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

All likewise are assumed according to all the divisions made by IMato ol mundane natures, which are triple, vi/. according to ideas, according to figures, and according to the spheres.

All the other sesquiallcr and sesquioctavc* ratios therefore, were* the bonds ot more partial orders, comprehended either in the live parts ol the univeise, or in the divisions of it into eight and nine; a-, for instance, in the division of it into bods, da moils, souls, natures, and bodies. And ol boils, into those t .a 4 preside over different parts of the world. For in each part ol it, there are dillcrciit orders of (bids; those of tin? second rank being analogous to those that are prior to them. And m a similar manner with respect to du-itioiis, some are ot this, but ot icrs ot that series. Tin like also takes place, in souls, and natures, and bodies. Hut I lie diapi nte symphony, and the sesquioi lav* ratio, are not in v mi assumed all* r the quadruple diapason, but because tin y are comprehensive and eonneetive|u i-iinimoii, of wholes. I say, for instance, that the ratio of tin* ninth to the eighth sphere, comprehends and connects as one ratio, all the parts at once th.it are arranged according t*» a quintuple div isioii, mid all that are divided into eight oid nine. Ilul the U iinm is of nil the sc-quit* Ilian ratios are cilia r the ultimate, and very partible diminutions, according to each portion of the ipiadiipaitile distr.hiition, or they are the common gills of all these ratios, into the last place of the universe; through which (bids, ila nunis, partial souls and iialm* >, proceed into that r* gitui, and at t old vv ilh each *ilher, * miliii mably to the ultimate and perl« « 11y partible symphony, Mich as vv.- say siqierparUnit rali.is possess. 11* m. IMato descending It* this adds, that the D. niiiiigiis diviiling the mixture, had now con¬ sumed the whole of it. For neither bod, nor nature, docs any thing in vain.

ROOK 111.]

TIM.BUS or PLATO.

10*J

11* m. IMato descending It* this adds, that the D. niiiiigiis diviiling the mixture, had now con¬ sumed the whole of it. For neither bod, nor nature, docs any thing in vain.

ROOK 111.]

TIM.BUS or PLATO.

10*J

Tlio Pemiiirgus therefore did not constitute a mixture of parts either exceeding nr deficient, bill produced it such as was suliicient to the wholeness itself of the soul, l’or tin* whole which is from parts, is neither more nor less than its proper parts, hut entirely derives its completion from appropriate parts. Hence the whole of that which is mingled, consists of harmonic ratios, ami all this harmony is, in short, the essential paradigm of the harmony of the universe, accor¬ ding to all the divisions in the world. Moreover, the whole number of the essen¬ tial monads of the soul is 10oi)l7,' proceeding according to all the orders of miml*ers. Decadieally, indeed, in order that the soul mav become mundane : for the decad is the number of the world, iiut pentadically, in order that it inav be converted to itself: for the pentad is sell comertive. Jhincadicallv, in order that it may not alone m contain the universe monadic-ally, but also as proceeding to the last of things from the monad. But tctradically, as collecting the ipiadripartite division into one. And hebdoniicallv, as converting all things to the monad, to which tin- hebdomad is alone referred, being motherless and virile. And in the soul of the world indeed, the above number subsists totally; m divine souls, as having their energies directed to that 1 soul, it subsists both totally and partially ; in daunnus, as energizing still mon partially, it exists vice versa, partial¬ ly and totally ; and in human souls, alone partially, and alone gnosticallv. For thus all forms subsist in these souls, such for instance as the form of mail, of daMiion and of Hod ; in order that through these they may know, that all things subsist m more excellent natures productively, and at the same time gnosticallv. This mixture therefore, is alone the mixture of the whole soul, and it subsists after the same manner m each divine soul, ami similarly in du-monincal souls, each of whit li his intellect placed above its proper essence, a peculiar ve¬ hicle, and a life distributed about this. If, however, in partial souls, it be r«*rjuisite to assume the peculiarity of each, it is a medium between the impartible which is above, and the partible which is posterior to them,* or it is partly the one, and partly the other of these. And though we have elsewhere discussed this largely, yet we shall particularly inn stigate it, when we come to explain what is said by- Plato concerning the generation of partial souls.

' InUc.l t Ilf rvarni rnffi rr-rniir i ill till* place, It l» rcrjllidle to read, tryraKovrntu re nrtnpa\<,t -et.

* It iv necessary lirre !■» supply fiornr.

1 For Tftot mnoi' in tins place, read — on*

' InUc.l t Ilf rvarni rnffi rr-rniir i ill till* place, It l» rcrjllidle to read, tryraKovrntu re nrtnpa\<,t -et.

* It iv necessary lirre !■» supply fiornr.

1 For Tftot mnoi' in tins place, read — on*

* It appears to me lliat after rnaarijf ifny tn \n,t horn iu llic original in tlrs place, liie words /jr*rr

arc wanMii"; and tliat immediately afler, instead of ro re vr rp avrat «a< to fttr' avrat fifptiTor, we should read top Tt vwrp avrat o/irptcrtv, cat rov per avrat fitpttrrcp .

p. 110

IMIOCLI’S ON THE

p. 111

*• Havin'*, therefore, cut all this cl mil decomposition nccording to length, so as to produce two from one, he adapted middle to middle, each to the other, as it were in the form of the letter X."

In the first place, it is requisite to show mathematically of what kind the figure of the soul is, and thus, afterwards, introduce the theory of the things ; in order that being led in a becoming manner by the phantasy, we may render ourselves adapted to the scientific apprehension of what is said. All the numbers there¬ fore, must 1 m* conceived to be desclibed in one rule, as those who are skilled ill music are accustomed to do. And let the rule have the numbers according to the whole of its depth, and be divided according to its length. All the ratios therefore, will !>c in each of the s« etions. For if the division was made according to breadth, it would he entirely necessary that some of the niunlH*rs should be taken here, but others there. Since however, the section is according to length, but all the iiuiiiImts are in all the length, there will be the same iiiiuiIkts in each ot the parts. For it is evident, that it is not the same thing, to divide the length, and to divide according to the length ; since the latter signifies, that the section proceeds through the whole length, but the former, that the length is divided, ljet the rule, therefore, bo thus divided according to length,* and let the two lengths lx* applied to each other in the points which bisect the lengths, ye! not so as to l>e at right angles: for neither will the circles 1m* at right angles. Ia*t the two lengths likewise be so ineurvated, that they may again lx* conjoined at the extremities. Two circles therefore, will 1m* formed, of which one will In* in¬ terior, but the other exterior, and they will lx* oblique to each other. One of these likewise, is called the circle of the same, but the other, the circle ot the different. And the one indeed, subsists according to the equinoctial circle, but the other, according to the zodiac. For the whole circle of the different revolves about the zodiac, but that of the same about the equinoctial. Hence, we conceive that the right lines ought not to lx* applied to each other at right angles, but like rest of ihe sentence in the translation is added from the version of Tliouiaus.

* In the original of this place there is nothin" more than rouo ynfi .ri ou ravror to fiTjtot. 1 i.e