Select Works of Plotinus — trans. Thomas Taylor

the seats according to the dig¬ nity of the mysteries [in which those who filled them were initiated.] The first circle, therefore, consists of those, who are placed about the king as if sur¬ rounding a heart. The next circle to this consists of the soldiers. And they, indeed, surround the hill which forms another mountain on the extended mount, like a rising breast, and enables those to see the king who are at the greatest distance from him. But those surround the foot of the mountain who

5n are permitted to be present at the spectacle» And these only celebrate with propitious acclamations that part of the ceremony which they behold. Those, however* who have the power of voting* when the king invokes the Gods, and those to whom this office belongs* excite the whole assembly (as if divinity w as present* and paid attention to the election), and the name of one of the candidates for the kingdom being announced, the soldiers elevate their hands. But the comasta , (or those that fur¬ nish banquets) the asdiles and prophets, give their votes, these being, indeed, less numerous, but pos¬ sessing the greatest power in the election. For the vote of a prophet is equal to a hundred hands ; that of one of the com as tee to twenty ; and that of an aedile to ten hands. Another name of the royal candidates being announced, hands are elevated and votes given. And if the number of the votes happens to be nearly equal, then the king by adding his vote to the part which exceeds causes it to be much greater than it was ; but if he adds it to the less part, he renders it equal to the other part. In this case it is necessary to dissolve the assembly of voters, and pray to the Gods, supplicating them for a long time ; and sanctifying themselves in ap. 523 more irreprehensible manner, till the Gods indicate the king, not through veils, or usual signs, but openly, and the people with their own ears become witnesses of the choice of the Gods, Such was the usual mode of election, the choice sometimes fallingon one, and sometimes on another person. But in the election of Osiris and Typhos, the Gods without the performance of any sacred ceremonies by the priests, became at first immediately visible, and themselves presiding conducted the affair.

hoice sometimes fallingon one, and sometimes on another person. But in the election of Osiris and Typhos, the Gods without the performance of any sacred ceremonies by the priests, became at first immediately visible, and themselves presiding conducted the affair. Each of them also appointed their priests, and it was obvious to every one on what account they were present ; though if they had not been present, every hand and every vote would have expected the name of the younger of the royal youths* With us, however, great things are pre-indicated to greater and wiser 1 men, and divinity signifies they will happen whether they are for the better or the worse, by portents of an admirable nature*

Osiris, therefore, as it was lawful for him to do, remained in that place into which he was at first brought. But Typhos, being impatient of delay,

1 For tppoi/nois here, it is necessary to read φρονψοιχ*p. 524 was restless and disturbed, and anxious to know the state of the election ; and at length could not refrain from attempting to corrupt the suffrages. Not sparing, therefore, either himself, or the royal laws, and plunging into the river, in which he was borne along, swimming, and doing and suffering every thing, and derided by those who saw him, he et length passed over the stream ; fancying that he was not seen except by those to whom he came, and to whom he had promised a pecuniary reward. He was, however, recognized by every one, and every one hated both him and his design. Yet no one thought fit to reprove an insane disposition. Hence it happened to this most miserable man, that while he was himself present, and in his own hearing, he was rejected by the decision of every one, and all hands were against him. The Gods also execrated him. But Osiris being sent for came, not at all solicitous about the event, the Gods, the priests, and in short, the whole assembly, meeting him with sacred crowns, and sacred pipes, on the bank of the river in which the ship destined to receive the new king from the Libyc coast, ought to sail. Mighty signs likewise were immediately exhibited from the heavens, accompanied withp. 525 divine voices indicative of good, and every kind of prodigy from which a judgment of futurity is formed both in great and small affairs,— all which por¬ tended a prosperous empire to the Egyptians. Hence daemons of the worse part [L e.

, accompanied withp. 525 divine voices indicative of good, and every kind of prodigy from which a judgment of futurity is formed both in great and small affairs,— all which por¬ tended a prosperous empire to the Egyptians. Hence daemons of the worse part [L e. evil das» mens] could not endure to remain quiet, nor to bear with mildness this felicity of men, but thought lit to attack it, and became tumid [with rage] ; in con¬ sequence of which something of demoniacal strata¬ gem was portended* After Osiris, therefore, was initiated by his father in the royal mysteries, [the Gods] clearly announced to him, as perspicuously knowing every thing, both a certain abundance of good, and that it would be requisite to extermi¬ nate his brother, who was born with a destiny unpropitious both to the Egyptians,, and to the house of l\is father, if he did not intend to confound all things, in order that his brother might neither see nor hear of the prosperity and fertility of Egypt, during the reign of Osiris* For no good could be borne by the nature of Typhos. The Gods also unfolded to Osiris the twofold essence of souls, and the necessary opposition existing between terrene and supernal souls* In consequence of this, they thought it requisite that he should subvert and cutp. 526 off the nature which was hostile to the beneficent and divine co-ordination of things/ not being at all prevented from so doing through what is called alli¬ ance by mankind. They likewise informed him what calamities would happen to himself, to the Egyptians, to the neighbouring kingdoms, and to those in subjection to the Egyptians, if he was neg¬ ligent in this respect. For they said that neither would the evil be debile which would befal him, nor would a casual circumspection be sufficient to exclude and weaken both the obvious and latent attacks of Typhos. For, they added, that a strong tribe of envious and malignant daemons were pre¬ sent with Typhos as his patrons, to whom also he was allied, and by whom he was hurled forth into light, in order that they might employ him as an

* The twofold co-ordination of things according to the Py¬ thagoreans, or the opposition which every where prevails in the universe, and also the fertile and barren periods which alter¬ nately take place in the sublunary region, appear to be indi¬ cated by this Egyptian fable.