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 · Canon 9

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Facing Pages · Branch 25 of 244

The 138 Canons · Canon 9

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Latin

Veritatis amator paucos autores, sed optimae notae & exploratae fidei manibus terat; facilia intellectu suspecta habeat, maximè in mysticis nominibus & arcanis operationibus, in obscuris enim veritas delitescit, nec unquam dolosius, quàm quum apertè, nec verius quàm quum obscurè scribunt philosophi.

English

Let the lover of truth keep a few authors constantly in hand, but authors of the best reputation and proven trustworthiness. Let him suspect what is easy to understand, especially mystical names and secret operations, for truth lies hidden in obscure things. Philosophers never write more deceitfully than when they write openly, nor more truthfully than when they write obscurely.

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.