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 · Latin

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The 138 Canons · Latin

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Latin

Mercurius ex imperfectis metallis solus tincturae solis & lunae suscipiendae in opere lapidis philosophici aptus est, ut ipse tincturâ plenè imbutus caetera uberrimè tingat: Sulfure tamen invisibili priùs impraegnari debet, ut visibili perfectorum corporum tincturâ largius inficiatur, eamque multo cum foenore rependat.

English

Among imperfect metals, mercury alone is fitted to receive the tincture of sun and moon in the work of the philosophical stone, so that, fully imbued with that tincture itself, it may tinge the others most abundantly. It must first, however, be impregnated with invisible sulphur, so that it may receive more fully the visible tincture of perfect bodies and repay it with great increase.

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.