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 · Latin

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Latin Page · Branch 169 of 244

The 138 Canons · Latin

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Latin

Sed vt remoto omni dolo candidè agamus, vnicum vas tantùm ad vtriusque sulfuris opus terminandum sufficit, ad opus elixiris aliud, digestionum enim diuersitas vasorum mutationem non exigit, imò ne mutetur aut aperiatur vas vsque ad primi operis finem, maximè cauendum est.

English

But to speak candidly, setting aside all deceit, only one vessel suffices to finish the work of either sulphur, and another for the work of the elixir. For the diversity of digestions does not require a change of vessels; on the contrary, the greatest care must be taken that the vessel is neither changed nor opened until the end of the first work.

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.