PROCLUSONTHETIMAEUSOFPLATOBooks15,withextendednotes

ProclusDiadochus,thePlatonicsuccessor

TranslatedbyThomasTaylor EditedbyMartinEuser,June,2010

Directoryofcontents Introduction NamesofthephilosophersquotedbyProclus Anexplanationofcertainterms BookOne BookTwo BookThree BookFour BookFive Extendednotes Listofimportantterms SomeimportantGreekGods

INTRODUCTIONTOPROCLUSONTHETIMAEUSOFPLATO

ThomasTaylor

Ofthatgoldenchainofphilosophers,who,havingthemselveshappily penetrated,luminouslyunfoldedtootherstheprofunditiesofthe philosophyofPlato,Proclusisindisputablythelargestandmostrefulgent link.Bornwithageniustranscendentlygreat,andaccompaniedthroughlife withafortunesingularlygood,heexhibitedinhisownpersonaunionof therarestkind,inwhichpowerconcurredwithwill,thebenefitresulting fromgenuinephilosophywiththeabilityofimpartingit,andinwhich WisdomwasinseparablefromProsperity.Theeulogiumthereforeof AmmoniusHermeas,"thatProcluspossessedthepowerofunfoldingthe opinionsoftheancients,andascientificjudgementofthenatureofthings, inthehighestperfectionpossibletohumanity,"*willbeimmediately assentedtobyeveryone,whoisanadeptinthewritingsofthis incomparableman. Irejoicetherefore,intheopportunitywhichisnowaffordedmeof presentingtotheEnglishreaderatranslationofoneofthegreatest productionsofthisCorypheanphilosopher;thoughunfortunatelylikemost ofhisotherworks,ithasbeentransmittedtousinamutilatedstate.For theseCommentariesscarcelyexplainathirdpartoftheTimaeus;andfrom apassageinOlympiodorusOntheMeteorsofAristotle,*thereisevery reasontobelievethatProclusleftnopartoftheTimaeuswithouthis masterlyelucidations.Thisislikewisemorethanprobable,fromwhat Marinussaysinhislifeofhim,"thathewasamanlaborioustoamiracle;"

foritcannotbesupposedthatsuchamanwouldleavethegreaterpartof oneofthemostimportantdialoguesofPlatounelucidated,andparticularly astheseCommentarieswerewrittenbyhim(asthesameMarinusinforms us)intheflowerofhisage,andthathepreferredthembeyondallhisother tEi6enmiijfteic&r\vi\dai\\Ltveuseveyiceivirepirr\vTOV0I/3XIOUacupyvtuxv, aiTovriixovevaavTegTUVe^riyrjaeuvTOVdeuovTJ^IWC8idctOKo\ovIIpo/cXouTOV irXaruviKov&ia8oxov,TOVeiL\WKOV(Phillip)inthisplace.PT. Insteadoficpoc.TOt%i)pi\iievovhere,Iread,Kmirpoaai5iaTOe^prnievovetinor. Politicus270de. Tim.34bc. 22b"Towhomthepriest:Becauseallyoursoulsarejuvenile;neither 1,104containinganyancientopinionderivedfromremotetradition,norany disciplinehoaryfromitsexistenceinformerperiodsoftime." CJuvenilityofsoul,inwhatisheresaid,isanalogoustorenovationof life,andtomorepartialcauses;butremotetradition,tostable intelligence,andtomoreancientprinciples.Andhoarydisciplineis analogoustothecomprehension,whichisunitedandalwaysthesame, ofthenatureandcompositionofallthattheworldcontains;through which,indeed,thefirstandmostdivineofmundanenatures comprehendtotallyandexemptlythecausesofallgeneratedbeings,and

eternallyandantecedentlycontaininthemselvestemporalnatures;but comprehendthingsmoreproximatetotheuniversepartiallyand subordinately,asfallingshortoftheunicalintelligenceofwholes. HencetosomeoftheGodshoarinessisadapted,buttoothersjuvenility. Forhoarinessisasymbolofintelligenceandanundefiledlife,andwhich isremotefromgeneration;butjuvenilityofmorepartialknowledge,and whichnowcomesintocontactwithgeneratednatures. 22c"Butthereasonofthisisthemultitudeandvarietyofdestructionsof thehumanrace,whichformerlyhavebeen,andagainwillbe:the greatestofthese,indeed,arisingfromfireandwater;butthelesserfrom tenthousandothercontingencies." Inwhatisheresaid,aninquiryismade,whytheGreeksarealways children,butthereisnodisciplinewiththemhoaryfromitsexistence Dinformerperiodsoftime?Or,ifyouwishtosurveytheparadigmsof thesethings,theenquiryis,throughwhatcausethejuniorfabrication presidesovervariety,generatednaturesalwaysrisingintoexistence,and suchasareancientbecomingrenovated?Before,however,hediscovers thecauseofsuchlikedoubts,hefirstdiscussestheperiodsinthe universe,andpointsoutthevarietyofthem;ofwhichthefirst principlesoftheGods,indeed,haveanantecedentknowledge,stablyand unitedly;butthesecondprinciplespartially,andinsuchawayasto 1.105comeintocontactwiththenatureofthethingswhichtheygovern;for thisitisalwaystoknowwhatispresent.Buttoretaininthememory thingsthatareabsent,isanalogoustotheperceptionofwholes separatelyandstably.Thereare,therefore,certainvariousperiodsof thingsintheworld;butitmustbeadmitted,thatthereisalways generationandalwayscorruptionintheuniverse.*Forthatwhichis tTim.28a. sensibleisrisingintoexistence,andtendingtocorruption,butnever trulyis.Thisgeneration,however,anddestruction,mustbesurveyed inonewayintheheavens,andinanotherinmaterialnatures.For,in theformer,amutationoffigures,andthemotionofperpetually Egeneratedbodies,preexist.Butgeneration,beinggovernedthroughthe mutationsofthesebodies,evolvesitsowncircle.Inthiscircle,however, differentelementshavedominionatdifferenttimes.Andwholes, indeed,alwayspreservethesameandasimilarorderaccordingtonature; butthedifferentpartsofthesewholessubsistatdifferenttimes,either conformablytonature,orpreternaturally,inabecomingmanner.For* eitherthewholesandthepartsalwayssubsistaccordingtonature;or both,onacertaintime,haveapreternaturalsubsistence;ortheonehas apreternatural,buttheotheranaturalsubsistence,andthisinatwofold

respect.If,therefore,allthings[perpetually]existedaccordingtonature, thevarietyofgenerationwouldbedissipated,perpetualnatureswould betheextremitiesofbeings,andthefirstessenceswouldbethelastof allthings.Butifallthingsweredisposedpreternaturally,therewould benothingstable;fromwhichaninvariablesamenessofsubsistence mightbepresentwithmutablenatures;norwouldthecircleof generationbepreserved.Anditisimpossiblethatwholesshouldhave apreternatural,butpartsanatural,subsistence;forpartsfollowwholes, andwholesarecomprehensiveofparts.Henceitisimpossiblethatthe formershould,atacertaintime,existpreternaturally,butthelatter remaininaconditionconformabletonature.Forneitherisitpossible, Fwhenthewholeofouranimalnatureismoved,anditsorderdestroyed, thatanyoneofitspartsshouldstillexistaccordingtonature.It remains,therefore,thatwholesbeingestablishedinanaturalsubsistence, thepartsatonetimefollowingthewholes,aredisposedconformablyto nature,butatanothertimehaveapreternaturaltendency.Butasof partialanimals,eachisindeedalwaysgeneratedandcorrupted,on 1,106accountoftheeffluxofthemintheuniverse;butoneismoregenerated, andanotherismorecorruptedthananother,andoneismoreadaptedto existence,butanothertocorruption;thusalsotheseveralpartsofthe 33Aearth,receivingbothanaturalandpreternaturalsubsistence,someofthe partsaremoreabletosubsistconformablytonature,butothersare moreadaptedtosustaindeviationsintoapreternaturalconditionof being;this,indeed,onaccountofadifferenttemperament,but afterwardsonaccountofthepositionbeingdifferentofdifferentparts, andinthenextplace,onaccountofhabitudetotheheavens.For tTapisomittedhereintheoriginal. differentpartsoftheearthareadaptedtodifferentpartsoftheheavens, thoughtheyarepreservedbyotherfigures[orconfigurations].Andin additiontoallthathasbeensaid,onaccountofthepowerofthe inspectiveGods,andofthedivinitieswhopresideoverclimates,and whoareallotteddifferentpeculiarities;somerejoicingmoreinmotion, butothersinpermanency,someinsameness,butotherindifference; abundantcorruptionslikewiseofpartialnaturesbeingproducedin differentplaces;theformsorspeciesoftheuniversehaveaneverfailing subsistence.Formanisalways,theearthisalways,andeachofthe elementsalwaysis.Forsincecorruptionandgenerationproceedfrom thecelestialfigures;buttheseareimitationsofdivineintellections,and theintellectionsaresuspendedfromintellectualforms,butfromthese stabilityisderived;thisbeingthecase,continuityisproducedin mundaneforms,andthevisiblefiguresarepreservativeofspecies,but Bcorruptiveofparts,soastocausethingswhicharegeneratedintime,to bealsodissolvedintime,accordingtoacircularprogression.Forthe

universedoesnotenvysalvationtosuchthingsasareabletoexistin conjunctionwithit;butthatwhichisincapableofbeingadministered togetherwiththeuniverse,isnotabletoabideinit.ThelawofJupiter, however,expels*fromessenceeverythingofthiskindasdisgraceful. Foritisperfectlyimpossiblethatwhatisdisgracefulshouldremainin theuniverse.Butthatwhichisdeprivedoforderintheuniverseis disgraceful.Wehaveshownthereforewhy*abundantandpartial corruptionsareproducedindifferentplacesoftheearth. Inthenextplaceitmustbeshownwhythegreatestofdestructionsare throughthepredominanceoffireandwater,andnotthroughthatofthe 1,107otherelements.Fire,therefore,hasanefficaciousandproductiveorder intheelements,issufficientlyabletoproceedthroughallotherthings, andisnaturallyadaptedtodividethem.Butwater,isindeedmoved withgreaterfacilitythanearth,yetismoredifficultlypassivethanair. Andbyitsfacilityofmotion,indeed,itisabletooperate;butthrough beingpassivewithdifficulty,itisnotaffectedbyviolence,norbecomes imbecilewhendissipated,likeair;sothatitreasonablyfollows,that Cviolent,andthegreatestdestructionsareeffectedbydelugesand conflagrations.Youmayalsosay,thattheremainingtwoelementsare moreadaptedtous.Forwearepedestrious,andalliedtoearth;andas weareonallsidescomprehendedbyair,inwhichwelive,andwhich tForep.0a\\eihere,itisnecessarytoreade/c/taXXa. XForSioninthisplace,read5ian. werespire,itisevidentthatourbodiesareofakindrednaturewithit. Hencetheseelements,asbeingmorealliedto,arelessdestructiveofus; buttheothers,whicharecontrarytothese,bringwiththemmore violentdestructions.Fartherstill,accordingtoanothermodeofsurvey also,theseelementsearthandair,togetherwithsufferingthemselves,and sufferingpriortous,appeartooperateonus.Forairwhenitbecomes putrid,producespestilence;andearthwhendivulsed,abundant absorptions.Butpestilenceisapassionofair,andchasmsand earthquakesarepassionsofearth.Fire,however,andwaterareableto operateonus,withoutbeingpreviouslyaffectedthemselves;theformer bypermeating,butthelatterbyexternalimpulsion.Hencetheyare capableofproducingmoreextendeddestructions,asbeingmorevigorous andpowerfulthantheotherelements,inconsequenceofnotcorrupting throughbeingthemselvesdistempered.Deluges,therefore,and conflagrationsarethegreatestdestructions.Butfamineandpestilence, Dearthquakesandwars,andothersuchlikepartialcalamities,maybe producedfromothercauses.Andofallthese,theeffectivecauseindeed istheorderoftheuniverse,andpriortothis,thejuniorfabrication, whichalwaysmakesneweffects,andatdifferenttimesproducesthe

