The Commentaries on the Timaeus of Plato — trans. Thomas Taylor
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“And these after a certain manner indeed were the same, yet were
1 InMea<t of r>jt ptv jj tai tr itpptjfuron ov<nj» rtft harpinvi, ,011 Tijt (uifm >, 111 tlli»
place, I read, rrjt &a«er ttrjprjfjrn tt ovorj i, cai r^i tiaxpivt** twofitrrjn rij«
* For apitfro* here, it is iieceijuj to read arpiârov.
p. 384
PHOCLUS ON TllF
[book V .
no longer pure and incorruptible similarly, and according to the same, but were of the second and third order.”
p. 384
PHOCLUS ON TllF
[book V .
no longer pure and incorruptible similarly, and according to the same, but were of the second and third order.”
Through what is here said, Timaus indicates the similitude of partial souls to those that are total, and their diminution, ami different progression. For lie not only describes the diflereiiees of tin m tog« tlier with their alliance, according to the first and second demiurgic energy, nor alone* according to their union with, and separation from the Crater of life, nor according to the transcendent \, or de¬ ficient'v of g» uera, hut also according to tin mode of mixture, which is the same, and yet not the same. For neither the mixture of the genera, nor the non-mixture of difference is similar. 1 or difierence is more abundant in partial souls. Hence in these, one of the horses is good, hut the other had ; and consists ot contraries, as it is said m the IMucdrus, through the predominance of di\crsity. ISc shows therefore, that after a certain manner tin \ are the same, and also according to the jieculiarit v of the whole composition. l - «»r tin* whole mixtures heroine no loiigi r pun* and incorruptible, according to the same, and similarly, hut are of the second and third ranks ; since in these tln-re is diminution and arrangement. What therefore, are tin* natures which he calls pure and incorruptible; tor they are not such as are impassixe onlv * For it would In a small thing, if the dome dillervd from the partial genus ot souls, hi this alone, lor this affection of passivity accedes as the last thing, alter the flight from real being, alter the downward pru|M*nsily and inclination, and aft< r the tit tluxion of the wings; as Socrates also says in the Fha driis. It is la tter therefore to say, that the pure and incorruptible signify, the immutable, tin* iminelmiiig, the inflexible, and the entire and limit filed form of essence, which is neither converted to secondary natures, nor receipt's any mutation, nor diminution of life, ami which is established remote from all mortality, and is exempt from the laws ot Fate. 1-or these things are common to even genus of souls, whit'll always transcend generation, lhit the contraries of these, are adapted to souls w hich are able to desci ml into genera¬ tion, to change their life from mtt lleetion to action, to become at a certain time subject to the dominion of Fate, and to be mingled with mortal concerns. .Wither therefore is the immoveable present with these* according to the same tilings, since they sometimes proceed into generation; m»r when it is present with them, is it present after the same manner. 1 or that which is always intellectse, is more excellent than that which sonietime*s ih parts from its proper intellectual energy.
'since however, in these souls also there is ail arrangement, or order, and sonic
BOOK V.]
TIM/FUS OF PLATO.
p. 305
1 or that which is always intellectse, is more excellent than that which sonietime*s ih parts from its proper intellectual energy.
'since however, in these souls also there is ail arrangement, or order, and sonic
BOOK V.]
TIM/FUS OF PLATO.
p. 305
of them are undetiled. I win*; conversant with generation, and departing' from their own order, hut for a short time, hut others are involved in all-various flowers, and wander for very extended periods, Plato also indicates the difference of these hv saying, il lhat they were <j the second and third order." For souls that descend, and are defiled with vice, arc very touch separated from those that always abide on high, and are without sin. lint the media Ih‘ tween these, are those souls that descend indeed, vet are not defiled with vice. For the contrary of this is not lawful, viz. to he defiled with vice, and yet abide on high. For evil is not in the <*ods, hut in the mortal place, and in material things. Again therefore, from what has been said, it appears that the first genus of souls is divine. For every where that which is receptive of deity, has a ruling and leading order, in essences, in intellects, in souls, and in bodies. Hut the second genus of souls is that which is always conjoined to the Gods, in order that through this genus the souls which sometimes depart from, may he recalled to the Gods. The third genus is that which descends indeed into generation, hut descends with purity, and exchanges a more divine for a subordinate life, hut is e\< mpt from viee and passions.* For this is in continuity with the genus of souls, which always abides on high, and is always undeiiled. And the fourth and last genus is that which abundantly wanders, who h descends as far as to Tartarus, and is again excited from thence. It likewise evolves all-various forms of life, uses various manners, and at different times different passions, and assumes the various forms of animals, the damiomacal, the human, and the irrational, hut at the same time is governed by Justice, recurs from earth to heaven, and is circularly led from matter to intellect, hut according to certain orderly periods of wholes. The words therefore, “ no lunger pure and incorruptible, similarly, and according to (he same, signify that partial souls are in a certain respect incorruptible, viz. accord¬ ing to essence alone ; and that in a certain resftect they are not incorruptible; viz. that according to energies, they are tilled with all-various fatalities, are horn along* with flowing and mortal beings, and that they do not possess tin se energies always after the same manner, and with undeiiled purity, hut sometimes in a greater, and at others in a less degree, there Iwmg an all-various mnpiality m souls, according
1 For ujiiirrn/jftai here, it iv necessary to read n^iir-u/ifi'oi.
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