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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 · Canon 58

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Facing Pages · Branch 87 of 244

The 138 Canons · Canon 58

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Latin

℞ Virginem alatam optimè lotam & mundatam, semine spirituali primi masculi impregnatam, intemeratae virginitatis gloriâ remanente gravidam, tinctae puniceo colore genae prodent: Illam secundo masculo, absque adulterii suspicione, copula, ex cuius corporeo semine iterum concipiet, ac venerandam utriusque sexus prolem tandem pariet, unde immortalis potentissimorum Regum prosapia exurget.

English

Take the winged virgin, most thoroughly washed and cleansed, impregnated with the spiritual seed of the first male: her cheeks, tinged crimson, will reveal her pregnancy, though the glory of her inviolate virginity remains. Join her to the second male without suspicion of adultery; from his bodily seed she will conceive again and at last bear a venerable offspring of both sexes, from which an immortal line of most powerful kings will arise.

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.