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 · Canon 61

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Facing Pages · Branch 93 of 244

The 138 Canons · Canon 61

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Latin

Lapidis extrema sunt Argentum vivum naturale & Elixir perfectum; media autem, quae interiacent, quorum ope fit progressus operis, triplicis sunt generis; vel enim ad materiam, vel ad operationes, vel etiam ad signa demonstrativa spectant: extremis & mediis illis totum opus absolvitur.

English

The extremes of the stone are natural quicksilver and the perfect elixir. The intermediates lying between them, by whose aid the work advances, are of three kinds: they concern matter, operations, or demonstrative signs. The whole work is accomplished through these extremes and intermediates.

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.