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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 3

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Facing Pages · Branch 19 of 244

The 138 Canons · Canon 3

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Latin

Lapidis Philosophorum conficiendi scientia est perfecta universae Naturae artisque circa regnum metallorum cognitio, cuius praxis in metallorum principiis per analysim investigandis, iisque longe perfectioribus factis, quam antea fuerant iterum copulandis versatur, ut inde resultet medicina catholica imperfectis metallis perficiendis, aegrisque corporibus, cuiuscunque generis sint, restaurandis potentissima.

English

The science of making the philosophers' stone is a complete knowledge of all nature and art concerning the kingdom of metals. Its practice consists in investigating the principles of metals through analysis and, after making them far more perfect than they were before, joining them together again. From this there is to arise a universal medicine, supremely powerful for perfecting imperfect metals and restoring diseased bodies of every kind.

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.