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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

Lapidem suum ex septem lapidibus extrahunt Philosophi, quorum duo praecipui diversae naturae sunt & virtutis; unus sulphur invisibile, alter Mercurium spirituale infundit: ille calorem & siccitatem, hic verò frigiditatem & humiditatem inducit; sic eorum ope elementorum vires in lapide multiplicantur: Prior in orientali plagâ: posterior in occidentali reperitur: uterque tingendi & multiplicandi vim habet; & nisi ab illis primam tincturam Lapis hauserit, neque tinget, neque multiplicabit.

English

Philosophers draw their stone from seven stones, of which the two principal ones differ in nature and power. One infuses invisible sulphur, the other spiritual mercury: the former introduces heat and dryness, the latter coldness and moisture. By their aid the powers of the elements are thus multiplied in the stone. The former is found in the eastern region, the latter in the western. Each has the power of tinging and multiplying; unless the stone has drawn its first tincture from them, it will neither tinge nor multiply.

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.