The Commentaries on the Timaeus of Plato — trans. Thomas Taylor

If likewise an intelligible form is not eternal, neither will the image of it be perpetual. It is necessary however that it should, if the world always consists of allforms. But the principle perish-

‘Instead of ro δὲ ovewées ov, ovdayws; in this place, it is necessary to read ro δε ουσιωδε: cv, ovdapws; : * Viz. the monadic, the essential, and the eternal.

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ing, that which is derived from it can by no possible contrivance be preserved. And if an intelligible form is not monadic, it will be no longer primarily a paradigm. For it is impossible for any thine to be two things primarily, as Socrates says in the Republic. Vor whence is allness derived to these mundane forms, except from one certain common form? These three things therefore are present with all first paradigms. And it seems that the monadie Is present with them from bound, the perpetual from infinity, and the essential from the first essence.

Farther still, it is also possible for us after another manner to solve the doubt. Vor of the things contained in the world, some indeed subsist from the first fabrication fice. the fabrication of the Demiurgus}] alone; but others from the tirst and also from the second Cor the fabrication of the junior Gods]. Those, therefore, that subsist) from) the first fabrication, are invariably the same, and are monadie, imitating the onlyness of their producing ‘cause. Por the sapermundane fabrication is immoveable, one, and eternal. Bat things which proceed from the second fabrication are mutable, are borne alone In multitude, and subsist differently at diffrent times. — Por the second fabrication is multiform, makes that which it makes with motion, and has time but not eternity connascent with itself. Henee the things which proceed from it are very inutable, and inultiplied, and entirely moved. For things which proceed from causes that are moved, are naturally of this kind. Whence also ΤΠ think the Demiurgus, having constituted all the monadice and perpetual natures in the world, excites the junior Gods tu the fabrication of mortal natures ; ino order that these, so far as they have something perpetual, may derive their subsistence from hin, but so far as they are mortal, fromthe junior Gods, And that so far as one thing participates of one form they might be constituted by hin, but so far as this one is multiplied, they might derive their subsistence fromthem. For the mutation and multiplication of mortal natures are from many canses, and such as are moved.

For the mutation and multiplication of mortal natures are from many canses, and such as are moved.

Aeain, therefore, this also may be said, that the only-begotten is threefold. Por it either signifies the monad of its proper series τ according to Which signification, the form of man is monadic, and the form of horse, and every form of things of this kind. Orit signifies one thing participated by one thing, according to which signification man and horse are not monadie, but the form of the sun and the form of the moon. Or it signifies that which has no other thing co-ordinate with itself, according to which ineaning the above-mentioned natures are no longer only-begotten, since they are co-ordinate with each “other bat whole auinal [or

Por xpayparos here, it is uccessary ty read nupayorros.

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animal itself} is only-begotten, in consequence of not being co-ordinate with any other animal, As the only-begotten, therefore, has a threefold subsistence, if you assume that which is truly: only-begotten, it is the third, as the cause of all animals, having the relation of a monad to all of them, being participated by one thing, and not being co-ordinate with any animal, but being truly monadic. This, however, being assumed, that which is conjoined with it now necessarily follows. For if the paradigm is only-begotten, that also which is generated according to itis only-begotten, imitating the only-begotten nature of the paradigin, and nothing else besides the world is a thing of this kind. For no other thing besides animal itself, is according to this signification, only-begotten, Farther stll, it is requisite to solve the doubt after another manner, by considering as follows: Every form is gencrative of onc thing, and of a multitude. Of one thing, indeed, because it constitutes a monad similar to itself, prior to the multitude which 1 produces. But it produces a multitude, because every monad has a number co-ordinate with itself. Animal itself, therefore, as a monad, constitutes the whole world. But according to each order, it gencrates a number! analogous to the whole, and Which is able to preserve the similitude to the universe contorinably to that series, Hence the solar paradigm, generates Indeed the visible sun itself, but it likewise zenerates a number of solar animals possessing the same form, according to a similitude to their proper form, And of animals of this kind, some are celestial, but others sublunary, so that such a number as this extends as far as to the earth. Man itself, therefore, does not gmncdiately produce this infinite multitude of men; for progression is no where without a medium; but through numbers proximate to the monad and appropriate. lence, since an intelligible form is one, itis necessary thatit should not immediately produce the infinite, but ins the first place a monad, afterwards an appropriate number, aud so on in suceession. For between the intellizible form which is one, end the sensible wich is multiplied, the medium is the form which is sensthle indeed, but monadte 3 through proceeding becom= ing sensible; but through preserving the similitude of its paradizm, having a monadic subsistence. For it may be said to be {ταν absurd, that divine, intelligible, and immoveable causes, should not be primarily the causes of things essentially immutable, but of things matenal and mutable. For how is it possible that things which are in the profundity of the universe, cau be conjoined with those super-

ἡ Ap Opoy is omitted in the original.

* In the original δία τῶν ενυλων, καὶ μεταβλητων; but δία ought evidently to be expunged.

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