Select Works of Plotinus — trans. Thomas Taylor

idity whatever wisdom any one possessed ; at first, indeed, with a canine eagerness as it w?ere, desiring to know all things at once, as is usual with those geniuses who raise great expectations of themselves. For these pant

* These lines are from Empedocles.

p. 511

[after glory], and burst forth before their time, already promising themselves the attainment of the end after which they aspire. In the next place, long before the age of puberty, he was more sedate than a well-educated old man, and modestly at¬ tended to what was said to him. But when it was requisite that he himself should speak, or when he was interrogated about what he had heard, or about any thing else, his delay and his blushes were ob¬ vious to every one. He also made wray for, and resigned his seat to the elder among the Egyptians, though he vras the son of one who possessed a mighty empire. He likewise reverenced his equals, and was naturally disposed to pay attention to the welfare of mankind. Hence, while he was still a youth, it was difficult to find an Egyptian who had not through his means received some benefit from his father.

The elder brother Typhos however was, in one word, perverse in every thing. For the king, in¬ deed, had procured for his son Osiris, teachers of all wisdom, both of such as is Egyptian, and such as is foreign. But this Typhos profoundly hated, and ridiculed as only fit for the idle and the servile.

p. 512

Perceiving also that his brother conducted himself o in an orderly and modest manner towards his com¬ panions, he considered this to be occasioned by fear ; in consequence of which conduct in his bro¬ ther, no one ever saw Osiris striking another with his fist, or spurning with his heel, or running in a disorderly manner ; and this though his body was light and pure, and an easy burden to the soul which it surrounded. But neither did Osiris ever drink greedily, or laugh immoderately, so as to convulse the whole body, as was daily done by Typhos ; and he considered those works alone to be the province of free men to accomplish, which were performed voluntarily and opportunely. Hence, Typhos neither resembled his own race in his natural disposition, nor, in short, any man ; and in one word, he did not even himself resemble himself, but he vras a certain all- various evil. And now indeed he appeared to be a sluggish and use¬ less burden of the earth, since he only spared as much time from sleep as was sufficient to replenish his belly, and to deposit other things which might serve as the viatica of sleep.

in all- various evil. And now indeed he appeared to be a sluggish and use¬ less burden of the earth, since he only spared as much time from sleep as was sufficient to replenish his belly, and to deposit other things which might serve as the viatica of sleep. But at another time he neglected even a moderate supply of what the necessities of nature required, in order that hep. 513 might leap inelegantly, and be troublesome both to his equals in age, and to those that were older than himself» For he admired bodilv strength as the most perfect good, and employed it badly, either in breaking open doors, or hurling large masses of earth. And if he happened to wound any one, or do any other evil, he rejoiced as if it were a testi¬ mony of virtue. He was likewise inflated with un¬ seasonable desires, and was most violent in his venereal connexions. Besides this also, he was envious of his brother, and hated the Egyptians, because the people indeed admired Osiris in their discourses and songs, and all of them every where, both at home and in their common sacred ceremo¬ nies, supplicated the Gods to bestow upon him every good. Such a character therefore as this was Typhos, and such he appeared to be. Hence, Typhos formed a society of stupid youth, for no other purpose (since he was not naturally adapted to love any one judiciously) than that certain sedi¬ tious persons might be with him, who were averse to Osiris. But it was easy for any one to gain the good-will of Typhos, and obtain from him such things as youth require, if they only whispered any thing defamatory against Osiris,. Such a differ- Plot, 2 Kp. 514 ence, therefore, in the liver of the two, was indi¬ cated by their natural dispositions from childhood. But as in paths which are in a different direction, the difference which is at first small, becomes gradually greater, till at length they are distant from each other by the most extended interval, thus also it might be seen io these youths, that the difference between them which was small at first, became very great as they advanced in years. These, however, did not gradually but immediately proceed in contrary paths, the one being allotted perfect virtue, but the other perfect vice. As they increased in years, therefore, the opposition of their deliberate choice also increased, the indications of which became more evident by their deeds.

Osiris, therefore, as soon as he arrived at the age of puberty, associated himself with those who were appointed to the army, as the law did not allow those who were so young as he then was, to bear arms.

cations of which became more evident by their deeds.

Osiris, therefore, as soon as he arrived at the age of puberty, associated himself with those who were appointed to the army, as the law did not allow those who were so young as he then was, to bear arms. He ruled likewise over their decisions, being as it were intellect with reference to them, and used the leaders of armies as his hands. Afterwards, his nature increasing like a plant, pro» duced a certain fruit which became continuallyp. 515 more perfect. But being made a prefect of the spearmen, an auditor of reports, the governor of a city, and the chief of the king’s council, he ren¬ dered each of these departments much more vene¬ rable than they were when he received them* But Typhos being made the treasurer, (for their father thought fit to make trial of the disposition of the youths in smaller affairs) disgraced both himself and him by whom he was appointed to this office, being convicted of stealing the public money, and of bribery and stupidity in his administration® Being transferred, therefore, to a magistracy of another kind, in the hope that he might be adapted to it, he acted in the latter more disgracefully than in the former ; and that part of this most excellent kingdom over which Typhos presided, was for a whole year considered inauspicious. From these he passed to other men, and transferred to them also grief and lamentation. Such, therefore, was Typhos in his government of men. And privately, indeed, he employed himself in lascivious dances ; and associated with the most disorderly Egyptians and foreigners, who were prepared to speak and hear, to suffer and to do all things, so that his banqueting-room was the workshop of all-variousp. 516 intemperance. He likewise snored when he was awake* and was delighted to hear others do the same* conceiving the thing to be a certain admira¬ ble music ; and he both praised and honoured him who could extend this intemperate sound* and give a greater roundness to it. Among these also, he who was especially strenuous and shameless in all his conduct* and who was not averse to any thing disgraceful, obtained many rewards for his forti¬ tude , and besides these, certain magistracies as the wages of his base licentiousness.

Such, therefore, was the domestic conduct of Typhos. But when he transacted the affairs of the public, then he clearly demonstrated that vice is all-various. For it is discordant both with virtue and itself, and all the parts of it are in opposition to each other.