generationofdifferentthings.Forthisisassertedbythefablesofthe Greeks,andisindicatedbythetraditionoftheEgyptians,whichmystically saysofthesun,thatheassumesdifferentformsinthesignsofthezodiac.* Itisnot,therefore,atallwonderful,ifthoughtherearemany destructions,andinmanyplaces,yetmanandeveryformalwaysexist, throughtheimmutableprogressionofdivineforms.Forthroughthese, theproductiveprinciplesintheuniversepossessaninvariablesameness ofsubsistence,becauseeverythingwhichisgeneratedfroman immoveablecause,isalwayssuspendedfromitscause. 22c"Fortherelationsubsistingamongyou,thatPhaetontheoffspringof theSun,7onacertaintimeattemptingtodrivethechariotofhisfather, andnotbeingabletokeepthetrackobservedbyhisparent,burntup thenaturesbelongingtotheearth,andperishedhimselfblastedby thunder,isindeedsaidtohavetheformofafable." Thatthefirstprinciplesofbeingscomprehend*indeedthingswhich aremoved,stably,thingsmultiplied,unitedly,partialnatures,totally, andsuchasaredividedaccordingtotime,eternally,isevident.Andit tSeethisexplainedfurtheron,inadditionalnote2ofthesecondvolume,p.1047; seealsoIamblichusdeMyst.VII,3. XForitapexovalhere,itisnecessarytoreadirepiexovm. Eislikewisewellknown,thattheologistsreferthecausesofperiods,and ofthepsychicalascentsanddescents,andofallmultipliedanddivided life,totheprinciplesthatareproximatelyestablishedabovetheworld. Henceitappearstome,thatwhatisnowsaid,refersthemythology aboutPhaetontotheGreeks,andtheknowledgeofSolon.Forallsuchlike corruptionsandgenerationsderivetheircompletionfromthejunior fabrication,[orthefabricationofthejunior,ormundaneGods,]from whichalsothecirculationofforms,andthevarietyofcorporealand psychicalperiods,isperfected.As,however,indivinenatures,things secondaryremaining,perfectionisimpartedtothemfromsuchasare first;thusalso,theEgyptianpreservingwhatisrelatedbytheGreeks, teachesSolonfromthisconcerningthingsofwhichhehadaknowledge priortoSolon.Whatthereforedoesthisnarrationobscurelysignify? Thatpsychicallives,andthenatureofbodies,havestillmultiform mutations.Andoverthese,indeed,thesupermundanepowerspreside; 1,109buttheyareconnectedlycomprehendedbytheintelligibleordersofthe FGods.Andoftheformer,indeed,theapparentmeaningofthenarration beinghistoricallydeliveredbytheGreeks,isasymbol;butofthelatter, thepriestinvestigatingtherealmeaningofthehistory,andunfoldingit intolight,toSolon.Andthusmuchhasbeensaidbyusforthesakeof thewholetheory,andinordertoshowthatthenarrationisnot

discordantwiththethingsproposedtobediscussed. ThefablerespectingPhaeton,however,requiresamanifolddiscussion. Forinthefirstplace,itisnecessarytoconsiderithistorically;inthe secondplace,physically;andinthethirdplace,philosophically.History thereforesays,thatPhaetonwastheoffspringoftheSun,andof 34AClymenethedaughterofOcean,andthatdrivingthechariotofhis father,hedeviatedfromthepropertrack.ThatJupiteralsofearingfor thesafetyoftheuniverse,destroyedhimbythunder;buthebeing blastedbythunder,fellaboutEridanus.Thefirelikewiseproceeding fromhimburnteverythingthatwasnourishedbytheearth:andhis sisters,theHeliades,lamentedhisfall.Andsuchisthehistorical accountofthefable.Itis,however,necessarytoadmitthata conflagrationtookplace;forthewholenarrationisintroducedforthe sakeofthis;and,also,thatthecauseofitisneitheranimpossibility,nor acertainthingwhichmayeasilyhappen.Butitwillbeimpossibleif someonefanciesthattheSunatonetimedriveshisownchariot,and atanothertimebeingchangedceasestodriveit,andcommitshisproper employmenttoanother.Anditwillbeamongthenumberofthings whichmaybeeasilyaccomplished,ifitissupposedthatthisPhaeton wasacomet,whichbeingdissolvedproducedanintolerabledryness fromvehementheat.Forthissuppositionisgenerallyadopted. Porphyrythereforesays,thatcertainsignsmaybeassumedfromthemotion ofcomets.Forwhenthismotionistowardsthesouthernparts,itis Bindicativeoftempests,towardsthenorth,ofdrynessfromexcessiveheat, towardstheeast,ofpestilence,andtowardsthewest,offertility.The disappearancelikewiseofthecomet,issaidtobethedestructionby thunder. If,however,itberequisitetodissolvethefableinamorephysical 1,110way,itisbettertoadopttheexplanationofourassociateDomninus, thatsometimessogreataquantityofdryexhalationiscollected together,astobeeasilyenkindledbythesolarheat.Butthisbeing enkindled,itisnotatallwonderful,thatitshouldburnallthatpartof theearthwhichissituatedunderit,andproducesuchaconflagrationas thatofwhichthefablespeaks.Inconsequence,therefore,ofthe inflammationbeingproducedbytheSun,theauthorsoffableswen; inducedtocallPhaetontheoffspringoftheSun;denominatingthis offspringamale,onaccountoftheefficacyofthepoweroffire,and becauselikewiseitisusualtocallfireamale,inthesamemanneras earthafemale;andtodenominatetheonematter,buttheotherform. Butbecausethisexhalationdidnotproceedinapathparalleltothatof CtheSun,Mythologistsassert,thatPhaetondidnotdrivethechariot conformablytothetrackofhisfather.Thedissolutionofthecloud abouttheearth,wascalledbythem,thefallofPhaeton;andthe extinctionofthiscloud,thethunderingofJupiter.Buttheabundance

ofrainaftertheextinctionofthecloud,(forthistakesplaceaftergreat conflagrations)isthelamentationofthesisters,orthewetexhalations, inasmuchasthosethatweep,pourforthmoisture.Andthe exhalations,boththedryandthewet,haveonecause,theSun.Butto thelatterthefemalepertains,andtotheformerthemale.These explanations,therefore,aremorephysical. Itishoweverpossible,thatthefablemayindicatesomethingmore sublime;thatpartialsoulsproceedindeedfromthefatherofwholes,but aredisseminatedaboutthemundaneGods,inorderthattheymaynot onlybeintellectual,comeintocontactwithintelligibles,andrecedefrom bodies,butalsothattheymayhaveamundanehypostasis.As, therefore,divineanddaemoniacalsoulsarearrangedundersecondary leaders;someindeedunderthedivinityoftheEarth,othersunderthe Moon,andothersundertheSun;some,underthegovernmentof Jupiter,butothersunderthatofMars;thatwhichisdisseminatedbeing Dofdivineorigin,everywherereceivessomethingfromthenatureofthat 1,111inwhichitissown:*justasthingssownintheearth,receivesomething fromtheearth;butthosesowninananimal,receivesomethingfromthe natureoftheanimal:sothatofoffspring,someexpressthepeculiarity ofplaces,butothersthesimilitudeofthemother.Hencealso,soulsthat aredisseminatedabouttheirkindredstars,receiveacertainpeculiarity oflife,fromtheirleaders;*sothateachisnotonlysoul,butasoulof acertainkind,suchforinstanceasMartial,orJovian,orLunar.For whethertheGodisofanimmutablecharacteristic,orisdemiurgic,or vivific,acertainrepresentationofthepeculiarityoftheallotteddeity accedesto5thesoulsthatarearrangedunderit.Andwhyisthis wonderful,sincethepeculiarityofpresidingGodsextendsasfarasto herbsandstones?Andthereisastone,andalsoaherbsuspendedfrom thesolarpower,whetheryouarewillingtocallthemheliotropes,orby anyothername.DAsimilarreasoninglikewisemustbeextendedto theotherGods. Ofthesesoulstherefore,thoseindeedthatareundefiled,remainalways suspendedfromtheGodstowhomtheyareallied,andgovernthe universeinconjunctionwiththem.Butothersdescend,yetarenot Efilledwithgenesiurgicvice[orthedepravitywhichisoffspringofthe realmsofgeneration].Andothersreceiveacertaindefilementfromthe subjectsoftheirgovernment.Forthisisthelastformoflife.Thefirst ofthesesouls,therefore,aretrulysonsoftheGods,asnotproceeding outoftheirfathers,being,asitwere,fashionedbyandremainingwithin them,runningbeforetheGods,andhavingtheorderofguardsor attendants.Thesoulsthathavethemiddlerank,areindeedcalledsons oftheGods,butreceivealsoasecondarylife,andbecomethesonsof Godsandmen.Andsoulsofthethirdrank,arealsosonsoftheGods, butarenotcalledgenuinesons,asnotpreservingtheformoftheir

properGod,butvergetomatter,andbecomeobliviousoftheirgenuine fathers.Whether,therefore,theauthorsoffablescallTityusthesonof Earth,orPhaetontheoffspringoftheSun,orMusaeusthesonofthe 1,112Moon,theythusdenominatethemafterthismanner,andothers tcf.Tim.41af;andProcl.Comm.Rep.II,161,22ff. $cf.Tim.42b,andalso328binfra,p.986. ForviroraqvnoTeTaynevac.OVTQipvxuc.,itisrequisitetoreadenraq virorepaynevaq,K.\. cf.Procl.DeSacrific.inInd.Gryph.1901,6,21ff;alsonotestoAlcibiadesI, TTSvol.IX,p.2069;andlamblichusdeMyst.I,10&IV,13. differentlyconformablytothebeforementionedcauses.Withrespect toothersonsoftheGods,however,weshallelsewherespeak. Butagain,PhaetonisindeedtheoffspringoftheSun,asbeingofthe solarseries.Hencealsohehasasolarname.Sincehowever,abidingon Fhigh,herevolvedandgovernedtheuniverseinconjunctionwithhis father,heissaidtohavedriventhechariotofhisfather.Forthevehicle ofPhaetonbelongstothesolarchariots;sincethatalsoisentirelysolar form.Butwhenhefellintogeneration,forhedidnotrankamongthe firstofsouls,heissaidtohavebeendestroyedbythethunderofJupiter. Forthunder[i.e.lightning]isasymboloffabrication,proceeding throughallthingswithoutcontact,*andvivifyingallthings;*butisnot thecauseofthedissolutionofthespiritinwhichthesouliscarried. Buttherearemanytranspositionsofsoulsintodifferentpolities,and 35Afromoneelementintoanother;somebeingtransferredfromearthtothe sphereoffire;butothersfromthesphereoffiretoearth;andsomein order;butothersheapedtogether,andaccompaniedwithmuchtumult anddisorderlymotion,suchasPhaetonissaidtohavesuffered.For beingbornealongonhighcollectively,andattractingempyrean vestments,hewasmovedthroughtheseinadisorderlymanner,when heproceededtoearth,andproducedincertainpartsofita conflagration.Forsoulsindescendingbecomeinvestedwithmany garmentsaerialoraquatic;andsomehaveempyreanvestments.Ofthese also,somehavethevigorous,5butothersthevehementandthe percussive,fromfire.Andsomeindeed,whentheybecomesituatedin air,layasidethesegarments,0andassumeothersthataremoregross, butotherspreservethemevenasfarastotheearth.0Iknow, therefore,thattheChaeroneanPlutarchrelates,**thatinoneofthe islandsofBritain,whichappearstobesacred,andonthisaccountis consideredbytherulersofitasanasylum,theinhabitantsfrequently Bassert,whenprodigiousrainsorthunderandlightningtakeplace,that 1.113someoneofthemoreexcellentnaturesfails,theybeingaccustomedto passionsofthiskind.Buttheydenominatesoulsthataretransferred

tForCKMW/XOChere,itisnecessarytoreaduvcufaq., $cf.48Dinfra. Insteadofap.vbpovinthisplace,Ireadmp.aiov. cf.Chald.Oracl.fr.95;115;121. cf.Procl.Comm.Rep.II,159,8,26f. ttcf.Defacie941ff. intobodies,andthatrelinquishacertaingeneration,moreexcellent natures.*Itmustnot,however,bedeniedthatsuchlikecircumstances befallsoulsdescendingintobodies,andespeciallythosethatare magnificent,andareallottedamoredaemoniacalessence,suchasthe fableobscurelysignifiesthesoulofPhaetontohavebeen.Butitisnot atallwonderful,thatdescendingsoulsshouldbeinagreaterdegreecopassive withthoseelementswhichareanalogoustotheirpresidingGods, andshouldattractandbecomeinvestedwithagreaternumberofsuchlike elementarygarments;sothatSaturniansoulsshouldinagreater degreerejoiceinhumidandaqueousvestments,andsolarsoulsinsuch asareempyrean,eachbeingdesirousofobtainingamaterialand ponderousbody,insteadofimmaterialgarments;theGodsalso employingtheseasorgans,inthesamemannerastheyusematerial daemons,intheirproductionsabouttheearth.Throughthesesouls likewisetheGodsproduceconflagrations,orpestilence,orinflictcertain othercalamitiesonthosewhodeservetosufferthem,andemploying soulsthatarealliedtothemasministranttothecausesoftheeffectsthat Ctakeplaceintheheavens,theyaccomplishthatwhichtheyeffect.For itisnothingwonderful,thatthereshouldbemanycausesofthesame things,someproducinginone,andothersinanotherway.Phaeton therefore,beingbornealongabouttheearth,andafteracertain daemoniacalmanner,burningthoseplacestowhichheapproached, throughthestreamoffire(forpartialsoulseffectmanythingsoutofthe body,beingthentheinstrumentsofavengingorpurifyingdaemons);he waslamentedbytheHeliades,whowerecertainsolarsouls,whencealso theyweresaidtobethesistersofPhaeton.Buttheylamentedhim,not asalonecommiseratinghimonaccountofhisdescentintogeneration, butprovidentiallyinspectinghim,inorderthattheymightinan undefiledmannerpayattentiontothingswhicharegeneratedand corrupted.FortheriverEridanus,*andthefallingintoit,indicatethe lapseofthesoulintotheriverofgeneration;inwhichbeingsituated, 1,114sherequirestheprovidentialcareofthegeneraalliedtoherself,andthe aidofsoulsthatareinapermanentcondition.Theologistsalsosignify theextensionofthesolarprovidencetomortalnaturesthroughtears. Themuchenduringraceofmenthytears Excite.

