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

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the greater, lli«*y multiply the less ; and thus they have from both multiplication,, the common time of the apocatastasis of both, and whirl) also is measured bv both.

It is not proper ho wove?* to survey merely and alone after this manner, the whole mundane time, but to survey scientifically by intellect, and the discur¬ sive energies of reason, one number, one evolved powi r, and one perfective progivs-ion, extending to all the life of the world; and this proceeding to the end, returning to the beginning, and converging to itself; and on this, account making the measured motion to be circular. For as the monad bounds the infinity of number, and antecedently comprehends the indefiuileness of the duad, thus also time measures the; whole motion, and converts the end of it In the beginning. I b nee also it is called a iiuiuIht, and perfect. Fur a month is a number, and likewise a year, but not a perfect number: for they are parts of other numbi rs. lhit the time of the period of the universe is perfect, because it is not a part of any period, but is a whole, in order that it may imitate derail v. For eternity is primarily a wholeness. It introduces however, to beings at once all its wholeness; but time with extension. For the temporal wholeness is an evolution of the wholeness which abides conglomerated in eternity. The whole mundane time then fore, measures the one life of the universe, according to which all the celerities are terminated of the cch stial and sublunary circles. For in these also, there are periods, which have for the summit of their apocatastasis the lation of the i ircle of the same. 1 or they are reli rreil to this as to tluir principle, because it i-(he mos| simple of all For the apoeatastases are surveyed with reference to the points (l | 'Finis tor instance, all o! them make their apocalastasis about the eipiinoelial point, 1 or about the summer tropic; or though the joint apocatastasis should not lie considered to he according to the same point, hut with i efi reiic«* to the same, when for instance, rising, or culminating. y« t ail of them will have with reference to it, a figure of such a kind. For now the pir-r.it order i- entirely a certain apocatastasis of all the heavenly bodies, yet the configuration is m»t seen about the same, hut with reference to the same point. Once however, it was about the same, and according to one certain point; at which if it should again take place, tin; whole of time will havi an end. One certain apocatastasis likewise, seems to have hern mentioned. Hence it is said, that Cancer i- the horoscope of the world, and this year is called Cynic, or pertaining to the dog, because among the constellations, the splendid star of the Dog rises together with Cancer. It therefore the planets

Hence it is said, that Cancer i- the horoscope of the world, and this year is called Cynic, or pertaining to the dog, because among the constellations, the splendid star of the Dog rises together with Cancer. It therefore the planets

* For ifi^rfiikor here, it it olivioukl) neeestarv to read tmjfit/Htor. It mutt also l>e obteited, that there ire two equinoctial |>ouil», or signs, amt these are Arte* and Libra.

Tim. Plat. Yol. II. 2 I

I'ROCLUS ON THE

[bouk IV.

Sflo

should again meet m the same point of Cancer, thin concurrence will be tine period of the universe. If however, the apocatastasis takes place in Cancer about the equinoctial point, that also which is from the summer tropic, will Indirected towards the summer tropic, and the number of the one will l»e equal to the nundver of the oilier, and the time of the one, to the time of the other. I'm each of them is one period, and is defined hy quantity, on account of the order of the bodies that are moved. And thus much concerning the one time of the universe, which measures all corpore:-! motions ; in the same manner as the world measures psychical, and eternity intellectual lives. It is likewise evident from what has been said, what tins one time is, wlienee it derives its subsistence, and what Ih-ih tit it u fiords to the universe. In addition however, to what Ims heen said, it must he observed, that this [k- rfect mimln-r differs from that mentioned in tin; Republic, which comprehends the [veriod of every divinely gem-rated nature ; since it is of a more partial nature, and is apncatastatic of the eight periods alone. 1'or the other perfect number comprehends the peculiar motions of the fixed stars, and in short, of all the divine genera that are moved in the hea¬ vens, whether visibly or invisibly, and also of the celestial g» nera posterior to the Hods, and of the longer or shorter periods of sublunary natures, together with the periods id' fertility and sterility, lienee likewise, it is the lord of the period of the human race.

“ Conformably therefore to, and for the sake of these things, such of the stars as proceeding through the heavens have revolutions, were ge¬ nerated, in order that this universe might be most similar to perfect and intelligible animal, tliumgh the imitation of an eternal nature. And other forms indeed, were fabricated, us far as to the generation of time, according to the similitude of that to which they were assimilated."

And other forms indeed, were fabricated, us far as to the generation of time, according to the similitude of that to which they were assimilated."

That the world became more perfect through the generation of time, imitating all-perleet animal according to the eternal, and that generation derived its sub¬ sistence through the latiuli of the seven cosmocrators; for from this lation, the variety according to generation, was unfolded into light; is evident from what has been before said. That which remains therefore of Plato’s speculations con¬ cerning time, deserves to he assumed, viz. that time proceeds analogous to soul, lieing at once eternal and generated. Hence as soul belongs to eternal beings, and i> the U st of generated natures ; so likewise time is both eternal and generated ; so far as it is co-mingled with souls and bodies, and so far as it proceeds and

BOOK IV ]

T1M.-EUS OF PLATO.

•251 extends through nil secondary brings. For it is number proceeding and a circle; but itself by itself, is both a monad and a centre. For the Dcmiurgus produced a medium of this kind, between things immoveable, and things that are moved, according to a sihiilitude to himself. For he also is a medium between the abiding and proceeding Gods,' according to an assimilation to the paradigm; because this also is a medium lie tween the intelligible and intellectual Gods,* between eternitv and number, 1 * * * 5 and the eternal ami pcrjntnal (In,Is.* For it participates of eternitv. but it primarily participates, and is the monad of intelligible animals. Hence also, the world being generated perpetual through the whole of time, was perfectly as¬ similated to its paradigm. For as its paradigm received the whole gift of eternitv; since every thing which primarily participates of a certain thing receives the whole of its gilt; thus also the world lives through the whole of time, and lives according to the whole perfect number of it. Hence likewise, it is perpetual. For every thing which is able to receive the whole evolution of time, is indestructible. Ihit the whole *»t time is the perfect number of the apocatastasis of the universe, as we have frcrpu-nlly observed.