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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

Caloris balnei primum punctum calor febrilis seu fimi dicitur, secundum balnei simpliciter. Secundi gradus primum punctum est calor simplex cinerum, secundum verò calor arenæ. Ignis autem carbonum & flammæ puncta proprio nomine carent, sed secundum intensionem & remissionem per operationem Intellectus distinguuntur.

English

The first point of bath heat is called fever heat or dung heat; the second, simply bath heat. The first point of the second degree is the simple heat of ashes, the second the heat of sand. The points of coal and flame fire have no names of their own, but are distinguished by an act of the Intellect according to their increase and abatement.

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.