Orphicfr.236. fPlutarchrelatesthis,inhistreatiseOntheFailureoftheOracles[MoraliaV,419, 18,Loeb.] |cf.53Finfra Sothatthefableveryproperlymanifeststhroughtears,inasymbolical Dmanner,theprovidentialattentiontoPhaetonofsoulsthatareofthe solarorder.Again,therefore,thiscorollarymaybeassumedfromthe fable,thatthedescentsofsoulsareeffectedthroughimpotency.And thatnotonlysouls,butlikewisetheirvehiclesparticipateofthe peculiarityoftheirleadingGods;sothatfromthesedivinities,someof themaredenominatedSolar,othersMartial,andothersreceivean appellationfromsomeotherGod.Itmayalsobeinferredthat destructionsareeffectedbytheprovidenceoftheGods.*ForJupiter wasthecauseoftheconflagration,byhurlingthethunderatPhaeton Andlikewise,thatthedescentsofsoulsaresuspendedfromtheone fabricationofthings.HenceTimaeusteachesusnotonlyaboutthe essence,butalsoabouttheascentsanddescents,thelivesandallvarious electionsofsouls. 22cd"Butthetruthis,thatitindicatesthemutationofthebodiesrevolving intheheavensabouttheearth;andsignifiesthatthroughlongperiods oftime,adestructionofterrestrialnaturesensuesfromthedevastations offire." ETheEgyptianpriestonlyunfoldsthusmuchofthefablethat contributestotheproposeddiscussion,thatabundantdestructionsof terrestrialnaturesareproducedthroughfire,inconsequenceofthe mutationofthebodiesthatrevolveintheheavensabouttheearth.But throughmutationhesignifieseithertheincommensurationofthingsin theearthtocelestialnatures:forallthingswhiletheysubsist commensuratelytothecelestialeffluxions,areabletoremain,butwhen theyareincommensuratetothem,arecorrupted.Forthingswhichare 1,115abletosustainthedividingpowerofMars,arepreserved;butsuchasare tooimbeciletoendurehiseffectiveenergy,areeasilydissolved;justas ifyoureyenotbeingabletoendurethesolarlight,shouldbeblinded byitseffulgence,thoughsomeothereyemaybecapableoflooking directlytoitwithoutpain.Andasimilarreasoningmustbeadopted withrespecttotheotherGodsandtheirconfigurations.Forthe universeisoneanimal,anditspartssympathizingwitheachother,it preservesdifferentthingsbydifferentparts;norisanythingwhichis generatedinitpreternaturaltothewhole.Forthenatureswhichare generatedinit,aregeneratedthroughit;anditistheworlditselfwhich operates,andoperatesonitself.Oritmaybesaidthatthismutationis

tcf.42B,90E91Ainfrap.130and274;andalsoPhaedrus249b. Fjustasifagoodfather,whoisalwaysbenevolentlydisposedtowardshis son,shouldonatimechastisehimforthesakeofhisgood;forinso doinghewillappeartohavechangedhisaccustomedmodeoftreatment. Orthismutationmaybethevariousconfigurationofthecelestial bodies.Forthesearethebodiesthatrevolveintheheavensaboutthe earth,andatdifferenttimesexhibitdifferentfigures,throughthevarious intellectualperceptionsoftheirinformingsouls.Fortheconfigurations arethelettersofthesesouls,andcertainefficaciousimpressionsproduced throughthemAgain,however,boththesearetrue.Forthemutation ofthesebodies,andtheincommensurationofearthlynatures,arethe leadingcausesofsuchlikedestructions.Butifitisnecessarytocallthe 36AfallofPhaetonfromtheheavenstotheearth,acertainmutationof someoneofthebodiesthatrevolveintheheavens,itisnotatall wonderful.ForthemutationofthecelestialGodsisonething,since thisisanimpassivetransfiguration;butanother,thatofthesoulsthat revolvetogetherwiththem,thisbeingahabitudetoterrestrialnatures, fromalifewithouthabitude:andthatofplacesabouttheearth,is differentfromeitheroftheformer,sinceitisacertaincorruptive mutation;accordingtowhichneithersoulsarechanged,normuchless theGods,theleadersofsouls.Suchlikecorruptions,therefore,of terrestrialnaturesareeffectedthroughpartialsouls;butarealsoeffected throughdaemonsalone.Andasthroughthese,destructionsadaptedto theirseriesareproduced,thelikealsotakesplacethroughsouls.Forthe soulsthatwhenonhigharedelightedtoilluminateimmaterially,betake 1,116themselvestosublunaryconflagrations. Why,however,docopiousdestructionsofthehumanracehappen throughlongperiodsoftime;isitbecauseaconcurrenceofmanythings isnecessaryinorderthatsuchadestructionmaytakeplace?Foritis requisitethatthereshouldbeboththepeculiarandcommonhabitof Bthethingsthatsuffer,andaconspirationoftheagents.Forwhatifthat whichiscorruptiveofonething,shouldbepreservativeofanother?It isalsonecessarythatthereshouldbeanaptitudeofmatter,anda preparationofinstrumentsandtimes.Forthesealsotakeplaceinpartial destructions,butmorerarelyinsuchasarecommon;andthis reasonably.Foritisnecessarythattheprogressionfroman incorruptiblenaturetoonethatiseasilycorruptible,shouldbethrough thingswhicharecorruptedwithdifficulty.If,therefore,wholesare alwaysincorruptible,butmorepartialnaturesareeasilycorrupted,the mediabetweenthesemaybeveryproperlyarrangedamongthingswhich arecorruptedwithdifficulty,andwhichbecomedestroyedinlong periodsoftime.Forwholeswhichremainduringthemundaneperiod,

areincorruptibleandindestructible.Fornoconfigurationofthestars isdestructiveofthem,sinceallthingsareevolvedinthewholeperiod oftheuniverse.Butpartialnaturesandindividualsreceiveaneasy dissolution.Copiousdestructions,however,ofpartialnaturesare effectedthroughlongperiodsoftime;butsuchnaturesarenevertheless dissolved.Forthereisalifeofacertaingenus,asthereisofoneman. andofacity,andanation.AndasAristotlesays,*thereareperiodsof these,ofsome,more,butofothers,lessextended. 22d"Hencethosewhoeitherdwellonmountains,orinloftyanddry Cplaces,perishmoreabundantlythanthosewhodwellnearriversorthe sea. Thisislikelytohappeninthevisibledestructionsthroughfire:for thosewhodwellnearwater,aredefendedfromthedevastationoffire ThephilosopherPorphyry,however,transferswhatisheresaid,from 1,117thephaenomenatosouls;andsays,thatinthesetheirasciblepartisat onetimeeffervescent,andthisinflammationisthedestructionofthe manwithinus.ThusHomerrepresents*theeyesofAgamemnonwhen hewasenragedwithAchilles,as"shininglikefire."Butatanothertime, theepithymeticpart,beingdelugedbygenesiurgicmoisture,isenervated, andmergedinthestreamsofmatter.5For,asHeraclitussays,0 "anotherdeathofintellectualsoulsisoccasionedbymoisture."Butif thesethingsarerightlyasserted,thosewillbeinexperiencedinthe perturbationsarisingfromanger,whohavetheirasciblepartinarelaxed condition,andcommensuratetoaproperattentiontosecondary concerns.Forthisissignifiedbyhollowplaces,andsuchasarenearto water.Butthoseareinexperiencedintheperturbationsofdesire,who Dhavetheepithymeticpartinamorestrenuouscondition,andexcited fromthesomnolencyofmatter.Forthisisindicatedbyloftyplaces. Forinacertainrespect,theirasciblepartisadaptedtobeeasilymoved andtobeefficacious;butdesireislanguidandimbecile.Amusician, therefore,willberequisite,inordertorelaxthestrenuousnatureof anger,andgiveintentiontotheinertnessofdesire.Thephilosopher tAristotleOnLengthandShortnessofLifeI,464bff.;andalsoRep.VIII,546aff, andadditionalnotestothispassageinTTSvol.IX. %IliadI,410. SChald.Oracl.fr.114. Fr.77d. Iamblichus,however,thinksfittosurveythesethingsphysically,and notethically.Hesays,therefore,thatwhenaconflagrationtakesplace, thoseperishmoreabundantlythatdwellonloftymountains,asbeing moreremotefromtheexhalationsarisingfromwater;forthese

exhalationsarenotmuchelevatedonaccountoftheweightofthemoist substance.Hencetheairthatsurroundsthemisnotwetbutdry,and becomesfueltofire,whichnaturallytendsupward.Butthecontrary takesplaceindeluges.Forthosethatdwellinhollowsituations,are moreabundantlydestroyed,sinceallheavysubstancesnaturallytend downward. 22d"Tous,indeed,theNileisasaviourinotherrespects,andalsobecause itliberatesusfromthisdestruction." 1,118Accordingtotheapparentsignificationofwhatisheresaid,theNile isthecausetotheEgyptiansofmanyandallvariousgoods,viz.of Egeometry,ofthegenerationoffruits,andlikewiseofavoiding conflagrations.Itswateralsopreservestheirbodies,andthedivinity thatconnectedlycontainsthisbody,elevatestheirsouls.Butfromthese thingsyoumayassume,thatfirstcauses,beingfulloflifeandprolific power,connectthemselves,andremaineternally,andalsothinkfitto impartconnexionfromthemselvestootherthings,whichareina flowinganddissipatedcondition;sothatthenameofsaviour, adumbratesdivineandexemptprovidence;fromwhichalsothelight thatisintheintelligible*Gods,illuminatesalltheintellectualand demiurgiccauses. 22de"ButwhentheGods,purifyingtheearthbywater,delugeitssurface, thentheherdsmenandshepherdsinhabitingthemountainsare preserved,whilethosethatdwellinyourcitiesarehurriedawaytothe sea,bytheimpetuousinundationoftherivers." Inwhatisheresaid,theefficientcauseisclearlyascribedtotheGods. Andthisalsomaybeassertedofconflagrations.Forpurificationisat onetimeeffectedthroughwater,andatanotherthroughfire.Butevery wherepurificationtosecondaryisfromprimarynatures.Hence likewiseinOrpheus,*Jupiterisexhortedtobringpurificationsfrom FCrete.ForitisusualwiththeologiststoarrangeCretefortheintelligible. Butthematerialcauseofpurificationishereascribedtotheincursionof tThewordsvot)TOiq(puc,arewantingintheoriginal. %Fr.183Lobeck,Aglaophemus,383. water.Foreachofthese[i.e.fireandwater]produceswithout deliberationandinvoluntarily,beingbornealongaccordingtoitsown naturaltendency.Itisnecessary,therefore,thatthereshouldbeapreexistent causewhichemploysthemtobeneficialpurposes,andoperates forthesakeofgood;whichcauseisbeautifullyascribedtotheGods. Butiftherearecertainpurificationsinwholes,*therearealsopowers

1,119thatpresideoverthesepurifications,operatingaspurifiersonwholes priortopartialnatures.Therearelikewisedivinemysteries,some powersinitiating,andothersbeinginitiated;norwilltheseeverdesert 37Atheuniverse.TheEgyptianpriestlikewiseknowingthistobethecase, callsthedestructionsthroughwaterandfirebyasacerdotalname, purifications,butnotcorruptions,ashewouldhavedoneifhealone physiologized. 22e"Onthecontrary,inourregion,neitherthen,noratanyothertime, didthewaterdescendingfromonhighpourwithdesolationonthe plains;but,thewholeofitiscapableofreturningfromthebosomof theearth.Andhence,andthroughthesecauses,thetraditionswhichare preservedhere,aresaidtobemostancient." ThoughrainmaysometimeshappeninEgypt,yetitdoesnothappen inthewholeofit,butusuallytakesplaceaboutthelowerparts.This, however,saysAristotle,isevidentlytheworkoftheriver.*Butthe upperpartsdonotreceiveanaffluxofthiskind.Whence,therefore, doestheNilereturn?Porphyryindeedsays,itwasanancientopinion oftheEgyptians,thatthewaterissuedupwardfrombeneath,bythe ascentoftheNile;onwhichaccountalsotheycalledtheNile,the watereroftheearth;andthatitreturnedfrombeneath;manifestingby this,thatwhatisdissolvedinEgyptpreservestheNile.Notthatthe Bsnowbeingdissolvedproducesthequantityofitswater;butthatitis loosenedfromitsownfountains,andproceedssoastobecomevisible, beingpriortothisimpededanddetained.Wehoweverunderstandthe, termdissolved,withreferencetodoubt:forspeakingAttically,theNile isdissolved,becauseitliberatesusfromdoubt.Foritisnottruethat fromsnowbeingdissolvedtheNileisincreased.Forwhereinsouthern places,suchasthosethroughwhichtheNileflows,isthereacollection 1,120ofsnow?Nordoesthisriveremergefromrarefiedearth.Fortherarity oftheearth,doesnotgivetothewateramotionupward.Butitis tcf.Phaedrus244de;andLobeck,Aglaophemus,639. %AristotleMeteor.I,14,351b2630. entirelynecessarythatthereshouldbesomethingelse,whichimpelsit fromcavitiestoloftyplaces.Andthusmuchwithrespecttothe Egyptianopinion. Others,however,say,thattheNileisincreasedfromcertainrainsthat arepouredintoit,asisclearlyassertedbyEratosthenes.Henceto returndoesnotnowsignifytospringfrombeneath,butforthewater, beingelsewhereincreased,toproceedabovetheearth;streamsofwater pouredintotheNilefromotherplaces.ButIamblichussays,itisnot

