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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

Ex peregrinis tamen coloribus quidam extra tempus acciti operi malè ominantur, ut nigredo repetita; corvorum enim pullos nido relicto nusquam ad eum regredi patiendum est. Praecox rubedo; haec etenim semel & in fine tantùm certam messis spem ostendit; si priùs materia rubeat, maximae ariditatis argumentum est, non sine summo periculo, quod solo caelo imbrem illicò largiente averti potest.

English

Some of the foreign colours, however, if summoned out of season, bode ill for the work, such as a return of blackness: once the young crows have left the nest, they must never be allowed to return to it. Another is premature redness, for redness gives a sure hope of harvest only once, at the end. If the matter reddens earlier, it is evidence of extreme dryness and entails the greatest danger, which can be averted only if heaven immediately bestows rain.

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.