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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 14

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The 138 Canons · Canon 14

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Latin

De occulti sui lapidis materiâ ideò diverso sermone scripserunt philosophi, ita ut plurimi verbis dissentientes, reipsâ tamen optimè consentiant; neque dissona eorum loquutio scientiam ambiguitatis aut falsitatis arguit, cum res eadem pluribus linguis, variis enunciationibus, & multifario caractere exprimi, tum etiam una aut multiplex diversâ ratione dici valeat.

English

Philosophers have written of the matter of their hidden stone in differing language, so that many who disagree in words nevertheless agree very well in substance. Their discordant speech does not convict the science of ambiguity or falsehood: the same thing can be expressed in several languages, in various statements and in many kinds of characters, and can also be called one or many according to the standpoint adopted.

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.