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

For time unfolds things which as yet are not, connectedly contains such as are present, and pt ejects such as are past, and introduces an appropriate end to their periods. And thus much conct ruing tin* parts and the species of time.

With respect however, to the word contrived, though we have before observed that time is in reality tin: work of divine anti demiurgic contrivance, by which natures that are changed remain through the whole, and partake of perfection, perpetuity, defence, measure and compreln iision; vet it may In* said, do not divine natures measure themselves,' and especially do not those that revolve in the hea¬ vens, define their own motions? This indeed, we must most readily admit. I or material and corruptible natures have their existence, and tin* extent of their du¬ ration from other tilings; but divine natures have these, both from primordial causes and themselves. lienee Plato, when lie begins to speak about tin; times that are unfolded into light in the heavens, says “ that the stars were generated for the *ake of co-operating in the production of time and again, “ that they were gene¬ rated us instruments of time and in the third place, “ that they were produced for the purpose of distinguishing and guarding the numbers oj time.' In vvliat is ben* s.iitl however, the term co-operating shows that time indeed existed prior to the stars, hut that it is unfolded into light about the world through these. For time hem-' m them, is unfolded through their motion. Hut the term instruments again afier another manner, ill a certain respect, indicates the same thing; viz. that tinwhole of time was produced, both that which abides, and that which proceeds,

' I'or tavro here, read caeru.

BOOK IV.]

T1M/EUS Or PLATO.

■207 l»y the father and maker of all tilings, for the purpose of measuring mundane natures; but that the bodies which revolve in the heavens, are partial measures, and are comprehended in the one time; each in an especial manner, more organ¬ ically producing in conjunction with time, such things as are appropriate in it. For in short, all the second fabrication has this relation to the one and impartible production of things. For each of the bodies that revolve in the heavens, is said especially to contribute to the measure of itself. Thus for instance, tin sun though , it contributes to all things, on account of its ruling dignity, yd it particularly contri¬ butes to the year, '.chick it constitutes in conjunction xi ith the Demiurgus , and the whole of time, as the peculiar measure of itself. llut the moon contributes to month ; and the incrratic sphere, to day and night. The mode also of operation tn the re<t of the heavenly bodies, is evident; though neither night, nor much less day, is without the sun, nor year without the inerratic sphere, and the zodiac. At the same lime however, some measures are more adapted to some of these, than to others.

The mode also of operation tn the re<t of the heavenly bodies, is evident; though neither night, nor much less day, is without the sun, nor year without the inerratic sphere, and the zodiac. At the same lime however, some measures are more adapted to some of these, than to others.

The stars also may 1m? said to be the instruments of time, in consequence of time possessing an effective dignity, with reference to and through them, and adorning generation as it were through instruments. 11 y which also it is evident, that time is not only that which is participated, and is the number of motion, since the governors of the world have the order of instruments w ith reference to it; i hut likewise, that it is an inv isihle (iod, energizing eternally about all motions, and the whole period of the world, but using for instruments these divinilit s, as more partial measures of itself. Hut the assertion, that the stars were generated, for the purpose of distinguishing and guarding the numbers of time, clearly shows that the onetime proceeds from the Demiurgus, and his will; and that remaining one, and a whole, and without difference, it becomes through the motion of these stars, multitudinous according to number, and that each of the measures adapted to it, is as it were cut and divided from the whnleof lime, which is always the guardian of each, through its equable and orderly motion. In reality however, the celestial (iods, are rather guarded by the numbers of time, and obtain through these, the distinction ot the periods w hich they make, and of their restitutions to their pristine state: but at the same time, since we endeavour to collect the truth pertaining to invisible from visible natures, we infer that the numliers of time are guarded, through the circulation of the stars.

With these things however, not only Plato as. we have before observed, but theurgists likewise accord. For they celebrate time as a mundane (bid, eternal, boundless, young and old, and of a spiral form. And besides tins also, as having its essence in eternity, as abiding always the saute, and as possessing

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PHOCLUS ON THE

[book lr.

we have before observed, but theurgists likewise accord. For they celebrate time as a mundane (bid, eternal, boundless, young and old, and of a spiral form. And besides tins also, as having its essence in eternity, as abiding always the saute, and as possessing

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PHOCLUS ON THE

[book lr.

infinite power. For how could it otherwise comprehend the infinity of apparent time, and circularly lead all things to lla ir former condition, and renovate them, and also recall things which become old through it, to their proper measure, as being at once comprehensive both of things that are moved in a circle, and ac¬ cording to a right line. For n spiral is a thing ot this hind; and lienee, as I have liefore observed, time is celebrated by theurgists, as having a spiral term. For they not only celebrate time as a (Joel, but likewise day and night, and month and year, are considered by them as (iods. 1 or ot things which e in id.ite peipctually, it is entirely necessary, that there should bean immoveable cause; and adiflerent cause of things specifically dillcTciit. On this account theivlore, they have deli¬ vered to us, congresses, invocations, and telestic sacred laws. It is necessary likewise, not to survey all these particulars superficially, but to venerate them as divine, invisible, and immoveable causes, prior to these moveable natures which arc* apparent to all men; Plato hiiilst If in the I.a\vs, bearing t< stimoiiy, as we have said, to the truth of this, by speaking of these causes as Ooels. I nr frum the Cm ret /. v we receive the sacred rites uj Month, and h e learn that by the 1 hry gians Month is celebrated as Sabazius, and also in the middle mysteries oj Sabazius. For that which the y first bela id to Im* the measurer of a perpetual circulation, they apprehended to In* a (Jod, and tins they honoured, through the mysteries, ami all-sacred worship; in the same manner as they also honoured tin.* seasons, lor they were able to perceive [the divinity of] these, trorn their eflects ; though not similarly the divinity of the year. For nan indeed, who were divinely wise, have like wise celebrated this ; but it was not e asy f<»r all me n t*> know uni worship it, on account of the ditlicully of understanding the perieed which is measured by it. This also is the* c.tse* with the whole of time, e*n account of tla* ignorance ot the one pe riod e»f all things ; so that the* investigation of this whole-, as existing, and as a (Jod, is attended with ex\reine diflieulty ; though if an immoveable cause precedes jK*r|K.*tual motion, it is necessary that prior to pe rpe tuity itse lf, there should exist that which unite dly defines the whole* ot it, and which numbers it, perjM tuity itself being that which is nuiube reel.

“ 'I’hcse things however, through oblivion, are not tightly translated hv us to an eternal essence. For vve say that it ui', and will be, though in real i tv, to tins the term it is, alone pertains.