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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 · Latin

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The 138 Canons · Latin

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Latin

Tria pulcherrimorum florum in horto sapientum genera perquirenda, imò invenienda sunt; puniceae violae, candens Lilium, & purpureus immortalisque Amaranthus. Non longè à fonte illo liminari vernantes violae tibi primùm occurrent, quae à largo flumine aureo per rivulos irrigatae nitidissimum Saphiri subobscuri colorem induent: Sol tibi signa dabit. Tam pretiosos flores à radice suâ non separabis quousque Lapidem componas; recentes enim excerptae plus succi & tincturae habent: tunc sedulus carpe manu subtili & ingeniosâ; nam, ni fata obstent, faciles sequentur, & flore uno avulso, non deficiet alter aureus. Longiori curâ & labore Lilium & Amaranthus succedent.

English

Three kinds of most beautiful flowers must be sought, indeed found, in the garden of the wise: crimson violets, the shining lily, and the purple, immortal amaranth. Not far from that fountain at the threshold, the flowering violets will meet you first. Watered through rivulets from a plentiful golden river, they will take on the most brilliant colour of a somewhat dark sapphire. The sun will give you signs. Do not separate flowers so precious from their root until you compose the stone, for freshly gathered they have more juice and tincture. Then pluck them diligently with a delicate and skilful hand: unless the fates oppose, they will follow easily, and when one flower is plucked, another golden one will not be lacking. With longer care and labour the lily and amaranth will follow.

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.