requisitetoinvestigateathingofthiskind,buttounderstandinamore Csimplewaythereturnofthewaterfrombeneath,asequivalenttowhat isusuallycalledtheascentofwater;andheassignsatwofoldcause, throughwhichtheEgyptiansavoiddryness,fromexcessiveheat,and deluges.Andthisismanifestfromwhathesayswhenexaminingthe increasefromrains.Forhesays,thatthefirstcauseofthesalvationof theEgyptians,isthewilloftheirpresidingGods,andtheboundary fromthefirstoffabrication.Butthesecondcauseisthetemperatureof theair.Fortheseasonstherearecontrarytothoseintheantarctic* regions,fromwhichtheNileflowstotheseplaces;andinthemthe generationofdrynessfromviolentheat,andofgreatrains,reciprocates. If,however,someoneshouldblamethisexplanation,becausetherains beingincreasedtheincreaseisnotregular,itmustbesaid,thatrain frequentlyhappenswhenthereisnodescent[ordisappearance]ofthe Nile.Atthesametime,theuninterruptedsuccessionofrain,andthe magnitudeofthemountainsinwhichthefountainsoftheNileare contained,arethecausesoftheunceasingincreaseofthewater.For thesemountains,receivinginalltheirsidestherainimpelledagainst themfromtheannualclouds,pouritincessantlyintothefountainsof theNile.Butthesefountainsbecomingexuberantincreasetheriver. DForthis,saysTheophrastus,isonecauseofrain,viz.thepressureof 1,121cloudsagainstamountain.Moreover,itisnotatallwonderful,ifclouds arenotseenaboutthecataracts.ForthestreamoftheNileisnotfirst pouredfromthese,butfromtheLunarmountains,whicharethus denominatedfromtheiraltitude.Andthecloudswhenpresentbeing collectedaboutthemountains,impedethecataractsbytheirsuperior magnitude.AndthusmuchagainsttheEgyptianorationofAristides. Eratosthenes,however,says,itisnolongerrequisitetoinvestigatethe causeoftheincreaseoftheNile,whenwedirectourattentiontocertain watersandrainsthatrunintoit,soastocorroboratewhatissaidby Aristotle.Thesethings,therefore,wehaveconciselyindicatedonthis tForavriKoit;here,itisnecessarytoreadavrapKUKOig. subject.ButfromtheseparticularstheEgyptiansinfer,thattheirland willneverexperienceeitheradelugeoraconflagration.Thatitshould howeverfailfromothercauses,isnotatallwonderful;since,as EAristotlerightlyobserves,*everypartoftheearthbecomesseainthe infinityoftime,andthesameplaceisatonetimecontinent,andat another,sea.Andlookingtotheinfinityoftime,itmustnotbedenied thatthewateroftheNilemayfail.Forwhatiftheannualwinds, blowinglessvehemently,shouldnotimpelthecloudsagainstthe mountains?Whatalso,ifthemountainsshouldfall,inwhichthereis acollectionofclouds;thewindfromsubterraneanplacesburstingthem, throughwhich,likewise,theoraclessay,*thatsucceedingcitiesshallbe

destroyed?Andthecloudsnotbeingcollected,thestreamalways becominglessandless,willbeabsorbedbytheearthwhichisdry. 22e"Butthetruthis,thatinallplaces,whereneitherintensecoldnor immoderateheatprevails,theraceofmenisalwayspreserved,though itissometimesmore,andatothertimeslessnumerous." 1,122Thepriesthasspokenconcerningthemundaneperiods,andthe differentmutations[inthem],andhasobservedthatthesafetyofthe Egyptiansisderivedfromthepositionoftheregion,andtheprovidence oftheNile.Now,therefore,heinfersincommonrespectingplacesof theearth,thateveryplacewhichisfreefromdelugesandconflagrations, hasalwaystheraceofmenremaining,moreorlessnumerous.Forthe greatestdestructionsarethroughfireandwater,aswasbeforeasserted.5 Someone,however,maysay,thattheraceofmenfailinadifferent Fway.ForatpresenttherearenonewhoinhabittheseveryplacesoftheAttic land[whichwereformerlysopopulous],thoughneitheradelugenora conflagrationhashappened,butacertaindireimpiety,whichhasentirely obliteratedtheraceofmen.0OritmaybesaidthatPlatonowcalls climates,places.Hesays,therefore,thateveryclimatehasmen,though thereshouldnothavebeenadelugeoraconflagration,atonetime more,andatanotherlessnumerous.Somehoweverwillalsobesaved inadeluge,asDeucalion,whowaspreserved,whentheclimateof tAristotleDeMundoVI,400a2527. tChald.Oracl.fr.170. cf.24csupra. InmycopyoftheoriginaloftheseCommentaries,acertainannotatorobserves inthemargin,that"Proclusalludes,inwhatheheresays,totheChristianreligion. Greecewasdeluged.Afterthismanner,therefore,someunfoldthe meaningofthepassage. Butaccordingtoourassociate[Domninus],Platomeans,thatevery 38Aplacehasalwaysagreaterorlessnumberofmen,whichisnot excessivelycold,orimmoderatelydrythroughheat.Formathematicians say,thattherearecertainplaceswhichareuninhabitablethroughexcess ofheatorcold.Everyplace,therefore,whichisadaptedtothe habitationofmen,andeveryclimate,hasagreaterorlessnumberof men.Andthisinterpretationisreasonable,andconformabletothe wordsofthetext.Forthewords,"whetherneitherintensecold,nor immoderateheatprevails,"appeartosignify,whereneitherofthe contrariesbeingexcessive,impedeshabitation.And,inshort,sincePlato hadbeforeobserved,thatthetransactionsoftheEgyptiansweresaidto 1,123bemostancient,heveryproperlyadds,thatinreality,everyclimate

whichiscommensuratetothehabitationofmen,hasalwaysmenmore orlessnumerous.Fornotonlymathematiciansassertthatnotevery climateoftheearthhasmen,butOrpheusalso,whosays: TheDemiurgusforth'abodeofmen, Aseatapartfromtheimmortalsgave, WhereturnstheSun'smidaxisstretchingwide; Betweenexcessivecoldandheatamean. Fr.77 BAndthislikewisePlatonowasserts,whenhesays,"whereneitherintense cold,norimmoderateheatprevails,theraceofmenisalwayspreserved, thoughitissometimesmore,andatothertimeslessnumerous."Withother nations,however,thereisanoblivionofancienttransactions,not throughthefailureofmen,butinconsequenceoffrequentdestructions takingplace,certainilliterateandrusticpersonsaloneremain.Butwith us[saysthepriest]manymostancienttransactionsaresaidtobe preserved,inconsequenceofeverythingbeingcommittedtowritingin ourtemples. 23a"Butwhateverhasbeentransactedeitherbyus,orbyyou,orinany otherplace,beautifulorgreat,orcontaininganythinguncommon,of whichwehaveheardthereport,everythingofthiskindistobefound describedinourtemples,andpreservedtothepresentday." AsthesituationofthecountryanditsguardianGoddessimpartsafety totheEgyptians,thusalsothepreservationofpasttransactionsis effectedbytheirowncareandattention,throughwhichtheyapplya remedytotheoblivionproducedbytime.Buttheyareassistedinthis bytheirtemples,inwhichallgreatandwonderfulactionsarerecorded, Cbothoftheirownpeopleandofothers,andalsoparadoxicaleventsof things.Forthisisthemeaningofthewords,"orcontaininganything uncommon."Thehistory,however,ofthesethingscontributestotheirknowledge ofsimilarevents;fromwhichthereminiscenceofwholesis 1,124produced,andalsototheknowledgeoffuturity.Forthrough observationsofthiskind,theydiscovertheeffectivepowersofthecelestial configurations.Forassumingthatcertainthingshappenfromcertain thingsexisting,theyareablesyllogisticallytocollect,fromthesame signs,thecausesoffutureevents.Itappearsalsotome,thatthe doctrineofthePythagoreanswhichpreparessoulstoremembertheir formerlives,*imitatessuchahistoryasthisoftheEgyptians.Forasit isfittoassumedifferentlivesofoneman,orratherofonesoul,thus alsodifferentperiodsmustbeassumedofonenation.Hence,asinthe one,therecollectionsofthetransactionsofaformerlifeareperfective ofsouls,sointheother,thehistoriesofformerperiodsaffordthe

greatestassistancetotheacquisitionofwisdom.Fartherstill,such observationsareassimilatedtotheorderlydistributionoftheuniverse. DFortheyimitatethestableproductivepowersofnature,throughwhich remainingimmoveable,orderisingeneratedinthingsthataremutable. If,therefore,theworldisamostsacredtemple,inwhichtheproductive powersthatconnecttheuniverseeternallyremain,therecordingcf ancientdeedsintempleswillbeanimageofthesubsistenceofthese powers.AndwhatisassertedbytheEgyptiansmaysignify,that whateverinsensiblesisstable,ofafirmconsistence,andalways subsistingafterthesamemanner,proceedsfromtheintelligibleGods; butthatwhateverismoved,andatdifferenttimesisgeneratedand corruptedinadifferentmanner,isderivedfromthejuniorfabrication. Forthesacerdotalgenusbywhichmentionismadeofancient transactions,conveysanimageofthedivineorder,whichisconnective ofwholesandofstability,andwhichguardsallthingsbydivine memory,andfromwhichthejuniorfabricationbeingfilled,impartsby illuminationtothingsofaverymutablenature,sameness,connexion, andpermanency. 23a"Whileonthecontrary,youandothernations,commitonlyrecent transactionstowriting,andtoothercontrivanceswhichcitieshave employedfortransmittinginformationtoposterity." tIamblichusLifeofPythagoras63,7ff. 1.125Contrivanceisasymbolofthecausewhichalwaysfabricatesnew Ethings,producesthingswhicharenotyetinexistence,andcoadaptsall thingstotheoneperfectionoftheworld.Forinourdomesticconcerns, wecallthepreparationofeverythingnecessary,contrivance.Andsuch alsoincities,areliteratureandarts,forumsandbaths,andthelike.But intheuniverse,contrivancesaresuchthingsasreceiveatemporaland partialcomposition.As,therefore,templessignifythereceptaclesof perpetualproductivepowers,andalsoofsuchasareofaconnectiveand guardiannature;thuslikewisecitiesmanifesthypostasesconsistingof many,dissimilar,andmortalpowers.Butrecenttransactionsonlybeing committedtowriting,evincesthattheexistenceofsuchwritingsand arts,isofamorerecentnature. 23a"Andsoagaininaccustomedyears,acelestialeffluxionrushesonthem likeadisease." Thisalsoisevidentinmen.Fordelugesdestroytheirrace,being Fexcitedindeedfromthecelestialperiods,buthavingwaterfortheir matter.Hencethewholeofthisiscalledacelestialeffluxion,and,asit were,adisease,becauseitiscorruptiveofotherthings.That,however,

whichiscorruptive,isindeedtoapartialnatureevil,buttothewhole ofthingsgood.ButPlatosays,"inaccustomedyears,"becausesuchlike destructionsareaccomplishedconformablytocertaincirculations,which alsohavethemselvesacertainconsecutiveorderwithreferencetothe wholeperiodofadivinelygenerated[orperpetuallycirculating]nature. Thisalsoseemstobemanifestedthroughtheseparticulars,thatsuch thingsasarealonegeneratedfromwholesarenecessarilyconsummated 39Aaccordingtomundaneperiods,*whicharedefinedbythesamenumber; butthatsuchthingsashappenfromcertainpartialcauses,willnot entirelyhappentobethesame,thoughtheconfigurationsoftheperiod arethesame.Intheuniverse,however,youmaysurveythesamething, byunderstandingthatallgeneratednaturesarecorrupted,andyieldto 1,126themundaneperiods,andtothecirculationsofthewholelife[ofthe world];andthattheperiodsareconjoinedtoeachother,andaccomplish onecontinuedlife. 23ab"Hencethoseamongyouwhosurvive,areilliterateandunacquainted withtheMuses.Andthusithappensthatyoubecomejuvenileagain, tcf.Rep.VIII546b;alsoProcl.Comm.Rep.II,14f. andignorantofthetransactionsofancienttimes,aswellofthoseamong us,asofthoseintheregionswhichyouinhabit."* Forfromadeluge,Platosays,thatherdsmanandshepherdsareleft, butthattheinhabitantsofcitiesaredestroyed.Hencethosethatremain areilliterateandwithouttheMuses.Andonaccountoftheformer, indeed,theyareunablethroughwritingtotransmitmemorialsofthe preexistentperiod;butonaccountofthelatter,theyarenotsufficiently capableofpreservinginverseormelodytheeventsthathappenedprior tothedeluge.Hencetheybecomeobliviousofallthings.Butthrough Bobliviontheyreturntothelifeofchildren.Foranignorantoldman, saysAristotle,doesnotatalldifferfromachildinunderstanding.*A thingofthiskind,however,happenstosoulsthathaverecently descendedintogeneration.5Forhavingexchangedfortheformer period,whichwasintellectual,0acertain,secondaryandgenesiurgic conditionofbeing,theybecomeobliviousofintelligibles,throughthe delugearisingfrommatter.Suchrepresentationsalsoofintelligibles, throughthedelugearisingfrommatter.Suchrepresentationsalsoof intelligibles,astheyoncehadfromthevisionofthemtheyloseinthe progressionsoftime.Thus,therefore,everythingintheworldreturns tojuvenilityfromjuvenilitythroughregenerationbeingbornealong differentlyatdifferenttimes,inconsequenceoftheformofitnaturally subsistinginmotion.Moreover,theassertionthatmutationstaking place,thosethatremain,areilliterateandunacquaintedwiththeMuses,

