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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 · Canon 69

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Facing Pages · Branch 106 of 244

The 138 Canons · Canon 69

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Latin

In secundâ digestione Spiritus Domini ambulat super aquas; Lux fieri incipit, & separatio aquarum ab aquis; Sol & Luna renovantur; elementa à Chao extrahuntur, ut in spiritu perfectè mixta novum mundum constituant; novum caelum & nova terra formantur: omnia denique corpora spiritualia fiunt: Corvorum pulli in columbas mutatis pennis migrare incipiunt; Aquila & Leo aeterno nexu se amplectuntur. Haec autem mundi regeneratio fit à spiritu igneo in aquae formâ descendente, & originale peccatum detergente; Aqua enim philosophorum ignis est, quae calore balnei excitante movetur. Sed vide ut separatio aquarum fiat in pondere & mensurâ, ne quae sub caelo manent, terram immergant, aut quae super caelum rapiuntur aridam nimis destituant.

Hic sterilem exiguus nec deseret humor arenam.

English

In the second digestion the Spirit of the Lord walks over the waters. Light begins to come into being, and waters to be separated from waters. Sun and moon are renewed; the elements are drawn from chaos so that, perfectly mixed in spirit, they may constitute a new world. A new heaven and a new earth are formed; finally all bodies become spiritual. Changing their feathers, the young crows begin to turn into doves; eagle and lion embrace in an eternal bond. This regeneration of the world is brought about by a fiery spirit descending in the form of water and washing away original sin. For the philosophers' water is fire, set in motion by the stimulating warmth of the bath. But see that the separation of the waters is made in weight and measure, lest those remaining below heaven submerge the earth, or those carried above heaven leave it too dry.

Here even scant moisture will not desert the barren sand.

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.