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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 78

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Facing Pages · Branch 119 of 244

The 138 Canons · Canon 78

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Latin

Aquæ per septem giros seu reuolutiones circumactæ succedit aër qui totidem circulis & reductionibus rotatur, donec figatur deorsum, & Saturno expulso Iupiter insignia & regni moderamen suscipiat, cuius aduentu infans philosophicus formatur, in vtero nutritur, ac tandem in lucem prodit, candida & serena facie lunæ splendorem referens.

English

After water has been carried through seven circuits or revolutions, air succeeds it. This is rotated through as many circles and reductions until it is fixed below and, Saturn being driven out, Jupiter takes up the insignia and government of the kingdom. At his coming the philosophical infant is formed, nourished in the womb, and finally brought into the light, reflecting the Moon’s splendour in a white and serene face.

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.