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

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.

Since however, Plato s;i \ s, that the figures and motions of the heavenly bodies cause terror, and t.ihibit tokens of future events, to such as are able to discover their signification, it i» requisite to observe, that the\ not only signify future events, but also are tokens of past ev» nfs. lienee also lie makes mention of energies whii h are in themselves preeedaneoiisl) significant. Ilut Theophrastus sns, that in his time,' the theory of the Chaldeans, about these tilings, was most admirable, as it predieted both other particulars, and the life and death of each individual, and not common events only, such as stormy and fair we »th< r. Tor he adds, that ac¬ cording to them, the planet Mercury, when it is seen in winter, signifies cold,* but when in sumin r, excessive heat. In his treatise On Sign* therefore, lie says that they predicted all things, both sin h a* are particular, and such as are common, from the celestial bodies. b.t us however here finish the discussion of the n iture of the \ isible and generated Gods, as what we have said concerning it is sufficient. For the work of science consists in this,* to adapt an appropriate measure to words, and to give them as much extent as may contribute to the proposed theory. This also, Plato does, m what is here said. For in the words before us, he finishes his discussion of the celestial bodies, and starry animals, fur the sake of which he likew ise assumed what he sajs about the earth ; liecause it also produces time, in conjunction with the celestial circulations. Here therefore, the above mentioned particulars are terminated. For here, the consideration of the \ isible and generated Cods, whom we call starry, and in short celestial, is brought by him to an end. He calls them

1 Tor yjxiyov li(rt, lead yj>uvuit.

1 lor y here, »1 u necessary to read

* Instead of tv <ra« tqvtcv, it is requisite to read tv tat rovr^.

BOOK IV.]

TIM^L’S OF PLATO.

p. 209

He calls them

1 Tor yjxiyov li(rt, lead yj>uvuit.

1 lor y here, »1 u necessary to read

* Instead of tv <ra« tqvtcv, it is requisite to read tv tat rovr^.

BOOK IV.]

TIM^L’S OF PLATO.

p. 209

however visible, because they are mundane, and ha\e something of sensible* suspended from their intellectual essence ; but generated, as having soul, which he calls the first of generated natures. For they are not visible, according to every thing whi»'h they are; hut there is something which is generated indeed, yet is at the same time invisible.. But that the discussion of the earth w as assumed for the sake of the measured motion of the stars about it, he manifests by directly adding, after what he had said about it, “ And the natures successive to these,'" 1 through which I think, he clearly shows, that his design was to speak about the celestial Gods, and the <renera attendant on them, which sometimes are concealed by the splendors of their leading Gods, and sometimes when they become visible, pro¬ duce terror, and tokens of future events.’ For what is said, is adapted to these, according to an appropriate definition.

“ To speak however, concerning the other dremons, and to know their generation, exceeds our ability.”

Plato now intending to speak about the sublunary Gods, says that the discourse about them is admirable, and exceeds our ability, as transcending all that ha* been transmitted to us by tradition, if we intend to discover the generation of them, and promulgate it to others. For what he before said of the Pemiurgus, that it is difficult to <lisco\er him, and impossible to speak of him to all men, this he now says of the sublunary Gods, that to know and to sj>oak of the generation of them, surpasses our ability. What therefore, does Plato mean by this mode of indication } For as he has delivered so many' and such admirable things concern¬ ing all heaven, and the intelligible paradigm, how is it that he says, that to speak of the Gods who are the fabricators of generation, is a task beyond our ability to perform? Perhaps it is because many physiologists considered these sublunary elements to be inanimate natures, casually borne along, and destitute of providen¬ tial rare. For they acknowledged that the celestial bodies, on account of their orderly motions, participate of intellect and the Gods; but they left generation, as being very mutable and indefinite, deprived of providential inspection. For

* Id die original, cat ra review 171. These word* however, ire not to be found in the tell of 1 ’lato, but form i remarkable addition to it. For the nature* tveetttirt to the stars, are evidently their satellites, which have more than once been mentioned by Procius.

* From what it here said by Proelus, it appears that the hied stars, as well at the planets, have satellites, and that the stars which sometimes arc visible, and at other times disappear, are of this de¬ scription.

p. 300

PKOCLUS ON TI1K

[book IV.

* From what it here said by Proelus, it appears that the hied stars, as well at the planets, have satellites, and that the stars which sometimes arc visible, and at other times disappear, are of this de¬ scription.

p. 300

PKOCLUS ON TI1K

[book IV.

thus Aristotle afterwards, alone placed immoveable causes over the celestial cir¬ culations,, whether eight in numljer, or more; but left these elements inanimate.

In order therefore, that we might riot be affected in the same manner as they were, he antecedently celebrates and proclaims the generation of the sublunary Gods to Im* divine and intellectual, requiring no such mode of indication in bjreakmg of the celestial finds. Perhaps al-o it mav be said, that souls more swiftly forget tilings nearer to themselves, but have a greater remembrance of sujierior princ iples, l or they in a greater degree operate* upon them through transit*nde lie v of power, and appear through energy to be pre-i*nl with tliem. The same tiling also liap|M iis vv ilh re spect to our "lulit. For though vv e do not mt many things that are* situate el on tlie- earth, ve t at the same lime* v\e* appear to sere* the ine-rratie; sphere*, and the stars theiiise Ive s, because* 1 he*v illuminate our sight w itle the ir li”ht. Thi*cVe? ot tile* soul the refore, beeollles ill a gl'eati r degree* oblivious of and blind to more* pro\imale than to higher and more- div im* principles. Thus, all religions and sects ackuow leil^e that tin o* is a first pi me i pie* ol things, an el ail men invoke find as their helper; but all do not believe that tle-ie are (Joels pos¬ terior to this principle*, and that a providential energy proe*e eels from tln-m into the* unive rse?, For the on i is set u by them in a clearer manner than multitude*. Others again, be la ve* inde ed that the re aj'e (Joels, but alte r tin (Joels, admitting the ehemoniacal ge-uiis, the y are* ignorant of tin* heroic order. And in short, this is the greatest vvmk of science*, sitbtillv tee distinguish tin* media anil tin* progre s¬ sions of b* ings. It th*. relore, we rightly as>ei l tin >»■ things, Plato, vv hen spe aking of the te le stial (Joels, v erv properly indie lies nothing of the* difficulty of the* sub¬ ject; but intending to speak ol tlie* sublunary (Joels, says that it surpasses our ability, For tlie* discussion of these* is mem* elillicult, because? we* cannot collect anv thing about llu.*m from apparent objects, but it alone reepiires a deviitely-iii spire-el energy, and intellectual projection. And thus much e-onivrnirig this doubt.