indicatestothosewhoconsideritphysically,thattheanalysisofbodies takesplaceasfarastothatwhichisformlessandwithoutmorphe;and alsothatinthismutation,thedestructionoftheelementshappens, whichismanifestedthroughthewordilliterate,andthedissolutionof harmony,whichagaintheGodswhoaretheinspectiveguardiansof renovation,easilyremedy,andrestoretoaconditionaccordingto 1.127nature. 23b"Thetransactionstherefore,OSolon,whichyourelatefromyour Cantiquities,differverylittlefrompuerilefables." tcf.Critias109d. XAristotleNicomacheanEthicsI,1,1095a6. cf.Phaedrus248cff;Rep.X,621a;andChald.Oracl.fr.114,162. OForveapaqhere,itisnecessarytoreadvoepoiQ. TheEgyptianpriestcomparesthevenerableandveryancient narrationsofSolontothefablesofchildren.Forthefablesofthewise areaboutthingsofaneternalnature;butthoseofchildrenabout temporalthingsandwhichareofsmallconsequence.Andtheformer, indeed,containintellectualconcealedtruth;butthelatter,truthofa grovellingnature,andwhichindicatesnothingelevated.Tothelatter fablestherefore,thehistoriesofSolonareanalogous;buttotheformer, thehistoriesoftheEgyptians.Fortheonelooktothatwhichissmall, buttheotherhaveamostextendedsurvey.Andtheoneareonly histories,buttheothercontributetoscience.Fromthesethings, therefore,theparadigmsalsoofthemaretobesurveyed.Theeffects, indeed,ofthejuniorfabrication,arecalledthesportsoftheGods,and resemblefables.Fortheyaretheimagesofbeings,andparticipateof formsinanultimatedegree.Butthethingswhichprimarilyderivetheir subsistencefromintelligibles,areintellectual,eternal,andstable,and havetheessenceofthemselvesconcealed. 23b"For,inthefirstplace,youonlymentiononedelugeoftheearth, Dthoughinformertimestherehavebeenmany." ForthedelugeofDeucalionismuchcelebratedbytheGreeks,though astheEgyptiansays,thereweremanyotherspriortoit.Thusalsoin wholes,thejuniorfabricationgivescompletiontowholespartially,and multitudinously,andrendersthatwhichispresentinagoodcondition throughregeneration.Butinintelligibles,thecausesofthefirst subsistenceandofthecirculationofforms,areantecedently comprehendedunically[oraccordingtothenatureofTheOne]. 23bc"And,inthenextplace,youareignorantofamostbeautifuland

excellentraceofmen,whoonceinhabitedyourcountry;fromwhence youandthewholeofyourcitydescended,thoughasmallseedonlyof thisadmirablepeopleonceremained.Butyourignoranceinthisaffair isowingtotheposterityofthispeople,whoformanyageswere destituteofliterature,andbecameasitweredumb." TheEgyptianwishestoconjointhesecondtotheformerperiod,and 1,128toshowthatthereisoneconnexionandlifeofthefirstAthenians,and ofthosethatnowexist,throughasmallseed,ashesays,remaining.For thusalsointheworldtheseedsofaformerperiodconjointhatwhich succeedsittoitsprinciples,throughtheessenceofcauses,theunceasing motionoftheuniverse,andassomeonesays,itsimmutablemutation.* tcf.Procl.Comm.Rep.I,109,8ff;and114,28. Wemustnot,however,wonderifthepriestnowindeedsays,thatSolon Eistheoffspringofthoseexcellentmen.Forwemustagaindirectour attentiontothecauseofallmundanecontrariety.ForSolon,sofaras heisananimal,possessesfromthemthegenus;butsofarasheisa partialintellect,receivingthenarrationofawar,heisanalogoustothe divinity,whotransportstheproductiveprincipleofmundane contrariety,supernallyfromintelligiblestothesensibleregion.Noris itpropertobedisturbedbysuchlikeobjections,buttoknowthenature ofanalogies;andthatthesamethingsthroughanalogy,becomefirst, middle,andlast. 23c"Forpriortothatgreatestdestructionbywater,therewasamost excellentcityofAthenians,whichsurpassedallothersinwar,andwas ineveryrespectgovernedbythemostequitablelaws,andwhosedeeds andpolitiesaresaidtohavebeenthemostbeautifulofallthatwehave receivedtheknowledgeofbythehearing,undertheheavens." Platodoesnotperhapsmeanbythegreatestdestruction,thedelugeof Deucalion,butsomeoneofthedelugespriortoit.Buthecallsthecity oftheAtheniansmostwarlike,andgovernedbythemostequitablelaws, asbeinganimitationofitsguardianGoddess,whomheafterwardssays, isbothphilosophicandphilopolemic*FortheAthenianspartakeof Fthewarlikefromthephilopolemic,andofequitablelegislationfromthe philosophic.Bythemostbeautifuldeedshemeansthevictoryoverthe Atlantics.Butbythemostbeautifulpolitieshedoesnotintendtosignify thattheychangedmanyofthem,buthethusspeaks,becauseonepolity 1,129maybecalledthenumberofmanypolities;justasoneworldis connectiveofmanyworlds.Forifthelifeofeachindividualisacertain polity,butthecommonlifeisthecommunionofmanypartiallives,the onepolitywillconsistofmanypolities,thebeautyofitdependingon

40Aitsunion.Healsoadds,themostbeautifulofallthatweknowunderthe heavens,becauseitisthefirstimitationofthepolityoftheworld;so thatyoumaysay,itisthebestofthoseundertheheavens;forthe paradigmofitisintheheavens.*Andthusmuchforparticulars. Again,however,weshouldremindourselvesrespectingthewholedeed oftheAthenians,thatitisneithercalledafable,noramerehistory; someindeedreceivingwhatisnarratedasahistory,butothers,asa fable.Andsomeasserting,that,inthefirstplace,thedevelopmentof t24d. tRep.IX,592b. these,andsuchlikenarrations,appearedtoPlatohimselftobethe provinceofacertainlaboriousandnotveryfortunateman;*andinthe secondplace,thatwhatisdeliveredbyPlatoisnotathingofsuchan enigmaticalnature,asthedoctrineofPherecydes,*butthatheteaches withperspicuityconcerningmostofhisdogmas.Neither,therefore,say they,shouldweforcehimtoanalyse,sincethemanproposestoinstruct uswithoutambiguity.Theyalsoadd,inthethirdplace,thatneitheris adevelopmentinthepresentinstancenecessary.Forthecauseofthe insertionofthisnarrationisknowntobethedelightandallurementof Bthereader.Andinthefourthplace,thatifweanalyseallthings,we shallsufferthesameasthosewhoinaslipperymannerareconversant withHomer.Othersagainthinkthatthedevelopmentofthishistory shouldbereferredtophysicalharmony,fromwhatPlatosaysofthe narrationaboutPhaeton,5thatithasindeedtheformofafable,butthat itmanifestsacertainnaturalevent;sincetheEgyptiansalso,who,asPlato says,werethefathersofthisrelation,obscurelysignifiedthearcanaofnature throughfable.Sothatthedevelopmentofthisnarrationwillbeadapted tohim,whospeaksinthepersonoftheEgyptians.ForasTimaeus himself,conformablytothephilosophyofthePythagoreans,0makeshis 1,130discussionfromnumbersandfigures,asinterpretingnaturethrough images;thus,also,theEgyptianpriestwillteachthetruthofthings throughsymbolsadaptedtohimself.Towhichmaybeadded,that Platohimselfelsewhereaccusesthosewhospeakeverythingfromwhat isathand,inorder,sayshe,thattheymayrendertheirwisdom manifest,eventoshoemakers.0Sothathewhodeliverstrueassertions Cthroughenigmas,isnotforeignfromthemindofPlato.Andsuchare theargumentsofeach. Wehowever,say,thatalltheseparticularsareahistory,andalsoan indicationofthemundanecontrariety,andthewholeorderofthings; thehistory,indeed,narratingthepasttransactionsofmen,but symbolicallycomprehendinginitselfthosethingswhichare

comprehendedintheuniverse,andthemundanecontrariety.Forthe tPlatosaysthisinthePhaedrus[229d]ofthemanwhodoesnotadaptthe explicationsoffablestodivineconcerns,butinterpretsthemphysically. %Fr.4.6d.cf.alsoAristotleMetaphysicsXII,8,1091b8. 22csupra. cf.Iamblichus'LifeofPythagoras,147;alsoProcl.Comm.Parmen.623. Theaetetus180d. progressionaccordingtoopposition,commencingfromthefirst intelligibles,dividestheworldbypowersthatareoppositelyarranged. Andifyouarewilling,wewilldividetheuniverseaccordingtothe divineorders,whichareinuninterruptedsuccession,andsurvey, conformablytothePythagoreans,*thecoordinationsthatitcontains. Fromthetwoprinciples,therefore,itisdividedintoboundandinfinity, orratherintothingsalliedtoboundandtheinfinite.Forofthingsthat aremixed,somepertaintotheformer,*butotherstothelatter principle.Butfromthatwhichisunfoldedintolightasthethirdafter theseprinciples,theuniverseisdividedintotheunitedandthe multiplied.5Fortheremultitudefirstsubsistsunitedly.Fromthetriad thatisnexttothis,itisdividedintothingsperpetual,andthings corruptible.0Forthemeasureofexistencetoallthingsisderivedfrom thence.Fromthethirdtriaditisdividedintothemaleandfemale:0 Dforinthiseachoftheseprimarilysubsists.Butfromthefirsttriadof thenextorder,itisdividedaccordingtotheevenandtheodd;for numbercharacterizedbyunitythere.**Fromthesecondtriad,itis dividedintothepartialandthetotal.**Andfromthethird,55intothe straightandthecircular.Again,oftheintellectualtriads,itisdivided, accordingtothefirst,intothingsthatareinthemselves,andthingsthat 1,131areinothers.Accordingtothesecond,intothingsanimatedandthings inanimate,intothingsstableandthingswhicharemoved.Butaccording tothethird,intothingsthatarethesameandthingsthatare different.00AndfromtheorderofRulers,00indeed,itisdivided tcf.AristotleMetaphysicsI,5,986a15ff. %cf.Plat.Theol.III,9. Thisthirdthing,afterthetwoprinciplesboundandinfinity,isbeingitself; Thistriadconstitutesintelligiblelife,oreternityitself. oThistriadformsintelligibleintellect,or[autozoon]animalitself. ttThistriadisthesummitoftheorderwhichiscalledintelligible,andatthesame timeintellectual. ttThesecondtriadoftheaboveorderisdenominatedHeaven,byPlatointhe Phaedrus[247a,ff]. Andthethirdtriadofthisorder,iscalledbyPlatointhePhaedrus,thesubcelestial

arch. DDTheintellectualtriadconsistsofSaturn,Rhea,andJupiter. 00TheorderofRulers,isthesupermundaneorderofGods. intothingswhichrejoiceinsimilitude,andthingsalliedtodissimilitude. Butfromtheliberated*order,itreceivesadivisionintotheseparateand theinseparable.*Thesethings,therefore,whichhaveanarrangement elsewhere,havenowalsobeenasitwereexploredbyus.Foraccording toeachdivision,thegoodnessofbetternatures,desiringtofillthings subordinate,andtotakeawaydepravity,produceswar.Butthedesire oflessexcellentnatures,todivulseacertainportionofbeings,ofamore excellentcondition,excitestheapparentoppositionofthings;sincein war,also,thosethatcontendagainsteachother,wishtoreduceinto theirownpowerthepropertyoftheiropponents,andentirelydestroy them.Thesethings,therefore,areevident. EWemay,however,understandtheoppositionofpowersinthe universe,bymakingadivisionafterthefollowingmanner,intothe adorningandadorned.And,inthefirstplace,indeed,intothingssuperessential andessences.ForthegenusoftheGodsissuperessential.In thenextplace,bydividingessencesintoeternallives,andthosewhich energizeaccordingtotime.Likewise,thosewhichenergizeaccordingto time,intosoulsandbodies.Andbodies,intosuchasarecelestial,and suchassubsistingeneration.These,likewise,wemustdivideinto wholesandparts.Forthedivisionextendsasfarastotheseextremes. And,again,wemustdividesuperessentialnaturesintothedivine peculiarities,suchasthemaleandthefemale,theoddandtheeven,that whichunites,andthatwhichseparates,thestableandthemotive.But eternalnaturesmustbedividedintototalandpartialessences.Andsuch asaretotal,intothedivineandangelic.Soulsaretobedividedintothe divine,andtheattendantsonthedivine.Anddivinesouls,intothe celestial,andthosethatpayaprovidentialattentiontogeneration. 1,132Souls,likewise,thatfollowtheGods,mustbedividedintothosethat followthemperpetually,andthosethatarefrequentlyseparatedfrom them.Andthedivisionofthosethatareseparatedfromthem,isinto Fthosethatpresideovergenerationwithundefiledpurity,andthosethat becomedefiledwithvice.Forthedescentisasfarastothese. Moreover,thecelestialbodiesmustbedividedintotheinerraticand erratic.Andthese,intosuchasaremovedwithasimple,andsuchas aremovedwithavariousmotion.Thelatter,also,mustbedividedinto thepeculiaritiesofpowers.Anduniversallythedivisioninalltheabove tTheliberatedwhichimmediatelyfollowsthesupermundaneorder,isitself immediatelyfollowedbythemundaneorderofGods.SeemytranslationofProcluson theTheologyofPlato[TTSvol.VIII).

