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

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The Secret Work of the Hermetic PhilosophyThe 138 Canons · English

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English Page · Branch 152 of 244

The 138 Canons · English

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Latin

Ignis internus medius est inter motorem suum & materiam, vnde fit vt qualiter ab illo mouetur, similiter hanc moueat; si intensè aut remissè impulsus fuerit, eodem modo in materiâ suâ operabitur. Informatio denique totius operis ab Ignis externi mensurâ pendet.

English

Internal fire stands between its mover and the matter. Consequently, it moves the matter in the same way that it is moved by its mover: if it is impelled strongly or gently, it will act in the same manner upon its own matter. The forming of the whole work ultimately depends on the measure of external Fire.

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.