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

the nierratic sphere, the seven planetary spheres, and the sublunary region. They also assert that ihere are two »olar worlds; out which is subservient to the ethereal profundity ; the other zoiuic, being one of the »e\eu spheres.

HOOK IT.]

TIM/EUS OF PLATO.

‘243 eminent degree” signify that the Sun illuminates all the world as much as possible. For lie is not able at once to illuminate the whole earth ; but partially, by his cir¬ cular motion. In the least time however, he at once illuminates the whole earth, according to the equinoctial circle. For when he rises anil sets, giving light to more than half the earth, he in this one circulation illuminates the whole earth. But if hv the word heaven, we understand that which is moved in a circle, neither tloes the Sun at once illuminate the whole of this. For there are also shadows there, on account of the obumbrations of the stars and the Moon. Nothing how¬ ever, except the Sun, is free from shadow in the world, as neither is any thing mundane without matter. But supermundane natures alone, are without shadow, and immaterial. Hence the Sun is truly shadow less, and unreceptive of genera¬ tion, all other bodies receiving at different times, different illuminative additions.

\\ hy therefore, it may be said, did not the divinity enkindle a light in the first of the circulations from the earth 1 We reply, because the fulgid splendor of the Sun is of itself incommensurable to'generation. But the Moon being a medium between the two, and first receiving the light of the Sun, makes it to be commen¬ surate to the realms of generation. For the Moon, as Aristotle says, is as it were a less Sun. It is necessary however, that being proximately above generation, it should not be the most splendid ami the most luminous of bodies. For it is not lawful that a tiling of this kind should approximate to that which is obscure and dark, hut that which is secondarily fulgid ; and which has always indeed, its ow n proper light, hut in the participation of a superior light, exhibits mutation, and this in an orderly manner. For that which has arrangement and order, is more excellent than that which is without order; that through this mu¬ tation, it may be tbo paradigm of the very mutable nature, which matter introdu¬ ces to generated tilings; just as the opposition of the earth introduces the priva¬ tion of light. These things how ever, admit of a more ample discussion.

These things how ever, admit of a more ample discussion.

But that the stars, nnd all heaven, receive light from the Sun, may In* easily perceived. For that which is common in many things, exists from one canse, and exists from it in one way as exempt, hut in another as co-arranged ; hut this latter mode of the subsistence of the cause, is that in which it primarily partici¬ pates of that one form. But that primarily participates, in which this form subsists primarily, or' especially. If therefore, light especially subsists in the Sun, this will lie the first light; and from this, the light which is in other things will Ik* derived. And thus much for this particular. We have however shown the

1 For tori bo*, it is obviously necessary to read *. V bat is in this place demonstrated by Proclus, viz. that all mundane light is derived from the Sun, completely subverts the rambling opinion of the modems, that the bud stars arc so many suns.

p. 244

PROCLUS ON THE

[book IV.

meaning of tlie words, “ that the heaven might in the most eminent degree become universally apparent ." For if l»v heaven yon understand that which revolves in a circle, the Sun does not always illuminate the whole of the Moon, but only during the time from the conjunction to the full Hut if you understand by it the whole world, then, as we have said, the Sun only accurately illuminates the whole earth, in one day, when he is in the equinoctial circle, and in rising and setting, is di imetrically opposite to the earth. It remains therefore, to see what the number is which is produced by the lation of the same and the similar, through the ttspective guardianship of day and night. This numlier then, is neither intellectual nor dianuetic, but doxastic, aflordiug a document ol the numlx-rs which pre-exist in forms. For tlu-re are many dilh renees in many tilings of generated numlx rs. And as we know the number ot in\isible time, by' the dianuetic number, so by that which is doxastic, we apprehend the number of visible time.

“ Night therefore, and Day were thus generated, am! on account of these the period of one most wise circulation was effected. And Month was produced, when the Moon having completed her eirele, became in conjunction w ith the Sun. Hut Year when the Sun in revolving had com¬ pleted his circle. A few only of mankind however, understand the periods of the other stars, give names to them, and measure them with relation to each other, regarding the numbers adapted to this purpose ; so that, as I may say, they do not know that time is the wanderings of 1 these bodies, which employ lations infinite in multitude, and admirably diversified.”

Through the generation of light nights and days bad tlicir progression, and the smallest measure of time is divided by these intervals. For the period, says he, of one most wise circulation, i> effected by night ami day; the intellection of the inerratic sphere, or the circle of the same, being the one most wise circulation; but the period of this circle, being the circulation of that sphere. For circulation is an energy and a period. The intellection how¬ ever, is of a more principal nature; but the period is the i fleet ot intellection, imitating circulation. The space therefore of day and night is tins. Hy this however, years and months are measured. For we measure greater by less intervals; just as by years, the whole apocatastatic time of the universe is mea¬ sured. It is likewise requisite to observe, how the peculiarity ot these is a medium between monadic forms, and the forms which subsist in the multitude of noon iv.]

TIM,HUS OF PLATO.

24 o individuals. For some forms are indeed in one tiling, yet not always in the same tiling according to numlier, hut in many things. Year however, and Month, are always in one tiling according to numher, on account of the mutual vicissitude of individuals [i. e. of the sun ami moon] in a circle. For one month succeeds another; and one year another; hut each is always one. These things therefore do not reijiiire much discussion.