tcf.51E&82Einfra. mentionedorders,isintothatwhichadorns,andthatwhichisadorned, thatwhichfills,andthatwhichisfilled. Ifhowever,itberequisite,nottolooktoapart,buttoadheretothe intellectualconceptionofwholes,itmustbeadmittedthatthis oppositionsubsistseverywhere.ForitisinGods,andinintellects,in souls,andinbodies.Forinthefirstofthese,thereisboundand 41Ainfinity;inintellects,samenessanddifference;insouls,thecircleofthe same,andthecircleofthedifferent;andinbodies,heavenand generation.Butsecondarynaturesarealwaysarrangedwithreference to*suchasareexcellent.Hence,also,wesaythatthisnarrationis usefultothewholetheoryofnature,asindicatingtousthemundane contrarietyfromenergiesandmotions.Foralltheteachersof physiologybeginfromcontraries,andmakethesetobeprinciples; whichPlatoalsoknowing,deliverstous,throughsymbolsandenigmas, whatthecontrarietyisofthegeneraintheuniverse,andhowlessare subjugatedtomoreexcellentnatures,throughtheintellectualenergyof Minerva.Fartherstill,Platoveryproperlycallsthepolitytheworkof theAthenians,becauseitisrequisitethatsuchananalogyasthiswhich thejuniorfabricationconnects,shouldproceedthroughallthings;but thattotalpowersshouldbyamuchgreaterpriorityeffectthis,from whichalsothejuniorfabricationbeingfilled,givessubsistenceto mundaneintellects,tosoulsandbodies,conformablytothepeculiarity ofitself. 23d"Solon,therefore,onhearingthis,saidthathewasastonished,and Bburningwiththemostardentdesire,entreatedtheprieststonarrate 1,133everythingpertainingtohisancientfellowcitizens." This,likewise,isthepeculiarityofdivinenatures,viz.forsuchasare secondary,genuinelytoadheretosuchasarefirst,andtobeestablished intheirundefiledintellectualperceptions;butforsuchasarefirst,to impartbyilluminationtheirownplenitudetosuchasaresecondary, through*unenvyingexuberantpowerandgoodness.Wonder,therefore, precedes,becauseinus,also,thisisthebeginningoftheknowledgeof wholes.Butindivinenatures,itconjoinsthatwhichwonderswiththe objectofwonder.Hence,likewise,thosewhoarewiseindivine tForitpoTUVap.eivovuv,itisnecessarytoreadTrpocTUVctfieivovuv. $InsteadofTa5ejpura,bvvaptuva. natures,butisthemosteternalofallofthem,andprimarilyeternal, callstheworldindeedmostbeautiful,buttheDemiurgusmostexcellent. Forthatwhichismostbeautifulwasgeneratedaccordingtothemost divineparadigm,andthatwhichismostexcellentnecessarilylooksto thatwhichissupreme.Forifthatwhichismostbeautifulwasnot derivedfromthefirstparadigm,thisfirstparadigmwilleitherbethe paradigmofnothing,orofsomethinglessexcellent.Butitisnotlawful forsuperiornaturestomakethatwhichislessexcellentinsecondary natures.Andunlessthatwhichisbestlookedtothatwhichisfirst [eitheritwillnotmakethatwhichismostbeautiful*]ornotlookingto thatwhichisfirstitwillmakeit.Howlikewise,willthatwhichisthe firstparadigm,rankasaparadigm,unless*thatwhichisbest intellectuallyperceivesit?Andhowcanthatwhichisintelligiblestoa lessexcellentnature,beincomprehensiblethroughtranscendencybythat

Cwhichismoreexcellent?Henceitisnecessarythatwhatismost beautifulshouldhavebeengeneratedaccordingtothatwhichismost 1,332divine,andthatwhatismostexcellentshouldlooktothatwhichis mosteternal.Fartherstill,itisnecessarythatwhatismostbeautiful shouldbefabricatedbythatwhichisbest.Forofwhatisthatwhichis bestthecause,unlessofthatwhichisthemostbeautifulofgenerated natures?Forifitisnotthecauseofthemostbeautifuleffect,itisthe causeofsomethinglessexcellent.If,therefore,thatwhichisbestisthe causeofthatwhichislessexcellent,thatwhichisnotbestwillbe entirelythecauseofthatwhichismostbeautiful,andthustheorderof thingswillberadicallysubverted.Itmustbeadmittedtherefore,that thesethreethingsare,asitissaid,demonstratedbygeometrical necessities;5andthroughtheseweareremindedafterwhatmanner namesareassumedbyPlato.Porphyryhoweveradds,thatifthe Demiurgusismostexcellent,itfollowsthathelookstoaneternal nature,orDthathewillnotfabricatewhatisbeautiful.Andinthe nextplace,0itisnecessarythathewhofabricateswhatis[truly] tThewordsTJOVTCOUITOKCXWIOTOV,areomittedintheoriginal,butevidently lughttobeinserted. $Insteadofr)inthisplace,itisrequisitetoreadei/tJj. Scf.Rep.V,458d. Insteadofethere,read% Foreirereadeira. beautiful,shouldlooktothatwhichiseternal,or*hewillnotmake whatisbeautifulasthebestoffabricators,buthewillmakeitcasually. Hencealso,Platoassertsthatthefabricatorsofmortalnaturesare daemons.Andifindeed,theyaresimplymostexcellent,nothingwill preventtheartificersandframersofmortalnaturesfrombeinglikewise mostexcellent,andonthisaccountthefabricatorsofbeautifulimages. SuchthereforearetheobservationsofPorphyry. DWemayeasilyhoweverlearn,thatitisrightlysaidtheworldismost beautiful,andtheDemiurgusthebestofcauses.Inthefirstplace, indeed,thebeautyoftheheavens,theorderoftheperiods,themeasures oftheseasons,theharmonyoftheelements,andtheanalogywhich pervadesthroughallthings,demonstratetothosewhoarenotentirely blind,thattheuniverseismostbeautiful.Inthenextplace,doesnotthe orderoftheinvisiblepowersitcontains,accordingtowhichtheparts oftheworldareconnected,andthegiftoftheintellectualessence, evincethatitisthemostbeautifulofgeneratednatures?Forthereare inittheharmoniouschoirofsouls,theparticipationofintellect,the supplyofadivinelife,theprogression*ofineffabledeity,andthe numberofhenadsorunities,fromwhichthewholebecomesfullof beauty.Sincealso,the[partial]soulwhichisassimilatedtotheuniverse, becomingelegantlyadorned,exhibitsinherselfanadmirablebeauty,

1,333howisitpossiblethattheuniverseshouldnotpossessbeautyinastill greaterdegree?hencetheologists5conjoiningVenuswithVulcan,say thathethusfabricatedtheuniverse.Andagain,fromVulcanand EAglaia,theygenerateEucleiaandEusthenia,Euphemeand Philophrosune,whorenderthecorporealformednaturedecoratedwith beauty.Neithertherefore,dothosewhoreviletheDemiurgus,dareto saythattheworldisnotmostbeautiful,butonthecontrarytheysay thatthroughthebeautyofitsoulsarealluredandensnared. ButhowarewetoadmitthattheDemiurgusisthebestofeternal natures?Forsomethinkthatwemustunderstandbythiswordbest,the bestcausesofgeneratednatures,inorderthathemaynotbeabsolutely thebestofthecauses.Forthiswouldbefalse,butthathemaybethe bestofcausesofthingsthataregenerated;sincethenaturesthatare abovehimarenotthecausesofthese.Ihowever,shouldbeashamedof myself,ifIwereinwantofsuchanartificeasthis,forgettingwhatwas tThesameemendationisalsorequisitehereasabove. $Itappearstomethatthewordirpoodoc;mustbesuppliedinthisplace. Orph.fr.140,Lobeck,Aglaophemus,542ff. alittlebeforesaid,*inwhichtheDemiurgusnowdeliveredtousby Plato,wasshowntobethefountainandmonadofeverydemiurgic order.Onaccountofthistherefore,heisthebestofcauses,becausehe isallottedthefirstorderamongthedemiurgioftheuniverse;Platohere, FdirectlyemulatingHomer,*whocallstheDemiurgusthefatherof wholes,andthesupremeofrulers;andhethusdenominateshimthough hementionstheGodspriortohim,asfarastotheGoddessNight. BecausethereforeJupiteristhemostancientandvenerableofdemiurgi, heiscelebratedbyHomerasthesupremeofrulers,butbyPlatoasthe best5ofcauses.Othershoweverbynomeansdaretoaccusethe Demiurgus,butblamethisuniverse,andperverttheassertionsofthe 1,334ancients,whocallitacavernandaden.Andothers,asHeraclitus,0 say,thattheDemiurgussportedinfabricatingtheworld. Totheseobjectionshoweveritiseasytoreply.Forthoughtheworld 102Ais,asPlatosays,mostbeautiful,andablessedGod,yetwhen comparedwiththeintelligible,andtheplacewhichisthere,itis deservedlycalledacavernandaden.Anditisespeciallysotopartial soulswhovergetobodiesandmatter.Butwithrespecttothe Demiurgus,thoughheisthebestofcauses,yetthewholeofhis providentialenergiesabouttherecentfabrications,maybecalledsport, whencomparedwiththeenergieswhichareexemptfromsensibles.For thesereasonstherefore,theDemiurgusisthuscelebratedinthepresent wordsbyPlato.Itisrequisitealsotounderstandhowthecoordination ofthemostbeautifulwiththemostexcellent,issuspendedfromthefirst principles.ForasinthembeautyissuspendedfromTheGood,andthe

beautifyingcause,fromthefountainofallgood,thusalsohere,the worldissaidtobemostbeautiful,buttheDemiurgusmostexcellent, andthemostbeautifulissuspendedfromthatwhichisbest.Inthenext placeitisrequisitetounderstandhowwhatissaidaboutthefabrication itself[ofthings]imitatesthisfabrication.Forastheworlditselfwasled Bfromconfusiontoorder,andasimilitudetotheintelligible,by fabrication,thusalsothediscussionofitfirstemployedabhorrent appellations,callingitgeneratedanddestructible,butnowthemost tcf.96DEsupra,p.293. *IliadXTV,259. Forairioehere,itisnecessarytoreadapioroc. Fr.52d. 0Tim.34b. venerablenames,denominatingitthebestofgeneratednatures,the offspringofthemostexcellentfather,andtheimageofthemostdivine paradigm.Andshortlyafter,*heremindsusofitbythemostsacredof names. 29b"Butagain,thesethings[thus]subsisting,thereiseverynecessitythat theworldshouldbetheimageofacertainthing." Tothosewhoaremoresimple,whatisheresaidmayappeartobethe samewithwhatwasbeforeasserted.Forsomeonewhodoesnotsurvey thingsaccuratelymayaskwhatdifferencethereisbetweensaying,that theworldwasfabricatedaccordingtoaparadigm,andthatitisthe 1,335imageofacertainthing.Inrealityhowever,eachoftheseisseparated fromtheother.Forsinceitispossibleforanartificertomake conformablytoaparadigm,butthethingfabricatedmaynotbecomethe imageoftheparadigminconsequenceofnotbeingvanquishedbythe fabricatingcause;inorderthatyoumaynotfancythatthisisalsothe casewiththeworld,PlatohasshownthattheDemiurgusindeed Clookedtoaparadigm,andthatbeingmostexcellenthelookedtothe mostdivineparadigm,fromwhathesaidrespectingtheuniversebeing fabricatedconformablytotheintelligible.Butthattheuniversealsois vanquishedbyform,andtruly*imitatesitsparadigm,hemanifestsfrom whatisnowsaid.Foriftheworldisanimage,theuniverseis assimilatedtotheintelligible.Forthatwhichisnotdissimilarbut similarandconsentaneous,isanimage.Youhavetherefore,thesensible universe,themostbeautifulofimages,theintellectualuniverse,thebest ofcauses,andtheintelligibleuniverse,themostdivineofparadigms. Eachofthesealsoiseverywhere.Forthesensibleuniverseparticipates ofintellectandbeing;theintellectualuniversepossessessensibles uniformly,butintelligibles5secondarily;andtheintelligibleuniverse antecedentlycomprehends,primordiallyandunitedly,intellectualsand

