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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 79

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The 138 Canons · Canon 79

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Latin

Ignis naturæ demum elementorum vices absoluens, externo igne vrgente, ex occulto fit manifestus: Lilium tunc tingit crocus: candentis pueri iam validioris facti genas rubor occupat: Regi futuro corona paratur. Hæc est primi operis consummatio, elementorumque rotatio perfecta, cuius signum est, cum omnia terminantur in siccum, & corpus spiritu vacuum, pulsu motúque carens iacet: Sic tandem in terrâ omnia elementa quiescunt.

English

The fire of nature, finally completing the succession of the elements under the urging of external fire, becomes manifest from its hidden state. Then saffron colours the Lily; redness takes possession of the cheeks of the white child, now grown stronger; a crown is prepared for the future King. This is the completion of the first work and the perfected rotation of the elements. Its sign appears when everything ends in dryness and the body lies empty of spirit, without pulse or movement. Thus all the elements finally rest in earth.

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.