Select Works of Plotinus — trans. Thomas Taylor
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by a variety of argu« ments that the book which they attributed to Zoroaster was spurious and recent, and was fabricated by the propagators of the heresy, in order that their opinions might pass for the genuine dogmas of the ancient Zoroaster.
>' i , . l ' .
Porphyry farther informs us, that some
Greeks falsely accused Plotinus of being a
plagiary of the doctrines of Numenius ;
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which calumny Tryphon, a Stoic and Pla~ tonist, told to Amelias* On this occasion Amelius wrote a treatise* inscribed by Porphyry* on the difference between the dogmas of Plotinus and Numenius , which he dedicated to Porphyry* Each of the books indeed of this truly great man bears such evident marks of original thought and singular depth* the execution in each is so similar* and the conceptions so uncom¬ monly abstruse* that no one can under¬ stand his meaning, and believe him indebted to the labours of others* Porphyry adds, that he was likewise considered by many as a mere trifler, and treated with contempt, because, says he, they could by no means understand what he said* Besides, the manners of Plotinus contributed to produce and increase this disdain* For he was
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foreign from all sophistical ostentation and pride; and conducted himself, in the com» pany of disputants, with the same freedom and ease as in his familiar discourses. With the superficial and the vain indeed, a haughty carriage and severe aspect are considered as the badges of wisdom ; but nothing in reality is more foreign from its possession. For true wisdom when it is deeply possessed, gives affability and modesty to the manners, illumines the countenance with a divine serenity, and diffuses over the whole external form an air of dignity and ease. Add to this, that Plotinus did not hastily disclose to every one the syllogistic necessities which were latent in his discourse. “ The same thing,” says Porphyry, i( happened to me, when I first heard Plotinus. On which account X kill . INTRODUCTION.
endeavoured to excite him by writing against him* and striving to show that intellections are external to intellect” But after the writings of Porphyry on this subject were read to Plotinus, he said smiling : “ It must be your employment, Amelias* to dissolve these doubts, occa¬ sioned by his ignorance of our opinion*” After Amelias, therefore, had composed no small treatise against the objections of Por¬ phyry, and Porphyry had again contradicted his writings, and was once more answered by Amelias ; u At length/" says Porphyry, 66 having scarcely after all these attempts fathomed the depth 8 of refore, had composed no small treatise against the objections of Por¬ phyry, and Porphyry had again contradicted his writings, and was once more answered by Amelias ; u At length/" says Porphyry, 66 having scarcely after all these attempts fathomed the depth 8 of Plotinus, I
1 it therefore a man of such great sagacity and penetra¬ tion as Porphyry, and who from the period in which he lived possessed advantages with respect to the attainment of phi¬ losophy which are denied to every modern, found so much difficulty in fathoming the profundity of Plotiuus, there must
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lix changed my opinion, wrote a recantation of my error, which I recited in his school ; considered the books of Plotinus ever after as most worthy of belief, and excited my master to the ambition of disclosing his opinions in a more particular and copious manner/'
The testimony of the celebrated Longinus also concerning our philosopher, sufficiently evinces his uncommon excellence and
*■ fc ■· ■ - (·. «ί , necessarily be very few at present by whom this can be accomplished. Let no one therefore deceive himself by fancying that he can understand the writings of Plotinus by barely reading them. For as the subjects which he discusses are for the most part the objects of intellect alone* to under¬ stand them is to see them, and to see them is to come into contact with them. But this is only to be accomplished by kmg familiarity with, and a life conformable to the things themselves. For then, as Plato says, <f a light as if leaping from a fire, will on a sudden be enkindled in the soul, and will then itself nourish itself/* See Plato’s 7th Epistle.
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worth ; and in the present age will proba¬ bly be more esteemed than the eulogium of Porphyry In a letter, therefore, which he wrote to Porphyry desiring him to come from Sicily into Phoenicia where he resided, and to bring with him the books of Plotinus, he writes among other things as follows : “ These books (meaning those written by Plotinus) are not moderately faulty, so that I have no means of using them, though I desire above measure to inspect what Plotinus has written on the soul, and on being.” And again, “ Do not send these books but bring them with you, and not these alone, but any others which may have escaped the notice of Amelius. For why should I not inquire with the greatest diligence after the writings of this man , since they deserve the highest honor
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these books but bring them with you, and not these alone, but any others which may have escaped the notice of Amelius. For why should I not inquire with the greatest diligence after the writings of this man , since they deserve the highest honor
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and veneration ? This indeed I have always signified to you, both when present and absent, and when you resided at Tyre, that I could not understand many of the hypo¬ theses of the books of Plotinus ; hut that I tramcendently loved and reverenced the manner of his writing , the density of his conceptions , and the very philosophic disposi¬ tion of his questions. And indeed I judge that the investigators of truth ought only to compare the books of Plotinus with the most excellent works ”
This testimony of Longinus is the more remarkable, as, prior to this, he had for a long time despised our philosopher, through the ignorant aspersions of others. The wonderful genius of Plotinus, was indeed so concealed under the garb of modesty,
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that before fame had announced his worth it was only visible to a penetrating and sagacious few. But Longinus, says Por¬ phyry, thought the works of Plotinus which he had received from Amelius incorrect, through the fault of the transcribers. For if any, the books in the possession of Amelius were correct, because they were transcribed from the manuscripts of Ploti¬ nus. Porphyry has likewise preserved the preface of a book composed by Longinus, inscribed, “ Concerning the JEW/* and dedi¬ cated to Plotinus and Amelius, in the course of which he says of our philosopher, That Plotinus , as it seems , has more certainly explained the Pythagoric and Platonic principles than his predecessors . For the writings of Numenius9 Cronins , Moderatus, and Thrasyllus, are not to be
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compared for accuracy in any party with the books of Plotinus on the same subjects ”
If such then is the decision of Longinus concerning the abilities and writings of this extraordinary man ; of Longinus* who is celebrated by one of our first poets* as “ inspired by all the Nine f and whose literary reputation is universal ; what judgment must we form of the philosophic taste of the present age, when we find that the very name of Plotinus is known but to a few, and his works scarcely to any ? The
* inference is obvious ; let the reader draw it and lament. But, says Porphyry, if it be requisite to employ the testimony of the wise, who is wiser than a God ? than a God who truly said of himself:
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