sensibles.Theuniversehowever,subsistsappropriatelyineachorder. Andthesensibleuniverseindeed,isplacedbeforeusasafabrication;but theeternalistwofold,theonebeingasdemiurgic,buttheotheras paradigmatic;thoughtheparadigmaticisalsointhedemiurgic.Forthe Demiurgusmakeslookingtohimself;0sinceeveryintellectseesitself, tTim.29e. XForovToqhere,readOVTUQ. ForrotatadriTahere,itisnecessarytoreadrotvor\TCt. cf.AristotleMetaphysicsXII,7,1072b20. andisthesamewiththeintelligibleitcontains.Andagainthe Ddemiurgicisintheparadigmatic;sinceitmakesthatwhichisgenerated. Foritisnotaparadigmlikeaformimpressedinwax,*norastheimage ofSocratesistheimageofanotherimage;buttheparadigmaticcauseby itsverybeingmakessecondarynaturessimilartoitself.Atthesame timehowever,tofabricateparadigmatically,andtobeaparadigm demiurgically[i.e.fabricatively]differ.Fortheformeristoenergize essentially;butthelatteristoimpartessenceenergetically.Andtheformer istoperceiveintellectually,intelligibly;butthelatteristobeintelligible 1,336intellectually.Forthepeculiarityoftheparadigmistomakebyitsvery being;butoftheDemiurgus,tomakebyenergizing.Foritisnotthesame thingtomakebyexisting,andtoknowandenergizethrough knowledge;sincesoulalsoproduceslifebyexisting,butmakesartificially throughknowledge.Anditpossessesindeed,theformeressentially,but thelatteraccordingtoenergy.Andwhyisitrequisitetolengthenthese observationsphilosophically?Forthetheologist*longbefore,celebrates thedemiurgiccauseinPhanes.Forthere,ashesays,thegreatBromius,or allseeingJupiter,was,andantecedentlyexisted;inorderthathemight haveasitwerethefountainsofthetwofoldfabricationofthings.He EalsocelebratestheparadigmaticcauseinJupiter.Foragain,helikewise is,ashesays,Metisthefirstgenerator,andmuchpleasingLove.Heis alsocontinuallydenominatedbyhim,Dionysius,andPhanes,and Ericapaeus.Allthecausesthereforeparticipateofeachother,andarein eachother;sothathewhosaysasthedivineIamblichus,thatthe Demiurguscomprehendsinhimselftheparadigm,andhewhoevinces, astheillustriousAmelius,thattheparadigmistheDemiurgus,ina certainrespectspeakrightly.Forthelattersawthedemiurgic peculiaritypreexistingintheparadigm;fortherethefirstJupiterexists, andonthisaccounthemakesPhanestobetheDemiurgus;butthe formersawtheparadigmintheDemiurgus.ForMetisalsowasinthe Demiurgus,beingabsorbedbyhim.Andonthisaccountheconsidered theparadigmatictobethesamewiththedemiurgiccause.Andthus muchconcerningtheseparticulars. Weoughtnothowever,towonderifPlatocallstheworldanimage. Forthoughitismostbeautiful,yetitistheimageofintelligiblebeauty.

Throughthissimilitudealso,itexhibitssuchthingsasadorn5and tcf.Thecetetus147ab. tFr.71,Lobeck,Aglaophemus,495ff. ForeiripoitevovTahere,IreadETtnrpeTrovTot. 1,337beautifygeneration,andreceivesasawholetheformoftheparadigm. Thusthephilosophercallstheworldtheimageoftheintelligible,as beingassimilatedtoitsparadigm.Theadditionlikewiseofnecessity, showsthatthesimilitudeoftheformertothelatterisadmirableand ineffable.Afterwardsalso,hetestifiesthisbyademonstration indubitableandfirm.Foritproceedsfromthehypothesesthemselves. 29b"Butineverything,tobeginfromaprincipleaccordingtonature,is thegreatestofundertakings." 103ASomereadwhatisheresaidbystoppingatthewordpantos,every thing,accordingtowhomthewordsindicate,thatitisthegreatestofall things,tomakethatbeginningofthediscussionwhichisaccordingto nature.Butothers,stoppingatthewordmegiston,greatest,conjointhe wordpantoswithwhatfollows;sothatwiththemthecolonsignifies thatitisthegreatestundertaking,tobeginthediscussionofthe universe,fromaprinciplewhichisaccordingtonature.Othersagain saythatthesewordsareintroducedforthesakeofthethingspreviously assumed,thesebeingrightlyconcludedthroughthehypotheseswhich werenecessary.Butaccordingtoothers,theyareintroducedforthe sakeofwhatisdirectlyafterasserted,itbeingrequisite,ifweintendto makeaproperbeginning,todefinepreviouslywhatkindofdiscourses oughttobeadoptedconcerningsensibles.Andotherssay,theyare introducedforthesakeofwhatwillafterwardsbedeliveredconcerning thefinalcause.Forthisisthegreatestprinciple,andaccordingto nature,whichitisrequisiteespeciallytosurvey,andfromwhich commencingitisfittodiscusswhatfollows.Butthatprevioustothe disquisitionofthis,heinformsuswhatthemodewillbeofphysical discussions. Tomehowever,thisaxiomappearstoberightlyassertedofallthings. BForitisuniversal,andisadaptedtowhathasbeenbeforesaid,towhat immediatelyfollows,andtowhatwillbeagainsaid.Orrather,itisnot adaptedtothesealone,buttoallfabrication.Forbeginningfroma principleaccordingtonatureasfromaroot,Platodeliversafterwards explanationsofcausehomologoustothisprinciple.Andscienceitself, 1,338fromproperhypotheses,collectsappropriateconclusions.Science thereforefollowstheorderofthings;butdoctrinaldisquisitionfollows science.Andthisisthegreatestundertaking.Inthefirstplace,because itimitateswholes,andtheprogressionofbeings.Inthenextplace,

becauseifthesmallestparticularisoverlookedintheprinciple,it becomesmultipliedasweproceed.Andinthethirdplace,theprinciple orbeginning,issaidtobethehalfofthewhole.Ifhowever,thisbethe case,itpossessesthegreatestpower.If,too,assomesay,theprinciple issomethingmorethanthewhole,itisinanadmirablemannersaidto bethegreatestthing.Thetruthofthisisalsotestifiedbypoetswho say,"thateverythingwhichreceivesagoodbeginningusuallyends well."Andmoreover,onthisaccounttheAthenianguest*callsthe CprincipleaGod,ifitobtainsthatwhichisfit.Forhesays,"Principle beingestablishedinmenasaGod,producesallthingsrightlyifitobtains acongruousportion[orthepartwhichisadaptedtoit]." Butwhatisthemeaningofthewords"accordingtonature"?Isitthe receivingeverythingwhichoughttobereceived,orisitthatwhichfirst proceedsfromthingswhichsubsistessentially?Forthatwhichislastts aprincipleaswithreferencetous,butnotwithreferencetonature. Theprincipletherefore,accordingtonature,oftheuniverseindeed,is thefinalcause,butofdemonstrationsthehypotheses,andofdiscussions thedefinitionrespectingtheformofthedoctrine,whetheritistobe 1,339receivedasfirm,immutableandaccurate,orasthatwhichismerely probable,andisnotindeedtruth,butcredible,andassimilatedtotruth. 29b"Afterthismannertherefore,wemustdecideabouttheimage,andthe paradigmofit." Thesethreeparticularsareconnascentlyconsequenttoeachother,the things,theconceptions,andthewords.Accordingtothethingsandthe conceptionstherefore,Platoassumesthefirsthypothesis;butaccording Dtothewordshemakesthisdefinition.Forwhenheseparatesthat whichisgeneratedfrombeing,headherestothetheoryofthethings. Butwhenhedefinesourknowledgeaccordingtotheobjectsofit,be adherestothetheoryoftheconceptions.*Andnowdistributingthe wordsaccordingtothediversityintheknowledgeofthem,be demonstratestoustheirdefinitenature.Hence,theseareconsentaneous toeachother;viz.twofoldthings,beingandthatwhichisgenerated; twofoldknowledges,intelligenceandopinion;andtwofoldwords,the stableandtheprobable.Forwhenceareknowledgesderived,except fromtheobjectsofknowledge?Andwhenceisthedifferenceofwords derived,exceptfromknowledges?Somethereforesay,thatitisthe logographicarttodefinepreviouslywhatthemodeisofthediction,and tLawsVII,775e. "orjuaoriginal,oreberaqTHierepaqypuaeiqbiopifri,eviroiqTcpttypxwivrotetop Kidm"'Ch"evidentlydefective>butmayberestoredtoitsgenuinemeaning byft*8'Te56ra?V^repaqypuaeiqbiopifriemroiqirpuynuoiv,ttjcapreiyerodeupuxq wpv0r\juXTUP.

whatkindofpersontheauditorofitoughttobe;andthatAristotle emulatedthis,*andalsomanyothersmorerecent. Ihowevershouldsaythatthediscussionimitatesthefabricationitself ofthings.Forasthatunfoldsintolighttheinvisiblelivesoftheworld, butgivessubsistencetothatwhichisapparent,andimpartsaboundary toitpriortothewholeworld,thusalsoTimaeusadheresindeedtothe theoryofthethings;butalsomakestheformofthewordstobe Eadaptedtothethings;andantecedentlyassumes,andpreviouslydefines themodeofthewholetheoryofthediscussion,inorderthathemay disposethewholeofthedoctrineconformablytothisdefinition.Why thereforedoeshedothisnowandnotbefore?Because,afterthe demonstration,thatitisrequisitetheworldshouldbegenerated,he necessarilydefineswhatthenatureofthediscussionaboutsensible thingsoughttobe,butnotpriortothis,thenatureoftheuniverse 1,340beingunknown.Butwhenhecallstheworldanimage,animageof suchakindisnot*tobeassumed,asweconceivethatofinanimate5 naturestobe,asneitheristheparadigmunprolificandinefficacious,but anassimilationmustbegiventothisworldtotheintelligible.Inthe firstplaceindeed,accordingtotheprolificpoweroftheparadigm;for byitsverybeingitproducestheimagefromitself.Inthesecondplace, accordingtothedemiurgiccause,whichrenderstheuniversemost similartotheintelligible,bytheenergiesextendedtoit.Andinthe thirdplace,accordingtotheconversionoftheworlditselftothe formingpowerandparticipationofintelligibles.For"itassimilates Fitself,astheOraclesays,Dhasteningtobeinvestedwiththeimpression oftheimageswhichtheintelligibleGodsextendtoit." 29b"Aswordsthereforearealliedtothethingsthemselvesofwhichthey aretheinterpreters." AstheprogressionofbeingsisfromTheOnewhichisprior0tothe many,andmundanenaturesproceedfromamonadtotheirproper number,thusalsothediscourseofTimaeus,beingassimilated,ashesays, tobeings,commencesfromoneaxiom,andtheuniversal,andthus tcf.AristotleRhetoricsI,3,1358b2ff. XOvisomittedintheoriginal. For\l/vxwvbere,itisnecessarytoreadafaxuv. cf.Chald.Oracl.fr.97&108. Onpoisomittedintheoriginal. afterwardsintroducesdivisiontohiswords.Whatthereforeistheone 104Acommonaxiom,inthewordsbeforeus?Thatitisnecessarylanguage

shouldbealliedtothethings,ofwhichitistheinterpreter.Andit seemsthatthePlatonistsAlbinusandGaius,andtheirfollowers,took occasionfromhencetodefineinhowmanywaysPlatodogmatizes;and thathedoesthisinatwofoldrespect,eitherscientifically,orfrom probability,andnotaccordingtoonemode,norasifalldiscussionshad oneaccuracy,whethertheyareconcerningbeings,orthingswhich subsistthroughgeneration;butsuchasisthenatureofthings,suchalso isthatofthewordswhicharedividedinconjunctionwiththings. 1,341Hencetheysubsistinsuchawaywithrespecttoaccuracyandclearness aboutthethingswhicharetheirsubjects,thatsomewordsassertthe accuracyofthedogmas,butotherstheirprobability.Foritisnecessary thatlanguageshouldbesimilartothings;sinceitcouldnototherwise interprettheirnature,thanbybeingalliedtothem.Foritisrequisite thatwhatthethingiscontractedly,thatlanguageshouldbeevolvedly; inorderthatitmayunfoldthethingintolight,andmaybesubordinate Btothenatureofit.Hence,thedivinecausesoflanguageunfoldafter thismannertheessencesofthenaturespriortothem,andare connascentwiththem.IntheGodstherefore,theangelormessengerof Jupiter[i.e.Hermes],whohastherelationoflogostotheintellectofhis father,announcesthewillofJupitertosecondarynatures.Butinessences, soulwhichisthelogosofintelligibles,unfoldstheunitedcauseofwholes whichisinthem,shereceivingfromthemherhypostasis.*Andinthe generasuperiortous,theangelicorderhastherelationoflogostotheGods. Veryproperlytherefore,isitheresaid,thatlanguageisalliedtothe thingsofwhichitistheinterpreter.Thistherefore,mustbesaidtobe theone*commonaxiom,priortothedividedparticulars.AndTimaeus inwhatfollows,distributesdifferentmodesofwordsinconjunction withthequalityofthethings. 29b"Hence,respectingthatwhichispermanentandstable,and 1,342intellectuallyapparent,itisrequisitethatthewordsshouldbeasmuch aspossiblepermanent,withoutlapse,irreprehensibleandimmutable. Butinthis[stability]theparadigmisinnorespectdeficient." Priortothis,Timaeuscalledtheparadigmperpetualbeing,subsisting invariablythesame,andapprehendedbyintelligence;butnowhecalls tForTt\vvitodeoivhere,itisnecessarytoreadrt\vVKOOTOLOIV. XEJ>isomittedintheoriginal,butevidentlyoughttobeinserted. itpermanentandstable;theformerindeed,insteadofperpetualbeing, andwhichisapparentinconjunctionwithintellect,butthelatter, Cinsteadofthatwhichisapprehendedbyintelligence.Healso denominatesthewordsrespectingitpermanent,indeed,inorderthat throughthesamenessofthename,hemayindicatethesimilitudeof themtothings;butwithoutlapse,inorderthattheymightadumbrate

