The Secret Work of the Hermetic Philosophy

Name: The Secret Work of the Hermetic Philosophy
Author: Attributed to Jean d’Espagnet

A Fresh English Translation from the Complete 1623 Latin Arcanum

Explore the Lexicon

The Secret Work of the Hermetic PhilosophyThe 138 Canons · English

Swipe or use the arrow keys.

English Page · Branch 122 of 244

The 138 Canons · English

Book Mode

Latin

Primus Naturæ motor est ignis externus, Ignis interni & totius operis moderator: philosophus itaque ipsius regimen optimè calleat, gradus & puncta obseruet; ab ipso enim salus aut ruina operi imminet. Sic ars Naturæ opitulatur, vtriusque autem minister est philosophus.

English

The first mover of Nature is external fire, the governor of internal Fire and of the whole work. The philosopher should therefore know its regulation thoroughly and observe its degrees and precise points, for the work’s preservation or ruin depends upon it. In this way art assists Nature, and the philosopher is the servant of both.

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.