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

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.

.And showed them, that the first gent ration, distributed in an orderly manner to all of them, would he one, lest any particular soul should be allotted a less portion of generation than another.”

Souls arc essentially supernatural, supermundane, and lievond Fate, because they have their first subsistence separate from this world ; hut according to their vehicles, and the allotments which they were destined to govern, they were gene¬ rated mundane by the Demiurgus, and received tins order. Hence, alter the suspension from them of their vehicles, the Demiurgus announces to them the laws of bate, by which they were allotted the government of bodies. Just as if some one being desirous’ of political tumults and senatorial offices, should impart his wealth appropriately, hut not yet perfectly, 1 such also is tin* condition of souls under l'ate. for not only the vehicles of these, but likewise of tin- Hods themselves, are led by Fate. In order then fore, that these souls, together with , their vehicles, may Is come situated under the dominion of Fate, it is necessary that they should descend, and associate with generation, which is the second

V

Tor nynpittot in this place, it appears to me lo be iirctssarv to read r^o/ioot.

to the original <,i. oi/riui (ion ni v \<n vro rijc fifiapfirn/v, lint ovb’ is evidently sujierfiuous and erroneous. Isomelbiug lustead of it is peiliaps wanting, as the whole of the sentence is obscure.

BOOK T.J

TIM/IX’S or PLATO.

p. 300

tliiri" after their semination. For tli.it is tlio leader; lint this is a certain srcon- <lar\ distribution of tin- vehicles, under tin* divine circulationjust as there was a distribution ol souls thcmselvc*s, into tin* souls of the; stars, 1 and wLicit was rflected li_\ tin* one demiurgic rauso. Iionro tins ilistriliution is |HTpctual, and it is impossible* that thoro should In* a mutation of such-like loailors. It is tliori fore also oliootod hy Fate, For this power has dominion over periods, is connective both o| toi.il and partial periods, and is collective of similars to similars in divine and partial souls. J'or through the union of these with each other, tluur vehicles also are connasrent with each other. Hence, vvlie*n a partial eo-arrangcs itself with a total soul, the vehicle of it also follows the vehicle of the divine soul. And as the former imitates the intellection of the latter, so likewise the body of the former adumbrates the motion of the latter.

Hence, vvlie*n a partial eo-arrangcs itself with a total soul, the vehicle of it also follows the vehicle of the divine soul. And as the former imitates the intellection of the latter, so likewise the body of the former adumbrates the motion of the latter.

The lirst semination therefore, is that of vehieles, which not only clearlv shows the soul to tie mundane, lint also m-arranges the w hole composition of it under its proper leader. For it is one timer to lie mundane, and another to he lunar, or M emuial; since the latter is a more partial form of life. And as the soul hav niir ascended into its vehiele becomes a citizen of the universe, so w hen it is diss» miuated in conjunction w ith its vehicle, it heroines a citizen of the lunar, or solar, or some other circulation. And the appendage indeed, of the vehiele of the soul to the universe, causes it to lie more multitudinous than the supermundane lift ; and it is as it were, as some s.iv, Inserted, lint the semination proceeding, causes the soul to obtain a more partial dominion. Alter the semination however, every soul has one definite generation ; hut souls make second and third descents, according to their own elections. Tin re is therefore, one generation common to allot them, lor it is ucressarv that every [partial] soul should descend into generation. 1 or such a form of partial souls, not being able to abide on high immutably, becomes at certain times subject to the sceptres of »ees>itv. Ifut these souls receive also fioin the* universe, the mortal form of life, and this out¬ ward hodv, and m addition to these* things, a phvsieal haliituele*. IJv leading a good life however, they arc also able while.; on the* earth to In* purified from the' the tilings introduced by Tate*: so far as th* v have no communication with body, except vvliat an abundant necessity reepurrs. I'or wliat e-flee t can the* works of Fate have* on the (Joiyplucan philosopher mentioned in the The*a*tetus, who astroiiomizes above the* heavens, ami who does not even know in vvliat part of the earth lie due Us ? itul when they are converted to the body, it is necessary that they should have communication with the gifts of Fate. And when they are

* Iiotead of fin dm place, it n nrcrsv try to icael rtpipopat.

* There is au oiniwion here m the original, of rwr arrpwr.

p. 400

PROCLUS ON THE

[book V.

itul when they are converted to the body, it is necessary that they should have communication with the gifts of Fate. And when they are

* Iiotead of fin dm place, it n nrcrsv try to icael rtpipopat.

* There is au oiniwion here m the original, of rwr arrpwr.

p. 400

PROCLUS ON THE

[book V.

vanquished by the mortal form of life, they l>ecome the slaves of Fate. For the universe uses them as irrational animals. And this again befalls them from them¬ selves. For their choice was made after this manner, and having chosen, they lead a life conformable to their choice. It likewise 1 happens to them from wholes. For every thing is conducted conformably to its natural aptitude; e i erv form of life is of some utility to the universe; and nothing is left disorderly or indefinite in wholes; but all things are led to symmetry of life. Tims therefore, bouls according to progression, proceed trom a life which is alwavs well-arranged, and the first, to the last and fated life, through lives of a middle condition. From an order likewise, which is above Fate, they an distributed under the laws of Fate, and travel through the Fates, under the throne of .Necessity.