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

And what time is in generation, that eternity is in essence Cnneerniiur the developeinenl however, ot that mighty «li\ init v eternity abiding in one, let thus inueli sullice.

Hut why does l*lato say, “ the nature of animal itstlf teas eternal, and not i», thoii”h to eternity the uu.c is more adapted than the past tunc? lie employs therefore, else where this form of diction, as win a lie says of the Deiniur^us v\ ho is always <_;ood, “ he was good signifying that he is not this Irom time, but tint lie always w;i> mi ; and that in ilinnc naturis, tin uuh arc anteceilenl/i/ u\snmctl ami co-asKunml \,ith the beginning*, prior la all r i tension. \t present how ever, I lie w ord XI it* is mole oppurtiili'l v Used, I nr sun e Plato adonis the iiiuyeise according to ln polhesis > hut prior to the adorning, inti lligibles existed, though not in time, yet in dignity, and also such tilings as subsist together with mb lligibles on this account he says, “// ua.\. Hut again by employing tin word hang * (.vex u , lie assists the imbecility ol the iinjnrfat Veili I'm lit aUo makes it to be essential, Iklld no less so tli ill the prcMiit. lie likewise, adapts to eternity what he says com crime.; it ; to its perfection indeed, through the word w.is; and to its esseiitial lieing, by eo-mtrodui ing the word hang. And thus mm li concerning the lit. tie words whuh Plato employ s.)

Why however, was it not possible perleetlv to adapt the eternal to the geiicrati d ? Is it not because every tiling generab d, may be said to have its exish nee in mutation ; but that which is perfectly eternal, is immutable and imhcgnttcn { r J'hese natures therefore In mg opposed to each other, it some one should v intently' endeavour to connect the perleetlv eternal with that vvliu h is generated, lie would not make it immutable, and would destroy its nature. Is then eternity present with that which is sensible, alb r a certain manner, and not * lit it« ly 1 Hut how is it possible we should not acknowledge this' I’m that vv liieli participates of (he image of eternity, [larticipates also m a certain respect of eternity ; though not m such a way as that which participates of it iminediately. And in short superior causes always adorn the dominion of such as are subordinate, so that eternity

1 A ml lure aKo , rtad tiafitttjt.

1 Tin* tutnl) ol n.Uu »iic, fitv »u*p tuv Cu/ov vv'Tu aiwHt i, ill Mliii’l), iis IVotlih tlie iui|Mil<<t Mil* ci’/yttm, KiH, is !>\ tlu; |>arlu.ij»lc ovau t bang.

hook i\.]

TfM/F.l S or 1*1, \TO.

lfio 2tlie iui|Mil<<t Mil* ci’/yttm, KiH, is !>\ tlu; |>arlu.ij»lc ovau t bang.

hook i\.]

TfM/F.l S or 1*1, \TO.

lfio bk* wi-i', is in ;i roil.tin respect present witli tin* natures that arr adorn* <1 l»y time. I-or arronlin^ to mir all perle* I lioiinilary indri'd, it is present willi inti lli^ililrs alonr ; Imt il is likewise capable nt Iwiiu; present with iiiiindaiir 11 1 niic^ multitude llouslv. according to divided perfections and drlinitr measures of life, and especially nrrurdnur to the essences ol tin* celestial souls. The world itself alsi» receives « h rnitv, not a> it e; ami on this arronnt iirilhrr is it said to hr «trrnal ; hut as lar a*- il is ahlr. it rrr« nrs its nnpartihlr prrsrnri* and illumination. This tli i n ton*, is thr trails* rmh-nt "ond in rtrrnitv of a divine cause and comprehension. Ilrtire it roinpn'hrnds partible issnirrs, and such as am as it were contrary to its own nature, armrdiiiu to thr concatenation of cause. And thus much tor this p.*ilieular.