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

You may kay that the ohliipu lation of the circle of the different, signifies a lation according to the obliquity of the zodiac. For the motion of the planets is according to the poles of the zodiac, that we tuny speak, mathematically. For Mich ail explanation is not to Ik* despised by those who discourse about the celes¬ tial bodies. Or, according to a more intimate jwreeption of the tiling, you may sa), that this obliquity manifests tin* cause of generation, and the mutation which pre-exists in the n lestial orbs. For generation indeed, participates of difference and varietv from the revolution of the circle of the different [i. e. from the circula¬ tion of the planets]; hut it participates of sameness, and a subsistence which is always the same, from the circle of the mine for tin* inerratic sphere], as Aristotle also says. For if tin* circle of the same alone existed, there would not he mutation and generation, hut all things would Ik* uniform, and being always generated, would remain invariably the same. And if" tin* circle of the different alum* existed, all tilings would he without stability, and would he in continual motion. In order then-fore, that there may he both permanency and motion, and that this vs hole may 1 m*, as it is said, an immutable mutation, and an immoveable motion, tin uni¬ verse has both these circulations. And the variety indeed of geiu ration, b< comes apparent through the circulation of the circle o f the diijerint; hut communion and immutability, through tin cm le of the same. I5ut of these again, tin* one is «fleeted through the < ir< le of sameness of the soul, and the other through the soul s ciri le of difli rence. \lid of tin se also, the one is through intellectual sameness, hut the other through demiurgic difference. And of these last, the one is through intelli-

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giblc bound, but the other through intelligible infinity. After tins manner therefor**, tlie obliquity must Ik? understood.

And of these last, the one is through intelli-

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T1M/LUS OI PLATO.

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giblc bound, but the other through intelligible infinity. After tins manner therefor**, tlie obliquity must Ik? understood.

And here you may see what the difli rence is, as delivered by Plato, between the psychical lation of tin- circle of dillerence, and the corporeal. For he calls the former straight, but the latter oblique, l or the former is und* tiled and index¬ ible, but the latter proximal* ly governs tin* variety of generated natures, and has a visible iiusjuability, and a certain position and habitude witii tesjiect to the uni¬ verse. But the revolution of the circle of the different being such, it proceeds' through the circle of the sui/ic , and is governed by it. For it is moved by invisible causes, and by the inerratic sphere itself. Or rather, it receives through it motive powers; and is governed by it, because it is convolved, according to the one, and inerratic motion of it. And this indeed, is said mathematically. But after another manner, you may say that the nature of the same and similar has dominion, in order that the world may be one; that all things may as much as possible be perpetual; ami that the world may imitate animal itself, in which all things have an eternal subsistence. For if the circle of the different had dominion over the circle of the same, there would I»c less of the immutable than of the mutable, in the universe, and the world would not receive all the perpetuity which it is capable of receiving. But in this case, it would lie less similar to animal itself. The lation therefore, of the circle of the different being governed by the lation of the circle of the same, proceeds* within it, circulates through its concavity, and revolves together with it.

“ And with respect to the seven bodies, some of them being slower, but otlicrs sw ifter; those that revolve in a less circle, revolve more swiftly ;* but Saturn revolving in a greater circle, moves more slowly."

Plato says this, looking to the apocatastases of the planets. Hence, he says, that they revolve swifter or slower, and not that they simply proceed swifter, hut revolve slower. For when, as circle is to circle, so is time to time, then the

* Tor ti<ri lien*, it is necessary to read x-poeiirt.

’ Here likewise. for tm, read tpoutn.

1 This portion of the text is omitted in all the printed editions of the Tirowus. The original is as follows: ciictrni ra oera <rwpara, ra fitr (ipabvrrpa o era, ra br (tarrv. ra ptr eXarrw wep<ioi ra cwXor, dnrwpov (Itff Oar-roe) erpinne c b* gpoyot ftnSm wtp iwr ftpabvTtpor. This portion of text, appears also to have been wanting id the Fledicean manuscript from which Fionus made his translation of Plato, for be has not translated it.

IMtOCLUS ON THE

[book IV.

‘2 id

This portion of text, appears also to have been wanting id the Fledicean manuscript from which Fionus made his translation of Plato, for be has not translated it.

IMtOCLUS ON THE

[book IV.

‘2 id liodie* winch arc movetl are equally swift. For let one circle he double of another, and one time of another, then the "renter circle which is moved in the double line, w ill lie moved [over the same space] in half the time of the less, but the less will be moved in half the time, over the same space. Hence, they are equally swift. For things are equally swift, whit h arc mn\ed o\er the saint; space in the same time. Hut when one circle is to another, in a "renter ratio than one time to another, the motion of the "renter < irt It* is the swifter. For let this | H . so, anti let it he us circle is to < ill le, so is time to a certain time, which will then fore In* less than tin tune from the liisl. lor the same thin" will have a "rt alt r ratio to the less. The greater * ir* le tin n fore, m this less time, which is less than the time from the first, will pass over the same span* as the less circle. I'or it has l»ecii ih inoiistrati d, that it t in 1* is to circle, as time to tune, (lit motion of the less ts equally swill with that of the greater lilt le. Moreover, the motion of the h ss eirele Inmi the first was performed m u less time than the tinio from the first, ileiice the same interval, is passetl over by the one circle in a greatt r, hut hy the other in a less time. The motum therefore of the less circle, is slower than that of the "renter. Again, if the ratio of one circle to another, is less than that of onetime to another, the motion of the greater circle will Ik- slower than that of the 1 « >s. For if you make as circle is to circle, so is time to another time, you will make it tube ton greater time. Fur the panic thing has to the greater a less ratio. So that tin; greater circle will in a "reatt r tunc pass o\er 11 it* same space, than the less circle. It is therefore slower. Hence, these things thus subsisting, 1’lato does not now investigate what the con¬ dition is of the planets with respect to swiftness and slowness; for this requires a more ample consideration; but he adds, that there is a diflerciit apocatastasis of diflerciit plain ts, and of some slow* r, but of others more swill; the swiftness and slowness, being produced, either from the anomalous nature of the motions, or, which is more true, from the stars* Ining all of them moved with equal cele¬ rity, hut ore cueh having to another a greater ratio, than one time to another.