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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

Liquor ille siccus & pretiosissimus humidum radicale metallorum constituit; vitrum propterea ab antiquorum nonnullis dictum est; vitrum enim ex humido radicali cineribus pertinaciter inhaerente elicitur; quod non nisi extremae flammae cedit: Mercurius tamen noster centralis benignissimo licèt longiori igne Naturae se prodit.

English

That dry and most precious liquid constitutes the radical moisture of metals. For that reason some of the ancients called it glass: glass is drawn from the radical moisture that clings stubbornly to ashes and yields only to the fiercest flame. Our central mercury, however, reveals itself through nature's most gentle fire, though it takes longer.

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.