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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 · Latin

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The 138 Canons · Latin

Latin

Elixiris multiplicandi via triplex est per primam ℞ Elixiris rubei pondus vnum, quod aquæ suæ rubeæ ponderibus nouem admisce, ac in vase solutorio in aquam dissolue, materiam optimè dissolutam ac vnitam lento igne decoquendo coagula, donec in Rubinum siue laminam rubeam roboretur, quam postea oleo suo rubeo incera, modo præscripto, donec fluat. Sic medicinam decuplo primâ potentiorem habebis: Facilè & breui negotium peragitur.

English

There are three ways to multiply the Elixir. By the first, take one weight of red Elixir, mix it with nine weights of its own red water, and dissolve it into water in a dissolving vessel. Coagulate the thoroughly dissolved and united matter by cooking it over a slow fire until it hardens into a Ruby or red plate; afterwards cerate this with its own red oil in the prescribed manner until it flows. Thus you will have a medicine ten times more powerful than the first. The business is performed easily and in a short time.

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.