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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 · English

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The 138 Canons · English

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Latin

Tempora Lapidis quærentem philosophorum signifer docebit; primum enim opus ad Album in domo Lunæ; secundum in secundâ Mercurij domo terminari debet. Primum autem opus ad rubeum in secundo Veneris domicilio; postremum verò in altero regali Iouis solio desinet, à quo Rex noster potentissimus coronam pretiosissimis Rubinis contextam suscipiet, Sic in se sua per vestigia voluitur annus.

English

The philosophers’ zodiac will teach the seeker the times of the Stone. For the first work towards the White should end in the house of the Moon, and the second in Mercury’s second house. The first work towards the red, however, will end in the second dwelling of Venus, and the last in the other royal throne of Jupiter, from whom our most powerful King will receive a crown woven from the most precious Rubies. Thus the year rolls back upon itself along its own tracks.

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.