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

I'luitio lie ii .i 11 m li > in siitli 1 1 tin' am nut ( lirivliaio, as I'mlravoiirril t» prove, Iroiu tin* aiillioritv of 1'latn, tli.il die world was pioducid at a ecrl.iiu lime, ami will at a ceilam time lie destroyed.

::ooK Iv.J ri.M .1.1 s ol 1‘l.MO.

•_ 17 tbiim else, will hr iikhv venerable (li.m mils, and more excellent nalurrs will make a pnmiV'Moii to beings, lor tin* sake nl limits subordinate. Nothing of tills kind however, i< to In* found in 11 1«' arrangements of l’lalo. For neither was time geueialid, for the sake ol tin* universe alone, 1101 was die universe roii-lilnled for dn- sake of lime alone, hut eaeli was emistitiited for the sake of itself, and of die oilier, and for the sake ol hnlli. lor in order that all die I ahriea- 1 ion of things mmht have perlertiun, siirh was tin* universe, and sneh was time (oiisinuniati 1 v prodneed. Moreover, it happens that each greatlv contributes t i the assimilation ol < ieh toils properparadmm. l or lime would not imitate eternity without tin-existence of the universe; tor after w hat manlier would it pro- ( ei-d, or what is there among heiims, that it would ever measure, or connect, or perfect ’ nor would the universe, w ithout the existence of time, imitate as niueh as possible, tiie all-perfect and eternal nature of animal itself. Karh then-fore w as generated, not for the sake ol itself alone, nor lor die sake ol die oilier alone, htil for the sake of all the fahrieation of things, m ordi r that each might hecouie most perfect, and most similar to its paradigm, or rather, each was generated for the sake of goodness, and the fatlu-r of w holes, on aecount ol w hich also the pro- < 1 11< lion of thnms possesses perleetion. Hut each being generated that which it is w illi reference to the other, each contributes greatlv to the permanency, order and good condition of all mundane natures. And thus mncli INatn philosophiz¬ es concerning time, which is the one and whole measure of all things, and which is moved and proeeetls Ironi the Dcmimgus alone, and its proper monad. Ihit in what follows. In* dismisses die time winch is unfolded in the |iea\eiis, and is as it were eo-iiivided with the various lations of the stars, which would not have subsisted without the revolution ot the eiri le o ( /he siiihc, and tin circle oilhcdif¬ ferent, about the invisible and one time, which cuts oil from itself, unfolds into light, and always preserves a measure adapted to eaeli of these circles. In whit follovvs also, in order that this sei omlarv tone might pun red into the visible world, and he universally known through the partial measures el io* If, which it imparts, and that it might lie more flistnluiled, lie constitutes (lie planets, annum w hich the sun and moon are enumerated. From all which vve may inter, what "rent dignity is allotted by (In* philosopher, or rather by the Dominions himself ot wholes, to the lime which is first and one.

From all which vve may inter, what "rent dignity is allotted by (In* philosopher, or rather by the Dominions himself ot wholes, to the lime which is first and one.

“ From this reason therefore, and from sneh a disc nrsive energy of divinity about the generation of time, in order that time might he vene¬ rated, he prodneed the sun and moon, and the oilier five stars, which have the appellation of planets, for the purpose of distinguishing and guarding the numbers ol time."

Ttfn. Flat.

Vol. II,

2L

PROCLUS ON THE

[BOOK IV.

p. 218

Flat.

Vol. II,

2L

PROCLUS ON THE

[BOOK IV.

p. 218

The fabrication of tiling, as we have frequently olrserved, l>eing twofold ; the one invisible, one and wimple, suj>er-mundaue and total; but the other visible, multitudinous and multiform, distributed into parts' in the world; and bavin" twofold energies, the one primordial, immoveable, and intellectual; but the other secondary, proceeding with motion, and revolting about intellect; and the one being exempt from effects, but the other being cu arranged with them; this being the ciis*, a twofold time also proceeds to beings. .And the one indeed is super¬ mundane, but th** other mundane. The one also both abidt s, and at the same time proceeds; but the other is borne along in motion. That also which is participated is twofold, the one subsisting according to simple partic ipation, but the othe r in the [H-riods of the celestial stars, which produce mouth* and days, and nights and years. Such therefore being the difference of times, Plato having deliver* d tin* conceptions, about the one and simple essence ot time, is now about to dismiss the variety of the time, which is participated partible, and to which the theory of the planets contributes. Fur through tin* motion of these dancing round the sun, the time vvhii h is known to us is completely cflected ; introducing this as a ninth gift to the world. In order however, that from the introduction jt^-lf, you m iv leave an indication of the inferiority of this time to that which is sup< r-mundaiie, he savs that it was < oiislituted Ay the discursive energy of divinity ; and further still, that it distinguishes and guards the numbers of time , through the motion of the stars. To both likewise, we must direct our attention, viz. to the distinction of the malty temporal measures after the one [super-mundane] time; , m l to the defence and preservation of the same measures perpetually, for the sake of which he says, the stars were generated. And tin Deiiiiiirgu* indeed, produced the form* r time, looking to eternity, and « m-rgi/.iiig according to one simple intelligence ; but In produced the second time, as Plato says, from reason, and a discursive energy ; fx«» Aiotvc<a>] indicating by this, the divisible nature of dianoia, 1 and its distribution into multitude from one intelligence. J or a divine intellect is one tiling, and divine reason another ; the former being unit* d, hut the latter multiplied ; and the former comprehending wholes, hut the latter dividing union into multitude; the former also, abiding in itself, but tin* latter unfolding itself into light. Hence, the secondary lime, if it is iuiivcr*allv apparent, is very projM-rly said to proceed from the demiurgic reason, which receives as it were its progression from intellect ; reason indeed, manifesting the* cause, but dunwm, the

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