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

* For ent/rnn In fC, read inorni.

1 The words i} <V ttvrrpa, arc also in this place erroneously omitted.

4 I or here, read t^^xxeiv.

p. 306

IMtOCLUS ON THE

[book V.

tetics, such as Alexander [Aphrodisiensis] assert it to be. For this nature is imbecile, and not perpetual, lint we antecedently assume from common concep¬ tions, that the power and empire of Fate are very great and stable. Nor is it the order of the mundane periods, as Aristotle says, who calls the increase which deviates from order, preter-fatal, as it this order was constituted by I*ate. And the cause of order indeed, is one thing, but order itselt another, Nor must it be said, that Fate is soul in habitude, as 1 heodurus asserts it to be. 1 or such u form of life is not a principle in wholes. Nor is it simply Nature, as Porphyry says it is. For many tilings which are supernatural, and out ol the dominion of Nature, are produced by Fate, such as nobility, renown, and wealth. Fur where do physical motions bring with them the cause of these ? Nor is it the intellect of the universe, as Aristotle again says in a « ertain work, if the treatise concerning the World was written bv him. For intellect produces at once, all things which it produces, and is not at all in want of a government which proceeds according to a certain jK*riod, and a continued and well-ordered series. 'This however is the popularity of Fate, viz. a series of many causes, order, and ajieriodicul production. But if it he requisite to comprehend eoncisely the whole form o! it, we must say, that it is Nature according to its subject, but is deified, and tilh d with divine, in¬ tellectual, and psychical illuminations. For the oilier of the Cods who ari called AToi/'t [rruv uoi^yiTutv xa/.vjufwiivj and the more excellent genera, terminate in Fate. For these imparl powers from themselves to the one life of it; and the Dt-miurgus of wholes, collects and unites all these gills, and all these plenitudes, and demonstrates them to be one power. For if the visible bodies are tilled with divine* powers, hy a much greater priority is Nature deilied. And if the whole visible world is one, milt b more is the whole t sstiice of Fate one, and lias its com¬ position completely tilled from many causes. F«*r being suspended from the providt nee of the Cods, and the demiurgic goodness, it is rendered one, and governed according to rectitude hy these; since it is a reason consisting of reasons, one multi¬ form power, a divine life, and the order of things that have an arrangement prior to it.* II ence also the ancients, looking to this variety, and multiform nature ol Fat<, were let! to ditleivnt opinions concerning it. For some called it a Clod, on account of its participation of deity, others, a (hcinon, on account of the ellicacious and at the saini lime multiform nature of its production; others, intellect, because a certain participation of intellect proceeds into it; and others, order, because every thing ' which is arranged, is invisibly comprehended hy it. But Plato alone [truly] /

But Plato alone [truly] /

* The word thu* ii omitted in llns plate id the original, but obviously ought to be inserted.

* Fate therefore i» Nature deified, or Nature considered according to her summit.

BOOK V,]

TIM.El’S OF PLATO.

3f>7 surveyed the essence of it; for lie calls it indeed Nature, hut suspended from the Demiurgus. I*or how otherwise could the Demiurgus point out Nature, unless he contained the principle of it m himsell * IIow likewise could he announce the laws ot l ate, altt r pointing out the nature of th** universe, except liv constituting Nature, as the one connected receptacle of these laws ? But in the Politicos, he in a still clearer manner, suspends the secondary life of the universe from Fate, aftt r the separation from the universe of the one da-mou that governs it, and the many du-tunns that are the attendants of that one. Ilence, he removes from the world, their providential inspection of it, and only leaves it the government of Fate, though the world always possesses hoth these, hut the faille separates the latter from the former. For he says, that Fate and connascent desire convolve the world ; just as the Chaldean oracles say, “ lh.it Nature rules over the worlds and works, and draws downward, in order that heaven may run an eternal course; and that the other periods of the sun, the moon, the seasons, night, and day, may lie accomplished." Thus therefore, Plato also says, that the second period of the world is convolved by Fate, but not the lirsl and intellectual period; all but clearly asserting, that he eonceivi s this [’ale which proximatelv moves the sensible world, to lie suspended from die invisible providence of the Cods. For establishing prior to this Necessity, the mother of the Fates, he convolves* the world on her knees ; as he says, in the [10th book of the] Kepublic.

For establishing prior to this Necessity, the mother of the Fates, he convolves* the world on her knees ; as he says, in the [10th book of the] Kepublic.

And if it be requisite to declare my opinion, Plato places these three causes of order, successive to » aeh oth« r, vi/,. Adraslia, Necessity, and I’ate; the first being intellectual, the second supermundane, and the third mundane. Fur tin. Demiur¬ gus, as Orpin us says, xras nurtured indeed by Adraslia, hut associates xtilth Necessity, and generates Fate. Ami as Adrnstia was comprehensive of the divine institutions (iscrufov*) and collective of all-various laws, thus also Fate is comprehensive of all tin* mundane laws, which the Demiurgus now inscribes in souls, in order that he mav lead them logi ther with wholes, and may definitely assign that which is adapted to them, according to the dillerent elections of lives. For on (Ins account , an erroneous choke Lads the soul to a dark and atheistical life, but a pious choice conducts it to heaven, under the guidance of xchotcs ; because each choice is full of the laws of Fate, and souls, as Plotinus says. In-take themselves to the place announced to them by the law which they contain. For this is the peculiarity of the providence of the Cods, to lead inwardly the subjects of their providential care. And why should this be wonderful, since Nature inserting material anti

1 Instead of rpt<p<i here, it is nccesvarj to read trrex^tt.

* In the original but it is obviously necessary to read Ocr/ivr,

IMtOCLUS ON THE

[book V.

p. 398

corporeal-formed powers in corporeal masses, moves them through these powers ; earth indeed through gravity, hut fin* through levity? In a much greater degree therefore, do the Clods move souls through the powers which they disseminated in them. Hence, if they lead souls according to the laws of Fate, these laws are in souls, pre-existing indeed, intellectually in the Demiurgus; for with him the divine law is established ; hut existing in divine souls; for according to these, tlie} are the leaders of the univeise, and participated hv partial souls; for through these, as they move themselves, they h ad themselves to an appropriate place. And through deliberate choice indeed, they err, and act with rectitude; hut through law, they distribute to themselves an order adapted to their former conduct. \\ hen therefore, souls become mundane, tin n also thev survey the power and dominion ot l ate, supeniull\ suspended from providence, and receive the laws ot Destiny. 1 or the I>« miurgiis pointed out !N time to them, as some¬ thing diflert nt from them, but lie announced to them the laws of l'ate, as inscrihing them in their essence. For the d« tniurgic words, proceed through the essence itself of souls. As therefore, he inserted the words prior to these, in the junior hods, thus also, he inserts these laws in partial souls.