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

IS'ot In inj; adapted theicfore to the whole of each, it wholly applies itself to eat h, so far as it partit ipatos of each; to essence indeed, through that w hich is partia l) a thing ol this kind, and to other tilings after a similar manner. 1 hits therefim we solve the tlouht.

In addition to this also, it may he inquired l,ow Plato not having yet delivered to us the generation of time, now says that the soul lives through the whole of tune? To this inquiry likewise it must be said, that hr delivers the geneiation of that time, of which the animal nature of tin world participates. Tor he says, that the father oil beholding tin* universe moving and living, constituted time, for the purpose of measuring the motion in it. Sine* tin refore. this life, and this motion to the universe which has a Imdy, is adventitious, so likewise, time is imparted by its generator, from whom it has life and motion through soul. Hut the soul also lias these from the fatln r, I mean life, and tin* motion which ts

BOOK in.]

TIMiEUS OF PLATO.

p. 153

according to time. Since however, it has something self-suhsistcnt, it co-introdure> something to tlit* progression of itself into existence from its generator. As the Detniiirgiis therelore, moves tiie mmiI, and it is also self-motive, after the same manner, tin? soul likewise is the cause to itself of being moved according to time. Hence before the Detniurgus gave to this universe time, the soul is said to be moved through the w hole of time. For thus it gi\cs subsistence in conjunction with the Demiurgus to animal time, just as in conjunction with him, it constitutes the life, according to which* motion subsists. It also governs according to nature, that w hich lives and is moved through it, and has not as it were, a casual inspection of it, imparting nothing to that which it governs. Concerning time however, we shall again speak.

It also governs according to nature, that w hich lives and is moved through it, and has not as it were, a casual inspection of it, imparting nothing to that which it governs. Concerning time however, we shall again speak.

But from these things, thus much may be summarily collected, that the soul of the universe, moves indeed the universe, establishing in the middle of it guardian powers, tilling the whole of it with vivification, and intellectually containing it externally ; imitating in this respect its cause which generates three principalities of Cods, \i/. the guardian, the vivitic, and the demiurgic. The soul, however, by a much greater priority moves itself dhinely, beginning from its first energies; and on this account moves both itself ami the universe incessantly. Hence like¬ wise it conducts itself, and all heaven wisely. Again, the soul making the one extension of time the measure of its proper period, convolves the universe with invariable sameness. For the universe accomplishes its apocatastasis in conjunc¬ tion with the apoc-atastasis of the soul. For it does not accomplish this prior to the apocatastasis of the soul; since the same things taki place again and again in tin* world,* and generated natures are produced according to the intellections of the soul ; nor posti rior to it, in order that this restitution to its pristine state may not be without a cause. For what else but the period of the soul will comprehend the w hole of it. If, however, we assert these things rightly, again the soul will have that which is divim* from the one being, the unceasing from eternity, wis¬ dom from intellect, and all things from the one cause of all.»

“Ami the body of the universe indeed, was generated visible; but the soul is invisible, participating of the rational energy and harmony, and pertaining to intelligibles anti perpetual beings, being generated by the best of causes, the best of generated natures.”

• Tor knff ir lirrr, it n tircr««ary to read r >ilf tjv.

* Inarnd of r » ifi; *uXi» <r ry to<7/ity, in tin* jti ice in the original, it i* nece»»ary to read, trniif iraXiv ini iraXir 1 1 ry irooyjy.

' The version of I.conicus Thomxui ends here.

Tim. Plot. Vol. II.

U

p. 154

PROCLUS ON TIIR

[BOOK III-

* Inarnd of r » ifi; *uXi» <r ry to<7/ity, in tin* jti ice in the original, it i* nece»»ary to read, trniif iraXiv ini iraXir 1 1 ry irooyjy.

' The version of I.conicus Thomxui ends here.

Tim. Plot. Vol. II.

U

p. 154

PROCLUS ON TIIR

[BOOK III-

Since Plato gives to the soul afterwards, all such tiling as he Iteforc gave to the !*o<lv, viz. essence, harmony, figure, powers, ami motion, and conjoins both to the completion of one animal; in order that you may not ignorantly suppose that hoily ami soul are of a similar dignity, being ileceiveil by homonymous appella¬ tions, he concisely reminds us of the dilli retire between the two, and does not .sujiertluously say, that body i- visible, but the soul invisible; and shows that body is the object of opinion, because it is sensible and generated, but that the s«,ul is linbegotten, as with reference to the body, but generated, as vv ith reference to intellec t, Tor it belongs at one and the same time to eternal beings, and gene¬ rated natures, but is tin- !u>t of the former; since time lias now a place in it. And that indeed, which is primarily eternal bung, is in both respects eternal, viz both according to essence, and according to eiieigy. 1 or it lias not an i u< i ;y different from its essence. lint that vvhirli is generated, is in both respects generated, always hecomiug to be, and always energizing, as being in genera¬ tion according to time. The soul, however, ill a certain lespri t partieipates of eternity, and ill a certain respn-t of generation; hut it energizes temporally. And the extremes indeed, ji r eternal beings and generated natures, are in one wav only pi rprtual, the one . ternally, but tin- ollii r temporally. Ihit tin* medium between the two, is perpetual in a twofold re>peet, as bring Inform, d, and on this account, of an ambiguous nature; not only aeeording to the partible and uupartiljle, and according to its two nr. h s, hut also according to |n rp« tual being, and that xxlilt'll is generated lienee it belongs to eternal beings, ami is the In st of generated natures, being produced by tlie best ot causes. And again you s. r, the differi me of the soul with reference to body l'or l’lato had In lore called Imdy the most In-antifiil of generated natur. s; but now lie calls the soul the In st of things generated, lint it is i oinmoii <o both to have In i n generated by the most excellent cause. The soul howevi r, as being nearer to its maker, is the hat; but body, ns being more remote from him, is indeed most beautiful , yet not the best. Tortlie must beautiful, is secondary to the best, in the same manner as beauty to the go ml .