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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 108

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Facing Pages · Branch 164 of 244

The 138 Canons · Canon 108

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Latin

De conflictu Aquilæ & Leonis variè scriptum est, quia leo omnium robustissimum est animal, idcirco plures aquilæ ad ipsum debellandum concurrant necesse est, tres ad minus, aut etiam plures, vsque ad decem: Quo pauciores, eo grauior lucta, & victoria tardior; quò autem plures aquilæ eo breuior pugna, & promptior Leonis direptio sequetur: Fœlicior septem Aquilarum numerus ex Lullio, aut nouem ex Seniore desumatur.

English

Different things have been written about the conflict of the Eagle and the Lion. Because the lion is the strongest of all animals, several eagles must come together to defeat it: at least three, or more, up to ten. The fewer they are, the harder the struggle and the slower the victory; the more eagles there are, the shorter the fight and the more rapid the plundering of the Lion that follows. Let the more fortunate number of seven Eagles be taken from Lull, or nine from Senior.

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.