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

In short, thus much ought to be know n concerning the motion of the stars, that thev have not a rolling motion alone on their spheres. I or this motion is foreign to spherical bodies. Nor do tin v alone remain fixed. For bow would they be a „v longer of a circulating nature! Hut they circulate about tin ir centres, linitatui" the universe, according to the opinion of Plato; without being at all in want of the hypotheses employed by astronomers, as I bate In-lure observed. I'or if Plato thinks that the fixed stars are thus movt tl, through an imitation of the

1 i. e. Let what has been before demonstrated be admitted.
1 Fur arfpwv lure, read ocrr^iwi*

hook i* ]

TIM/HUS OF PLATO.

p. 237

universe, much more will lie "rant that those stars which are allotted the government of the universe, and a leading dignity, imitate the whole world. These therefore, are moved about their centres; hut the spheres in which they are contained, and which are as it were moving rulers, convolve them either swifter, or slower. Except that Pluto gives to them a more various motion, because they are media ls-tween things that jut treed in a right line, and tilings that by themselves are alone moved in a (irele, and moves each of them about its centre, anti through its proper sphere, so as to become elevated, and near the earth, and to revolve about the northern and southern parts; by which motions they are inferior to the fixed stars, though they are otherwise allotted a liberated dignity and power.

“ But from the lation of the circle of the same, the orbs which compre¬ hend, appear through the circulation of those that move more slowly, to he comprehended. For all the circles of them revolve with a spiral motion, because at one ami the same time they arc moved in two contrary directions; and in consequence of this, the sphere which has the slowest revolution, is nearest to that to which its course is retrograde, and which is the sw iftest of all the spheres."

Circulation, as wo have frequently observed, 1 m ing twofold, one from the cast to the west, hut the other from the west to the east, lie who understands hotii these circulations, w ill know what is the common, and what the peculiar motion of the stars, and which of them are moved swifter, and winch more slow. For he will look to their jMVuliar motions, and will know that those are swifter which are in comerjuentia ; and thus, he will not admit that Saturn is swifter than the Moon, hut he will see that the Moon is more eastern, and that Saturn is comprehended, but the Moon comprehends. But he who fancies, that there is onl\ one simple motion ot all the stars, which is from east to west, when he sees that Saturn and the Moon, are at one time together, hut that .it another time Saturn is more west¬ ern, as Ir.ning moved to a greater extent, w ill say that tin Moon is comprehended by Saturn, n/,. the swifter by the slower. The cause however of this e rror, arises from alone looking to the period of the circle of the same, which possesses much y power and strength, anil not considering the peculiar motions of the planets, nor perceiving that they do not make their transition in nntea dentm , but in coiiM t/ucnlia. l or asserting this also, the Athenian guest or stranger illumes the multitude and those who are ignorant of astronomy. “ For it is disgraceful,” says he, “ if we survey a stadium, and do not know which of the racers runs swifter, anil which

p. 238

PROCLUS ON THE

[book I*.

l or asserting this also, the Athenian guest or stranger illumes the multitude and those who are ignorant of astronomy. “ For it is disgraceful,” says he, “ if we survey a stadium, and do not know which of the racers runs swifter, anil which

p. 238

PROCLUS ON THE

[book I*.

Hlower; am! he must be considered as absurd, who fancies that the swifter is the slower course. But it is much more disgraceful for those who perceive truly Olympic races, not to know the swifter and slower period, through ignorance of astronomy." For the bodies that revolve with the greatest celerity, appear to l>e comprehended by tho^e that revolve more slowly, though they in reality will he wen to comprehend, by those who are able to look to their proper motion. But the latiou of the circle of the same, vanquishing the body which is nearest to it, causes it to appear most rapid in its motion. That however, is nearest to it, which is the b ast distant from it. I or let, if it should so happen, the Moon and Saturn be near tin* Cor la-onis, or heart of the Li m; then the Moon being moved with its jieeuliar motion, will depart from this fixed star; but Saturn for many nights will be su n about the same place. I he astronomer there fore, knows that the M oon departs from this star more rapidly, on account of the motion of the Cor Ltmis in consequentia. But he w ho is ignorant of astronomy, w ill fancy that the Moon and Saturn being moved with the universe towards the same parts, do not make theirapocatastases after the same manner; but that the one, as swifter, arrives at the west before the other ; but tliat the other as slower, arrives at a more western part. This then fore, would be the conclusion according to the opinion of the multitude. This may however, happen to be true, I mean that Saturn is the swifter; if, as we have before ohsi rved, the ratio of the circle of Saturn, to the circle of the Moon, is greater than tin* ratio of the apoeatastasis of one time to that of the other. For the body which is nearer to the sphere of the fixed stars, will be sw ifter, for the before mentioned reasons.