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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

Huius circuli motum prioris motu leuiorem esse oportet, maximè in principio eius reuolutionis, ne coruorum pulli in nido suo larguo flumine submergantur, & mundus nascens diluuio deleatur. Hic est aquæ ponderator & mensurarum explorator; aquam enim ex Geometricarum rationum præceptis distribuit. Nullum fere maius arcanum in tota operis praxi habetur, quàm ratus & ad iustitiam libratus huius circuli motus; Infantem enim philosophicum informat, eique animam & vitam inspirat.

English

The motion of this circle must be gentler than that of the former, especially at the beginning of its revolution, lest the young crows be submerged in their nest by an abundant stream and the newborn world be destroyed by a flood. This circle is the weigher of water and the examiner of measures, for it distributes water according to the rules of geometrical proportions. There is scarcely a greater secret in the whole practice of the work than the duly established and justly balanced motion of this circle: it forms the philosophical Infant and breathes soul and life into it.

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.