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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

Simili modo se res habet in opere philosophico, nam materia lapidis ignem suum interiorem possidet, qui partim innatus, partim etiam more philosophico additus est, vniuntur quippe illi duo & introrsum coeunt, quia homogenei sunt: Internus ille externo eget, quem philosophus secundum artis & Naturæ præcepta ministrat: hic priorem ad motum impellit. Ignes illi, quasi binæ sunt rotæ, quarum occulta à sensibili serius ocius percussa mouetur: sic ars naturæ auxiliatur.

English

It is the same in the philosophical work. The matter of the stone possesses its own inward fire, partly innate and partly added in the philosophical manner. These two are united and come together within, because they are homogeneous. That internal fire needs an external one, which the philosopher supplies according to the precepts of art and Nature; this impels the former to motion. These fires are like two wheels: the hidden one is moved when struck, sooner or later, by the perceptible one. Thus art assists nature.

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.