The Commentaries on the Timaeus of Plato — trans. Thomas Taylor
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It likewise possesses twofold reasons, the one intellectual, hut the other effective of the world ; and the one proceeding to truly existing Iwings, but the other coming into contact with seiixiblcs.
“ But as to the interior circle, when lie had divided it six times, and ^ had produced seven unequal circles, each according to the interval of the double and triple ; each of the intervals being three ; lie ordered the circles [i. e. orbs] to proceed in a course contrary to each other; three of them indeed revolving with a similar celerity, but the other four dissimilarly to each other, and to the three, yet in a due proportion."
’ For here, read ibi.
PKOCLFS ON Till,
[BOOk. III.
13*2 e. orbs] to proceed in a course contrary to each other; three of them indeed revolving with a similar celerity, but the other four dissimilarly to each other, and to the three, yet in a due proportion."
’ For here, read ibi.
PKOCLFS ON Till,
[BOOk. III.
13*2
In the first place, if you are willing, let us now surrey "hat is said by Plato, astronomically. For this mode of doctrine is appropriate, and let us conceive the depth of the planetary spheres, as one tiling, and throughout similar to itself; because, as those who are skilful in things of this kind say, it consists of one matter; but is divided into seven orbs, which revolve in a certain respect con- ♦ rarv to each other. Or as some sa\, because the sun and the moon ait similarly moved in their epicycles, revolving in their mbs will, a motion contrary to that of the inerratic sphere. Hut others make one 1 at ion of the equable and the ano¬ malous. < >r tin re is one depth of the planetary spheres,] because as others say, Saturn, Jupiter, anti Mars, make the lust eastern phases, alter their conjunction with the sun, in const -ipienn of tin >un bciri" moved with greater celerity than these plain ts in coils* tpn nlia ? Hut the moon makes western phases, because lieilur moved more swiftly than tin- sun, slit* is perceived more easterly. Mrrtm v ami Venus however sometimes appear to us m this way, and sometimes in that. Or there is one depth because tin planets make apparent stations, advan¬ cin'' motions, and relrourcssions, are diaim li n allv opposed to cat h other, ami revolve in contrary directions, souu brim; movi d tn the north, but others to the houtli. Or in whatever vvav von are willim; to eonsuler this allair ; tor there are different opinions on this Mihj et. Or, wliieli may lie more truly asserted, l»e- < aiise Plato savs, the l)ciiiiun;iis ordered the orbs to proceed ina course con¬ trary to eat l« other, he does not mean that the seven are moved m contrary ilirectiiuis, hut the one orb and the seven, on account of their contrary latino. For thus, m what follows, he says, that the planets and the inerratic sphere, are at one ami the same time moved with their proper motions, in cuiitraiy diivt lions. Plato, however, neither here nor elsewhere - makes mention of t pit vies, or eccentrus but describes the seven eircles about one centre. lienee, he dot s not add other circles to these; nor does lie make a mechanical difference of the motions, j.’or ii U |, |M ndeiltlv of his omitlliU' to meiititm these, the hypothesis of epit yh s, and of phases, is l»y no m* alls adapted to the circles in the soul. I he eirele of the di/jtnnt, there fore, is tlivith tl into I In >e seven t irt les, three of which he says rt volve with a similar, but the other four, with a dissimilar o lerilv. J<»r three of t} iem , mz. the Sun, Mercury and Venus, as it is saitl m the Republic, are equal m their course; but the othi i four, viz. the Moon, Saturn, Mars, ami Jupiter, are umspial. At the same time, however, all of them revolve in a due proportion, both with reference to each other, and the universe; liecause the motion ol them is ♦ yolved accordiiifr to numbers. [Ami the periodic circulations of all of them, the Moon, Saturn, Mars, ami Jupiter, are umspial. At the same time, however, all of them revolve in a due proportion, both with reference to each other, and the universe; liecause the motion ol them is ♦ yolved accordiiifr to numbers. [Ami the periodic circulations of all of them,
1 | or yvfttn hen 1 ! ii is iu* i '*21'
*'H»K III }
i im i;us or pla ro.
m:s are terminated in a heronim" manner.’] It seems also, ax is manifest from what is liere said, that Plato places tin- difference of the < < j 111 1 it v ami inctpwlitv of the motions in the v i-ihle 01 hs of the planets, in the imeipi illy moved circles [i. e. spheres] hi whit h tliev are rarrit d, prior to the planets themselves. lienee, placing the circles alone in the soul, without the stars, (tor these he had not vet eonslitnteil,) lit says that some of these are mover! with an equal reierity, hut others with an unetpial celerity. Loth with reference to the former, and to themselves. \nd these things indeed are manifest.
The assertion, however, that eaeh of the seven circles was divided accord in" to tilt* interval of the ilonhle and triple, each of the intervals hein" three, is literally i onsidered ddiieult to he umlerstood. At the same time it signifies, that aecordin:; to each interval of the double and triple intervals, each Iwin*; three, (for in four ti rms lln-re are three intervals) the se< lion was made, which is the same tiling as a division according to length ; in order that in eaeh of the seven c ircles, there nii^lit he all the intervals, and all the ratios. For if the section had l»ocii made according to one interval, some of the intervals would have heen distrihnted into some of the circles, and others into others. But because the division proceeds according to each, each part is a part of each, and all the circles participate of all the ratios. I nless indeed it may be more truly said, that the circles are divided six tunes, conformably to the number of the double and triple intervals, these l win £ six. For the intervals Ircin^ placed successively, and not divided accord¬ ing to d« pth ; (hut I mean hy successively, no as to he extended through the whole circle, just as they were arranged through the whole ri^ht line, from which Im hi" bent the circle was generated,)— this heinj; the case, it would Ik? ridiculous to make such a section according to depth, as to divide each of the circles in one part.
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