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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

Lunae nomine Lunam vulgarem philosophi non intelligunt, quae etiam in opere suo masculus est, & in copulatione masculi partes agit; duorum itaque masculorum nefariam & contra Naturam coniunctionem tentare nemo praesumat, neque ex tali copulâ ullam prolis spem concipiat, sed Gabritium Beiae, fratrem sorori,

Coniugio iunget stabili, propriamque dicabit;

ut generosum inde Solis filium suscipiat.

English

By the name moon, philosophers do not mean the common moon, which in their work is also male and plays the male's part in coupling. Let no one therefore presume to attempt an impious and unnatural union of two males, or conceive any hope of offspring from such coupling. Instead he will join Gabritius to Beia, brother to sister,

in lasting marriage, and declare her his own,

so that from them he may obtain a noble son of the sun.

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.