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

p. 142

PROCLUS ON THE

[book hi.

circle as magnitude, nor is it requisite to think that to confute this hypothesis, is to embrace the Platonic theory. Hence I have thought tit to omit the farther consi¬ deration of these particulars, as I know that I have published a treatise in answer to the oppositions of Aristotle to the Tiimeus, in which there is no small discussion of these particulars, and where it is shown that magnitude cannot rightly lie ascriln-d to the soul, according to Tiimeus, and demonstrating from thence, that the soul cannot hv magnitude which i- partible, iutellet tually perceive intelligible^ which an* impartible! as in ither is it possible for the impartible to lie adapted to the partible. Nor must it be said that the motions of the heavens [are the motions of the soul of the universe]; 1 but that according to the doctrine of the 'Pima us, the former subsist from the latter. Nor must it be admitted that it is impossible tr<- rpienlly to understand the same thing by the same power, but this nue-t neces¬ sarily Ire: the case in more transitive i 1 it« llections, since intelligibles an* bounded, and intellection subsists in a circle. Omitting tin n tore, the farther consideration of these things, which are more amply discussed in the above-mentioned I realise, h t us direct our atti ntion to the words of the philosoplu r, w hich appear to me to exhibit the doctrine * of things themselves.

“ \fter, therefore, the whole composition of the soul was generated, according to the intellect [or intention] of its composer, in the next place, he fabricated within the soul, the whole of a corporeal-formed nature."

The first head, as we have before observed, of the discussions concerning the soul, was about its hyparxis, the second, about its harmony, the third, about its figure, the fourth, about its powers, and the fifth, about its energies. In all the other heads therefore, tin* philosopher has most perfectly instructed us. Hut the last, was that concerning the ( energies)>f the soul, which lu: adds in wh.it is now said. Since how ever, there is a twofold form of the energy of the soul, 1 mean the gnostic and the motive, lie separately discusses each of these; and shows how the soul by moving itself, moves other things, and how by knowing its* !f, it knows the natures prior, and also those that are posterior to itself. Such there¬ fore i* the scope of the words lx fore us. Hut that he did not teach u*', in what has been already said, concerning the multitude of souU as those assert, who say, that his discussion about the essence of the soul, pertained to that soul which is without habitude [to body] ; but about its harmony, to the soul which is called by

* The words within the brackets sre supplied from the Ttrsion of Thcmaeus.

* Iuitccd of Taputuetiv here, read wapakooir.

HOOK III.]

TIM.rXS OF I’LATO.

1 13

* Iuitccd of Taputuetiv here, read wapakooir.

HOOK III.]

TIM.rXS OF I’LATO.

1 13 them in habitude ; and about its figure, to the soul which ranks in a certain order; and farther still, that he did not teach us about supermundane souls, according to the opinion of others, who assert that he produces one, and seven supermundane souls, is I think through these things sullieiently manifest. For he conjoins to the universe, the soul which was fabricated according to the intention of the father, and constructs within it the whole of a corporeal-formed nature. And this is indeed evident from the whole design of the dialogue. For the whole discussion w as concerning the world, and not concerning supermundane progeny.

You may also see w ith w hat accuracy Tinueus adds each of the words. For the words, according to the intellect , manifest that intellect is the paradigm of the universe. For all-perfect animal is intelligible intellect, according to which this universe, and the soul of the universe were constituted. They likewise signify that nothing was constituted in vain, nor more nor less [than was tit] ; but that all things requisite to the completion of the psychical essence, were fashioned in a becoming 1 manner, and that the essence of the soul received all the demi¬ urgic will. For material natures, on account of matter, distribute into parts, impartible form, and that which is a whole is received by them as partial, and that which is without interval, as possessing interval. Hut the soul receives all the demiurgic fabrication, conformably to the w ill of the Demiurgus. The w ords also its composer manifest universal energy. For the words “ according to intellect" are indicative of completion ; but its composer of an energy, the whole of which is at once always present.* The words likewise, then-hole composition e>J the soul, manifest that nothing escapes the demiurgic art, but that the whole pro¬ gression of the soul, is governed by the form and power of the Demiurgus. Hut the words, “ in the nc.rt place" or “ after this" must not lie apprehended as having a temporal meaning, but as significant of order, l'or the separate life of the soul is one thing, and the secondary life posterior to this, and which commu¬ nicates with the body, is another. And in a divine essence, things more perfect precede such as are more imperfect. The words likewise, “ within the soul" evince that the world 1 is connascent with the soul, and the olFpring of it. For if the world proceeds in the soul, she is the mistress of its subsistence, comprehends the whole of its essence, and co-oj>erates with the Demiurgus m the orderly

* i» wunling litre in the original; but according to the version of Tliomxus,ought to be nililril.

* The word in the original is evnrmKri, in which word, an energy wholly,ever present is indicated by the prrjtosition 9*v.

* It is requisite here, to add ror tov/xov, omitted in the original.

(44

* The word in the original is evnrmKri, in which word, an energy wholly,ever present is indicated by the prrjtosition 9*v.

* It is requisite here, to add ror tov/xov, omitted in the original.

(44

PROCLUS ON THE

p. 111

distribution of body. For the soul of the universe is not 1 like partial souls, which receive bodies fashioned by other things, and on this account, at one time rule over them, but at another, are incapable of governing their proper organs. But proceeding from, she produces together with her father, her habitation, or rather her vehicle. Hence also, she governs the universe, and energizes eternal¬ ly, and without solicitude ami labour. For every thing which makes according to essence, makes with facility that which it makes.

Moreover, the words he fabricated manifest the production of the Demi¬ urges proceeding through solid and resisting substances; and also the ex¬ ternally adventitious formation of sensibles ; and does all but 1 represent him, employing Vulcanian 1 organs, by which he fashions the whole heaven from brass, depicting all things with forms, giving rotundity to corporeal masses, and figuring each thing with an appropriate form. .Since the fabrication however of the universe is triple; the first In-ing that according to which the Demiurgus produced it from the elements bound together by analogy, a whole of wholes; but the second being that according to which he adorned it from the whole spheres, since it is impossible, as it consists of the elements, that it should not be divided into the spheres ; and the third being that which gives completion to the universe from celestial, aerial, aquatic and terrcstial animals;— this being the case, Plato in what is now said, unfolds to is the middle fabri¬ cation. For he who fabricates tile whole of a corporeal-formed nature within the soul which is divided into circles, evidently fabricated it by dividing it into spheres, l'or the spheres are images of the circles [in the soul] which the Demiurgus forming, is said to have fabricated the whole of a corporeal formed na¬ ture, within the circles of the soul: by which aPo, it is evident, that the eight cir¬ cles comprehend in themselves the sublunary region, since the Demiurgus placed in them the whole of a corporeal nature. For if it w< re not so, Plato would have said, that the Demiurgus fabricated evtry thing celestial, and not every tiling corporeal within them. Fvery thing subcelestial therefore as being co-divideil with the heavens, is in these circles, or as being contained in the circle of the moon; theologists also calling the moon earth, through the alliance of the earth to it. Hence it is common to both of them to conceal the light.

“ And collecting middle to middle, lie co-harmonizctl them to each other."

1 Iustead of to yap in tins place, it o necessary to read cv yap.

* For pcrci\i here, read ,

4 Instead of in tins place, it it requisite to read Hpaiffreion.