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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 · Canon 107

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Facing Pages · Branch 162 of 244

The 138 Canons · Canon 107

Latin

Ignem suum occultandi studio plurimum incubuere philosophi, ita vt ipsum attingere vix ausi fuerint, sed per qualitatum & proprietatum descriptionem magis quam per nomen indicent; vt sit ignis aëreus, vaporosus, humidus & siccus, clarus, astralis, qui ad nutum artificis intendi aut remitti gradatim facilè possit. Plura de ignis notitiâ desideranti Lullij opera satisfacient, qui practicæ arcana candidis animis candidè aperuit.

English

The philosophers devoted the greatest effort to concealing their fire, scarcely daring to touch upon it. They indicate it through a description of its qualities and properties rather than by name: it is an airy, vaporous fire, wet and dry, bright, astral, which can easily be increased or abated by degrees at the artist’s will. Whoever desires fuller knowledge of fire will find satisfaction in the works of Lull, who frankly disclosed the secrets of practice to candid minds.

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.