thefirmnessofthething.Andirreprehensible,inorderthattheymay imitatethatwhichiscomprehendedbyintelligence,andmay scientificallyaccede.Foritisnecessarythatwords,inorderthatthey maybeadaptedtointelligibles,shouldhaveaccuracyandfirmness,as beingemployedaboutthingsofthiskind.Forastheknowledgeof eternalnaturesiswithoutlapse,solikewiseisthediscourseaboutthem. Foritisanevolvedknowledge.Since,however,itproceedsinto multitude,andisallottedacompositenature,andonthisaccountfalls shortoftheunionandimpartibilityofthething,hedenominatesthe thingitselfinthesingularnumberpermanentandstable,and intellectuallyapparent;butthediscourseaboutitinthepluralnumber, callingitstablewords,whicharewithoutalapse,andareirreprehensible. Andsinceinlanguagethereisacertainsimilitudetotheparadigm,but thereisalsoacertaindissimilitude,andthisabundant,heassumesone Dwordincommonthepermanent,buttheothersdifferent.Sincealsoa scientificdiscourseisirreprehensible,aswithreferencetoour knowledge;forthereisnotanythinginusbetterthanscience;butis 1,343confutedbythethingitself,asnotbeingabletocomprehendthenature ofit,suchasitreallyis,andasfallingoff1fromitsimpartibility,on thisaccountheadds,"asmuchaspossible."Forscienceitself,as subsistinginsouls,isindeedirreprehensible,butisreprehendedby intellect,forevolvingthatwhichisimpartible,andapprehendingthat whichissimpleinacompositemanner.Forthephantasyalso reprehendssense,becauseitsknowledgeisinconjunctionwithpassion, accordingtoacommixture,fromwhichthephantasyispurified.But opinionreprehendsthephantasybecauseitsknowledgeisattendedwith typeandmorphe,fromwhichopinionisfree.Sciencereprehends opinion,becauseitsknowledgeiswithouttheexplanationofcause,by whichscienceisespeciallybound.Andintellectaswehavesaid, reprehendsscience,becauseittransitivelydividestheobjectof knowledge,butintellectknowsatoncethewholeinconjunctionwith essence.Henceintellectisaloneunconquerable,butscience,and tForairo/iejiochere,IreadcmoaTi\aaiiivoc,. scientificdiscourse,arevanquishedbyintellect,accordingtothe knowledgeofbeing. 29c"Itisnecessaryhowever,thatwordsrespectingthatwhichisassimilated tothepermanentandstable,butwhichistheimageofbeingshould possessprobability[alone]." EThatthediscussionofgenerated1natures,isadiscussionaboutan image,andthatonthisaccountitistobecalledprobable,isevident. Perhapshowever,someonemayinquirewhatwordsremaintobe assignedtothingswhicharenotassimilatedtotheintelligible,butyet

atthesametimeexistintheuniverse,suchasweassertconjecturaland artificialthingstobe.Maywenotsay,thatwordsofaconjectural natureareadaptedtothese,whichwordsaredifferentfromthosethat areassimilative?Fortoconjectureisonething;sincethisismore obscurethansense;andtoassimilateanother.Forassimilationpertains totheinterpretersoftheimagesofbeing.Artificial,therefore,and conjecturalthings,areunfoldedthroughconjecturalwords.Unlessother suchlikewordsareadaptedtothingswhicharetrulyconjectural;but withrespecttoartificialthings,assimilativeorprobablewords,are 1,344adaptedtothosethatarethefirstfromforms,buttothosewhichhave asecondaryhypostasis,andarethethirdfromtruth,suchwordsare adaptedaspertaintothingsconjecturalbynature.Forconjectural thingsaretheimagesofsensibles,inthesamemannerassensiblesarethe imagesofintelligibles.Thusthepaintedbedistheimageofthatwhich ismadebythecarpenter. Fartherstill,thisalsomustbeconsidered,thatPlatoisnowspeaking Faboutphysicalimages,andthatonthisaccounthegivesatwofold divisiontowords.Forthingswhichareassimilatedtotheintelligible, subsistbynatureornaturally;butthisisnotthecasewiththings artificial.Fortheartistdoesnotmakethatwhichhemakes,according tocertainideas,thoughSocratesappearstosaythisintheRepublic.} There,however,whatissaid,isassertedforthesakeoftheparadigm, andisnotconcerningideasthemselves.ForhesaysthatGodisthe makerandDemiurgusofthingsartificial,9butheisnottheDemiurgus ofideas.ButintheProtagoras,*itisclearlyshownbyPlatothatwedo tForirpoTUVyev7)TUVinthisplace,itisobviouslynecessarytoreadTrepiVUf ItvriTuv. tRep.X,596b. Scf.Protagoras312b319c. notcontainthereasonsorproductiveprinciplesofthearts,/andmuch lessofthingsartificial,andthatneitheraretheparadigmsofthem 105AestablishedintheGods.Thesethereforewerenotgeneratedaccording totheintelligible.Plato,however,nowdivideswordsintothosewhich pertaintothediscussionoftheintelligible,andthosewhichare concerningtheimageoftheintelligible.Henceindicatingthishesays, thatwordsrespectingthatwhichisassimilatedtothepermanentandstable, butwhichistheimageofbeing,shouldpossessprobability[alone].Butthe worksofnatureareassimilatedtotheintelligible,andnottheworksof art;sothatneitherhaveparticularsthisassimilationdefinitely,butthe universalswhichareinthem.Wehave,however,spokenconcerning thesethingselsewhere. 29c"Thelatterwordshavingthesamerelationtotheformer[asthatofan

imagetoitsparadigm].Forwhatessenceistogeneration,thattruthis tofaith." Priortothis,Timaeusmadetwothingsantecedent,theintelligibleand thegenerated,ortheparadigmandtheimage,andassumedtwothings 1,345asanalogoustothese,scienceandprobability,ortruthandfaith:sothat astruthistotheintelligibleparadigm,soisfaithtothegeneratedimage. Butnowalternatelyhesays,astruthistofaith,soistheintelligibleto Bthatwhichisgenerated.Andthisperfectlywell.Forhemakesthe intelligibleandtruthtobeantecedent,butatthesametimebeginsfrom thatwhichisgeneratedandfaith,thathemayminglethatwhichhasa referencetouswiththeorderwhichisaccordingtonature,andthathe maypreservetheproperworthofthethings,andmayarguefromwhat isknowntous.Plato,therefore,clearlydivideslanguageandknowledge conformablytotheobjectsofknowledge;andParmenidesthough obscureonaccountofhiswritingsbeingpoetical,yetatthesametime indicatingthesethings,hesays,*"thattruthisfullofsplendorand immutable,butthattheopinionsofmortalshavenorealcredibility." Andagain,"thattherearetwopaths,oneofwhichhasarealexistence, sothatitisnotpossibleforitnottoexist.Butthisisthepathof Persuasion,andisattendedbyTruth.Theother,necessarilyhasnotrue existence.Theformerofthesepaths,however,thoughrepletewiththe mostperfectpersuasion,isunpleasant."Andagain,"Neithercanyou haveanyknowledgeofnonbeing;foritisnotattainable;norcanyou ti.e.Thesouldoesnotessentiallycontainthereasonsofthoseartswhicharesolely ministranttothepurposesofthemorallife. %cf.Parmenides,fr.1,29,K,R&S. makeitthesubjectofdiscourse."*Thephilosopherthereforesays,that 1,346therearetwofoldknowledges,oftwofoldthings;truthwhichhecalls fullofsplendor,asshiningwithintellectuallight;andfaith,fromwhich Chetakesawaystableknowledge.Thefaith,however,whichPlatonow mentionsappearstobedifferentfromthatspokenofhiminthe Republic,}inthesectionofaline.Fortherethefaithisanirrational knowledge;whencealsoitisdividedfromconjecture,butisarranged accordingtosense.Thefaithhoweverofwhichhenowspeaksis rational,butismingledwithirrationalknowledge,asitemployssense andconjecture.Henceitisfilledwithmuchoftheunstable.For receivingfromsenseorconjecturetheon,orthatathingis,itthus explainscauses.Butthesekindsofknowledge,havemuchofthe confusedandunstable.HenceSocratesinthePhaedo*reprehendssense inmanyrespects,becauseweneitherhearnorseeanythingaccurately. How,therefore,cantheknowledgewhichoriginatesfromsensepossess theaccurateandtheirreprehensible?Forthepowerswhichusescience alone,comprehendthewholeofthethingknownwithaccuracy;but

thosethatenergizewithsense,aredeceived,anddeviatefromaccuracy, Donaccountofsense,andbecausetheobjectofknowledgeisunstable. Forwithrespecttothatwhichismaterial,whatcananyonesayofit, sinceitisalwayschangingandflowing,andisnotnaturallyadaptedto abideforamoment.Butthatwhichiscelestial,inconsequenceofbeing remotefromus,isnoteasilyknown,nortobeapprehendedbyscience, butwemustbesatisfiedinthetheoryofit,withanapproximationto thetruth,andwithprobability[insteadofcertainty].Foreverything whichisinplace,requiresthebeingsituatedthere,inordertoaperfect knowledgeofitsnature.Theintelligible,however,isnotathingofthis kind;sinceitisnotapprehendedbyusinplace.Forwhereveranyone establisheshisdianoeticenergy,there,truthbeingeverywherepresent, hecomesintocontactwithit.Butifitispossibletoassertanything firmandstableaboutthatwhichiscelestial,thisalsoispossiblesofar asitparticipatesofbeing,andsofarasitcanbeapprehendedby intelligence.Forifanythingnecessarycanbecollectedconcerningit, 1,347itisalonethroughgeometricaldemonstrationswhichareuniversal.But tOwingtotheobscurityoftheoriginal,Ihaveonlygiventhesubstanceofthe versesofParmenides. tRep.VI,51le. Scf.Phaedo83a.. sofarasitissensible,itisdifficulttobeapprehended,anddifficultto besurveyed.Andthusmuchconcerningtheseparticulars. Someone,however,maydoubt,howitcanbeanylongersaidtobe difficulttodiscovertheDemiurgus,andimpossiblewhenfoundtospeak ofhimtoallmen/sinceweareabletoemploystable,immutable,and irreprehensiblelanguageabouttheparadigm?Orisnotthatwhichis saidabouttheDemiurgus,inamuchgreaterdegreeadaptedtothe paradigmitself?Foritismuchmoredifficulttodiscoverthelatterthan Etheformer,andwhenfoundtospeakofittoallmen.Neither however,doesPlatodenythatscientificlanguagemaybeemployed abouttheDemiurgus,noraboutanyotherofthenaturesthatsubsist alwaysinvariablythesame.ForinwhatdoesPlatodifferfromother physiologists,exceptinexhibitingthesciencepertainingtodivine natures?ButifheparticularlyremindsusofthisintheDemiurgic cause,thatitisdifficulttofindit,weoughtnottowonder.Forhe knew,asitappearstome,thatotherphysiologiststransfertheeffective causetophysicalpowers.Hencethatwemaynotbeaffectedinthe samewayastheywere,heshowsthattheDemiurgicprincipleis difficulttobefound,anddifficulttobeknown.Andthismuchin answertothedoubt. Platohoweverinmanyplacesadmitsthetruthofbeings,conformably

totheologists.Foruniformtruth[ortruthcharacterizedbyunity]isof onekind,andisthelightproceedingfromTheGood,which,ashesays inthePhilebus,impartspurity,andashesaysintheRepublic,*unionto Fintelligibles.Thetruthproceedingfromintelligibles,isofanotherkind, andilluminatestheintellectualorders,whichtheessencethatiswithout figure,10withoutcolour,andwithoutcontactprimarilyreceives,where, also,asitiswritteninthePhaedrus,}theplainoftruthissituated. Anotherkindoftruthisthatwhichisconnascentwithsouls,which comesintocontactwithbeingthroughintelligence,andisconjoined 1,348throughsciencewiththeobjectsofscience.Forthepsychicallight,may besaidtobeasintheextensionofbreadththethirdfromthe intelligible;theintellectualbreadthbeingfilledfromtheintelligible,but thepsychicalfromtheintellectual.Thistruth,therefore,whichisin souls,isthat,whichmustnowbeassumed,sincewelikewiseassumethis 106Afaith,andnotthatwhichisirrational,andseparatedfromallrational tTim.28c. Xcf.Philebus55c58d;andRep.VI,508e509b. Phaedrus247c248b. animadversion.Theonealsomustbeconjoinedtointelligibles,butthe othertosensibles. 29c"You