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

“ Ami ho made one ot the circles to be external, but the other internal. lie denominated therefoie, the lation ot the external circle, the motion of the nature of same ; but the lation ot the internal, the motion of the nature ol ililleri lit. ’

The divine Jumhlichiis refers these divine circles to the intellect which is sepa¬ rate, and to the mulled which is inseparable from souls, and to the motion which is com uli ed in the same, and on all sides comprehends them ; so that one of the circles comprehends the two .souls, but the other is in them ; and the one is unmiiigled with the other lilt 1 and the powers of the soul, bill the other is mingled with anti governs them; from which cause likewise, the whole soul, stably ener¬ gizes, ami is united to the Demiurgiis himself. \\ e however interpret the two t irt les to be the two-fold liies of tin* souls, n/. the proiuh ntially energizing 1 ami convertiie or regressive lives; and abo to be the two-fold powers, the diano- ♦ tic and duxastic. For the soul of the universe has both these; since Plato likewise ill the Pha dills says, that of tin 1 horses, out* pertains to tin nature of saim', but the other to the nature of i!i/fcrmt, though he also attributes horses to the finds,* hut such as are good, and consisting of tilings that are good. Here therefore the external circle is dianoetic, but the internal dosasfic. For the Deliulli |«nn i ll nlully .uni rumritist Is, .uni llic lallrr energy is iiilclltclivc. linin', tlnrc would In 1 a laululocs in saying, the intr/ltctiie and cvmtr'ivt li\f>.

* 1 nr * t-ijrivm hi llin it is in-ccssars lo nail »(<oicijrn«i». tor tlie Mini of lilt uinifn* always

* 1 nr row 0 '<>vi line, it is necessary to rc.ul ren

HOOK III]

TIM /ELS OF PLATO.

p. 123

linin', tlnrc would In 1 a laululocs in saying, the intr/ltctiie and cvmtr'ivt li\f>.

* 1 nr row 0 '<>vi line, it is necessary to rc.ul ren

HOOK III]

TIM /ELS OF PLATO.

p. 123

iniurgus imparted to tlir* dianoctir circle a power, according to which it is more divine than the doxastic eir< le. J'or it is more united, and is inteliectual. For you must not suppose that to denominate, is the mere position of a name, hut in the dianoetie eirele is a participation of power, effective of sa meness; and in the doxastic circle, or difference. Prior to this, therefore, Plato taught us the similitude of the soul itself to itself; hut now lie adds the transcendency and diminution of it with reference to itself, winch it possesses, and received from the Demiurgus; who made one of the circles to he external, so far as he rendered it more similar to intellect and the intelligible ; for they are properly external, as being exempt from all secondary natures; hut the other internal, as being contained by the more excel'ent circle, as being that which ought to he governed by it, and as being of a subordinate nature. It was verv fir therefore from the intention of Plato, to adumbrate these circles mathematically, who, though they are equal, makes them to he unequal, and though they subsist similarly, rentiers them dissimilar, attributing to them for their essence, the demiurgic will.

It was verv fir therefore from the intention of Plato, to adumbrate these circles mathematically, who, though they are equal, makes them to he unequal, and though they subsist similarly, rentiers them dissimilar, attributing to them for their essence, the demiurgic will.

Some, however, here doubt, how. since the soul consists of similar parts, one of the circles pertains to sameness, but the other to dillerem e, ami the one is <]« nominated internal, but the other external ; for these things subvert similitude of parts. Porphyry, therefore, directing Ins attention to sensibles, and material mixtures, adduces as instances, water mingled with honey, and lmney mingled with wine; the whole consisting indeed of similar parts, but in dirterent persons producing a different passion. For some are more affected by the vinous flavour, hut others by the sweetness. Our father i. e. preceptor] however, thinks we should survey the mixture of the genera in a manner adapted to immaterial and incorporeal natures. But this is, not according to a confusion of forms, nor according to a corruption of powers, hut they lwing preserved, the mixture is according to a union and penetration of them through ear h other. For corruptions and the diminu¬ tions of powers, are m material natures, matter not being able to preserve ui hersi ll the dilleo lit peeuliarilies uucniiluscd and gt inline. For the peculiarity of immaterial mixture is for the same things to remain united and separated, and to lie co-mingled and uumingh d [hut in material mixture, the things which are mingled, arc said to he confused, and without separation from each other, Itecause this mixture is through computrefaction, and corruption].' It is easy likewise to call to our remembrance such-like immaterial mixtures as we speak of, from the sciences, from physical reasons, and from a multitude of lamps. For the many

* In the origins! iicrc, tin re i< nothing inure Ilian, to ra ^irvn m« nbuitpim uir' aXAij\wr *1.11 The rest in Uir sIkivc translation » supplied Iroin the vcrsiou of Thnmxus.

p. 124

IMIOCLUS ON Til F

[BOOK III.