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

To this therefore, the atti ntion ot those is directed, who employ evolvents, epicy cles, and eccentrics, through simple motions, from which they discover a various motion. These things

• For *tpi At gw* Lire, it u nccesiary to read wtpi Aigcv.

HOOK I*.]

TIM/EUS OF PLATO.

±17 however, deserve to l*e jjnnre fully] considered, and on tins account the lmors of .speculation should excite themselves to the more accurate apprehension of them.

Hut hy their conjunctions, their synods must lie understood, and the configura¬ tions' which they make with each other; whether trigonieallv, or tetragonically, or hcxagnnically, or diametrically. For Plato alone assuming their counjunction and station in a direct line, comprehends in these as in the extremes, all the re¬ maining figures. But their ohinnhratinns are situations according to which they darken us and other things, For the hody whic h is arranged after another hod v, heciunes situated m the front of that which is posterior t'» if. And the stars are the cans* < of darkness to us when they run under each other. Bv “ their becom¬ ing concealed' also, and again am rging to our r/Vrc, at stated times," we must under¬ stand their eradiations under the sun, and lh« ir evolutions into light, hoth which ) are said l>\ those who are skilful in tin se things, to he effective and significant of 1 certain great events. 'To speak therefore of all these particulars, without imitations through the sight, i. e. without organic assistance, uoufd be a vain labour.

'To speak therefore of all these particulars, without imitations through the sight, i. e. without organic assistance, uoufd be a vain labour.

After the mathematical theory however, let us survey what i« said hy Plato, philosophically. The dances therefore of souls, are their being inspired with Bacchic mania, and their periods about the intelligible ; and also their intellectual 1 ajiocatastases. For a> Socrates says in the Pluedrns, following their more divine leader, they also are harmoniously moved. But their concursions are their intel¬ lectual perceptions of each other. For all things tlu-re are splendid, they sec each other, and one soul is not ignorant of the concerns of another. 1'arther still, they adapt the forms of themselves, as vestiges and types, to intelligibles which are their paradigms. But the revolutions and advancing motions of tin ir circles, are the conversions trom themselves to intellect, and from intellect again to them¬ selves. For hoth these are effected by them perpetually, and from themselves they know intellect, and from intellect themselves. Their conjunctions also, and diametrical stations, are the unions of each other with the inti lligilde, according to l which tie v are mutually conjoined ; and also their progressions. Fur when they i unjoin the one of themselves to the one of intellect, there is a synod or conjunction of hoth. For in these conjunctions it is necessary that the centres of the things conjoined should be in one right line. But proceeding from thence to the* provi¬ dential inspection of secondary natures, they become situated oppositely to this union. Since however, they subsist always after the same manner, and abide and at the same time proceed, they are connected, and diametrically opposed. But

1 InMrad of x/>r)/inn<r/iov« in fins place, it is nrcr««ary In read * For cnraXq^ctf here, it i» requisite lo read innuaXir^oi,

Tim. Plat. Vol. II. 2 P

p. 298

PROCLl’S ON THE

[book iv.

But

1 InMrad of x/>r)/inn<r/iov« in fins place, it is nrcr««ary In read * For cnraXq^ctf here, it i» requisite lo read innuaXir^oi,

Tim. Plat. Vol. II. 2 P

p. 298

PROCLl’S ON THE

[book iv.

the obumbrations of each other , and of us, are the media which are between divine souls and us. For all of them are not immediately united to all, hut some are united to other* through more or fewer media. And their concealments and evolu¬ tions into light, at stated times, are their apocatastases, and the beginnings of period*. For according to these especially, they cause revolutions and mutations in the world, introducing copious corruption*, ami mights changes, a* Plato says in the Republic. To assert therefore, all these particulars, without \ iewmg the imitations of these things which are surveyed about the hear eii*, would be a vain labour. For it is necessary to recur from the phenomena to the reminiscence of invisible natures. For as from these instruments and shadow*, we are enabled to com¬ mence the contemplation of the celestial bodies; thus also from the latter, we recal to our recollection invisible circulations. For the heavens are a medium between generated and intelligible natures.