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

Hence, it is necessary that each of the stars should have a divine presiding soul; and through intellect Is* united to the intellect which ranks ns a whole. For since mortal bodies [such os oursj participate ot reason and intellect, what ought we to think nf divine bodies themselves 1

I^ach therefore, through its own soul, is inserted m the lation of the circle of the tame which Plato verv properly calls mast excellent and jxnur/ul as nnujuishin" all the circulations, and convolving all of them intellectually 1'or as the genus ot th * stars is convolved by the lation ot the ii.erratic sphere, 1 thus also the souls of them are contained bv the one soul of the circulation o (the mme, and their intellects by the intelh ct of it. For a nail), it i^ necessary that the monad which is co-arranged with multitude, should subsist conformably to the monad which is exempt from multitude. The first of the four ideas therefore, being the exempt monad, the multitude of the stars proceeding from it is comprehended by the inerratic sphere, as a co-arranged monad. In a similar manner likewise, in each of the celestial spheres, the whole sphere has the relation of a monad, but the cosinocra torn are tl,e h aders of the mullitmle ill each. For in each a imiulier analogous to the choir of tin fixed stars, subsists w ilh appropriate eirridatious. It, however, in the lived stars, there is one monad, the wind, ness of them, but in the planets, there is lnitli a wholeness, and each of the planets, is also a leader, it is not wonderful. For as the motion of the revolutions of the circle of the t/ijt rent is more various, thus also there are more lenders than one. For the multitude proceeds to a greater extent. Hut in the sublunary region, there is a '•till gr« atc-r number of leaders. For the monads in the heavens generate mimls-is analogous to them As we have said therefore, the animation of the stars, inserts th< m in their proper souls; hilt it also connects them with the whole soul of the lation of the circle of the same; elevates them to tin mundane soul; and establishes them in the intel¬ ligible paradigm itself. The divine lamhlu bus also, m an eminent degree jverceivi„g this to he the case, places the wisdom of that which is most excellent and powerfid, in the paradigm. But the inerratic spin re was generated a true war hi, because it is more properly a world than the sublunary region, which is always in want of foreign arrangement, and is continually changing. The sphere of the fixed stars like¬ wise, is a world so diversified, as to express intellectual variety, which it receives uniformly about, and in the w hole of itself; imitating the beauty of the celestial parafopa f#

* For nr# Tijt dK\})i fffxxt in tliis plate, it appear* lo me to be necessary »o read, vro uw\a*ow

ROOK IV.]

TIM.'F.IJS OF PLATO.

p. 271

p. 271

digms. 'I’li distribute also, anil to distribute in a circle, are adapted to the fixed stars: for the latter signifies intellectual distribution, hut the former the demiurgic order. On this account likewise, thrologists otahlish Knnomia in the inerratic sjihere, who separates the multitude in it, and always preserves each of the stars in its proper order. Hence too, celebrating % ulcan as the maker of the heavens, they conjoin him with Aglaia, as adorning and giving splendor and hilarity to all heaven, through tin* variety of the stars. And again, of the Seasons, they place Dice over the planetary region, l>ecause it is just that irregularity should he reduced to regu¬ larity according to reason; hut of the Graces, Thalia, as always causing their lives to lie consummately llourishing. They also give the superintendence of the sub¬ lunary region to Irene, as pacifying the war of the elements; hut to Euphrosyne of the Graces, as imparting to each of them facility of energy according to nature.

“ But he adapted to each of them two motions, one being in the same, according to the same things, through which they always dianoetically perceive in themselves, the same* about the'same things; but the other, being an advancing motion, through the domination of the same and similar circulation. lie likewise rendered them immoveable and stable, as to the other five motions, in order that each of them might become as much as possible most excellent."

The discussion of motion is conscipicnt to that of animation. For because carli of the stars is animated, on this account also, each is allotted a peculiar motion. For soul is the principle of motion. The discussion of motion also, is connected with the theory of figure. For that which has an appropriate circular figure, and receives this from the demiurgic cause, must necessarily have an energy and a circular lation, adapted to the figure. For every natural body is moved essentially, and not according to accident; since nature is the principle of motion and mutation, in that in which it is primarily per ac, and not accidentally. The body of the stars however, i.s immoveable according to all other motions, as being jK-rpctual through the whole of time; but is alone capable of receiving local mo¬ tion, and this circular, as being moved in its own place. Farther still, how, as 1 I have before said, can that which does not circulate according to a certain pecu-

* Instead of ravro* here, a* in tbe text of Protlus, all the printed edition* of Plato have ro arm, but erroneously, according to tbe commentary of Proelus on these word*.

p. 272

1MIOCI..US ON TllK

[rook iv.

p. 272

1MIOCI..US ON TllK

[rook iv.

liur motion, In* of tlic same essence wiili the whole heaven ? And how can it otherwise imitate the unit era, than by being moved about the centre of itself? It is necessary therefore, that the stars should l>e moved with twofold motions; one, which is essential to them, about their own centres ; hut the other, in conjunc¬ tion with their wholeness.

What then are these two motions? For there are different opinions concerning them. And some indeed say, that both these motions are corporeal; but others assert, that the one is psychical, and the other corporeal. It is belter however, to make both the psychical and the corporeal motion twofold. For the soul of these divine animals [the stars] has an appropriate life, and through an appropriate enemy is conjoined with intrlligibles. And besides tins, it is convolved together with the whole soul of the universe. For in divine natures, things whie h are as it were* parts, energize according to their own energies, and in conjunction with whohs. The soul of the stars therefore, is moved in a twofold respect. The body of each also, is convolved about its own centre, imitating the proper energy of its soul and its intellect, and is likewise moved with an advancing motion, imitating the co-operating energy of the soul ot the inerratic sphere, with its vv holeness, and the estahli>hiin lit of the intellect of this soul, in the intellect which ranks a> a whole. A twofold motion therefore, imi'-t be assumed in both, viz. m the starry soul, and the starry body For the starry soul is rspeci illy wise in the same, and about the same things, always perceives intellectually after the same manner, and is moved with an advancing motion, through following its wholeness. For in consequence of participating a more divine power, it recurs to the summit itself of inti lligihles, which may he said to have the order of leaders, and to he before the soul, as being intellectually apprehend, d, and perceived by it. And the starry body indeed, is moved towards tin* leading parts, in conjunc¬ tion with the whole circulation, hut it has also a perpetual motion, originating from itself, and bearing a resemblance of dianoetic energy, and of intellectual and eternal motion. Through a motion also in the same, it ha<, the same motion with the universe, but through always discursively proceeding about the same things, it lias always an arrangement referring to tin* same end, participates ot the same soul, ami is converted to the same intellect.