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

e. the sphere of the fixed stars]. Concerning the essence of if, its figure, position, and motion.” That part of the text also withio the brackets, is omitted in Proclut, though lie coin* inentsupon it.

Tim. Plat. Vol. II. 2 \.

Vol. IF

p. 260

PROCLUS ON THE

[book iv.

miurgus first constituted, producing it for the most part from the idea of fire. For it is necessary in the first place, that we should discuss the essence of it, in the next place, the figure, in the third place, the position, and in the fourth place, the motion of it. The discussion therefore, of its essence, is the occasion of much discord among the interpreters. For how does it possess for the most part the idea of fire ? is it as some sa\, Iw-cause it is mingled from all the elements, hut participates mostly of tire ? Or is it because every celestial genus consists of all the elements, but the greatest part of it is fiery ? For it is possible to assert either of these ; just as if we should say, lhatall things consist of all the genera of lieing, but that iutelligibles have most of sameness. Or is it not as he would interpret, who truly surveys things themselves, that a subsistence for the most part from the idea of fire, signifies that fire possesses most abundantly the idea of the fifth body, as being the recipient of many productive powers, of which each of the divine bodies is full } Or shall we say, that it is not according to any one of these modes, but as others assert, that divine animals consist of fire, hut of lire w hich haH an essence possessing interval, and is multitudinous ? For the intelligible has the form of unity, but the corporeal is multitudinous, as Ijeiug partible, and pos¬ sesses interval, in consequence of having hulk. Or may we not say, as the most true of all the assertions, that we should look to all these conceptions, and sur¬ vey one truth as the result of all of them * for we place all the elements in the heavens, hut immaterially, so far ns the immaterial can subsist in material natures. We also sav, that the elements subsist in the heavens, but according to the sum¬ mits of them only. For if the forms of fire, air, water and earth, are in intelligibles, it is necessary that the heavens should he the first participants of this tetrad. But fabrication proceeding, constitutes also the last nature of the elements, and which is truly material. We likewise assert, that the idea of the stars, for the most part, consisLs of fire. For though all the elements are in them, yet fire pre¬ dominates; because in the elements of generation, lire has the relation of form to the other elements. It is necessary therefore, in the [celestial] (Jotls, that the fiery churateristic should he most abundant, in order that form may have dominion over the subject essence ; but that there should he the least of the other elements, because tins least portion lias the order of a subject. Hence, the terrestrial nature is there, as living a certain solid essence, and tangible hulk. On this ac¬ count also, it resists our sight. The fiery nature likewise is there, as illuminating and giving form to hulk and interval. Hut the elements which are between the-e, subsist tin re, as connecting the extremes, and causing them to be one. Fire how¬ ever, predominates ov< r all the other elements, because the form w lich is there, vanquishes the subject, connectedly contains, and preserves it on all sides, and is itself full of life and self-motive power. Hence also it is full of divine and dcini-

Fire how¬ ever, predominates ov< r all the other elements, because the form w lich is there, vanquishes the subject, connectedly contains, and preserves it on all sides, and is itself full of life and self-motive power. Hence also it is full of divine and dcini-

Book tv .]

r iiM/i:r.s or h.ato.

*2«i7 urgic productive powers, and proceeds into multitude and inti rval, every way de¬ fining that which possesses dimensions, and comprehending the hulk of body.

Nor must we fear the skilful in dialectic, who looking to a certain small part of nature, revile Plato for saying, that fire tends upward, hut that the stars have a circular motion. For a tendency upward has no place in the fire of the heavens; just as neither does self-motion pertain to intelligible fire, nor to that which is of a eorporeal-formed nature. For the reason [i. e. form, or produc tive principle of fire] in intellect, is intellectual fire. For motions are consubsistenl with things according to the order of essences. But if divine fire is that which has the power of constituting the stars, it is not such as this most material and gross [sublunary fire]. And if it is most splendid and l>cautiful, it is different from this obscure lire, which is mingled with the deformity of matter. For the last matter is darkness and deformity. But this divine fire is most splendid and beautiful, both which are indubitable signs of truth. For the super-luminous transparent splendor of light, is the image of divine goodness, and its being decorated with beauty, is an indication of intelligible symmetry. Divine fire therefore, is very different from that which is not divine. Hence, it appears that truly existing fire is there in the highest place; and that on this nccount, the stars are fu ry, and are allotted the place of fire. The summit likewise of earth is there. On the contrary, the whole of earth 1 is here, which participates as much as being earth, it is possible of the last fire, which is most terrestrial and gross ; just as the fire which i v in the heavens possesses the summit of earth, the earth which is there being superior to the oliscuritv and grossness of this sublunary earth. [I his also is conformable to the doctrine of Ptolemy and Plotinus, that every body, when it is in its proper place, is either fixed, or revolves in a circle; hut that n tendency upward or a tendency downw ard are the motions of bodies, which not being in their proper places, strive to obtain their proper place. So that each of the other elements, when in its proper place, will either remain fixed in it, or will he movi d in a circle. And if it should he of a fiery nature and tend upward, it will entirely he in a foreign place.

So that each of the other elements, when in its proper place, will either remain fixed in it, or will he movi d in a circle. And if it should he of a fiery nature and tend upward, it will entirely he in a foreign place.

We must not therefore, disbelieve in Iheologists, who place in the heavens an empyreal essence : for there arc many species of fire. Simply to assert likewise, that the celestial body is a fifth body, is not to assert any thing clear concerning it, except that it is dilferent from the four elements. Plato however, unfolds all the nature of it, leaving in the heavens the summits of the elements. The syllo¬ gism therefore, of those who fancy they can confute the doctrine of Plato con¬ cerning the stars, as having an essence consisting for the most part of fire, is itself confuted, by not admitting one of the propositions which says, that fire tends

* For rp in tint place il u obviously necessary to read yn-

PHOCLL'S ON Tl!K

[BOOK 1 *.

2m upward. For it is not pro|>or to characterize the nature of fire, from that fire which has a preternatural subsistence, ami which proceeds to a subsistence ac* curding 1 to nature ; hut it must he charm teri/.ed from that which is in a condition conformable to nature. Jhit a tiling of this hind is either fixed or revolves in a circle. The I)< •miurgUH liowrvcr assimilating each of the stars ' to the universe, made each of them to he round, ami to have a twofold similitude, one to its projier wholeness, hut the other, to the paradigm from which it is suspended. The parts of them also have a twofold similitude, om to the whole, hut the other to the idea of tin ir wholeness. 'I hus lik* wise, a partial soul is assimilated to the soul which ranks as a whole, ami to intellect. Hut the soul which ranks as a whole and is one, is assimilated to the one and total intellect. Total nature also is as¬ similated to soul; hut a partial nature to its own wholeness, and to soul. Conformably to this likewise, each of the stars is assimilated to the whole world, and to its proper paradigm. And the similitude is dilli n lit. I or eai li is us.similated to the latter u« eording tolls w lode essence; hut to the former, according to figure, and aecording to motion. For e at !i in lubricated round, jusl as the world is spherical For the universe is primarily a sphere, as in sensible*. Hence through this it imitati * both the Demiurgiis ami the intelligible paradigm. For eai ti of them through converging to itself, constitutes this visible animal [the world]. The coim rgem v wliieli is there however, connects here, excellence of condition with the circle, because the universe expresses as much as possible, all the jieculiarity of the paradigm. And thus much concerning these particulars.