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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 123

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Facing Pages · Branch 182 of 244

The 138 Canons · Canon 123

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Latin

Ne quid intactum relinquamus, sciant philosophiæ studiosi ex primo illo sulfure aliud secundum gigni & multiplicari in infinitum posse: sapiens æternam ignis illius cœlestis mineram nactus accuratè custodiat. Ex quâ autem materiâ gignitur sulfur, ex eâdem multiplicatur, additâ primi portiunculâ, omnia tamen ad lancem: cætera ex Lullio petant tyrones, indicasse sufficiat.

English

To leave nothing untouched, let students of philosophy know that from that first sulphur a second can be generated and multiplied without limit. The wise man who has obtained an everlasting mine of that heavenly fire should guard it carefully. Sulphur is multiplied from the same matter from which it is generated, with a small portion of the first added, but everything according to the balance. Let beginners seek the rest in Lull; it is enough to have indicated it.

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.