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 · Canon 1

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Facing Pages · Branch 16 of 244

The 138 Canons · Canon 1

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Latin

Divinae huius scientiae principium est timor Domini: finis autem charitas & amor proximi. Templis & Xenodochiis constituendis ac dotandis messis haec aurea debetur: ut quod à Deo concessum, Deo etiam acceptum referatur: tum etiam patriae periclitanti ut auxilium, carcere aut captivitate detentis ut libertas, & inopia laborantibus ut solamen quaeratur.

English

The beginning of this divine science is the fear of the Lord; its end is charity and love of one's neighbour. This golden harvest is owed to the founding and endowment of temples and hospices, so that what God has bestowed may also be acknowledged as his gift. It is also to provide aid for a country in peril, freedom for those held in prison or captivity, and relief for those suffering poverty.

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.