in its haste it depart from the measure, and the implanted Fire, the architect of the work, be dulled or even extinguished under the waters. Food and drink must be supplied by turns, to secure better digestion and the best balance of dry and wet; for their indissoluble binding is the end and aim of the work. See, therefore, that by watering you add only as much as has been lost through roasting, so that strengthening Restoration restores just as much lost strength as weakening evacuation has taken away.
Socrates
Reading The Secret Work of the Hermetic Philosophy · The 138 Canons · Canon 89
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Socrates will begin with this book and its sources.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.
- Governing historical Latin witnessGoogle Books: governing 1623 witness
- Historical reception diagram witnessInternet Archive: 1650 collection and Signifer
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