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

And as these are analogous to that whic h is intellectual, it is evident that the soul is pre¬ vented from perceiving intellectually. 1 he essence ol tin; soul therefore, is per-

1 For cuv'o licre, it is ne cessary to read caery.

nook \.]

T1M.LUS OJ PLATO.

44P petually vital ami perpetually nxacd ; 1 »ut 1 lie powers and energies, pertaining to its Lie and intellect, are naturally adapted to err.

“ So that they turn with every kind of revolution, each of the three intervals of the double and triple, together with the media and conjoining bonds of the sesqnitertian, sescjuialter, and sesrpiioctave ratios which can¬ not he dissolved hy any one, except by him by whom they were bound. And besides this they introduce all the fractures and diversities of circles, which it is possible to eti’eet.”

All things are in all souls, hut appropriately in each, in some divinely, in others d.ciuoui.K ally, and in others partially. l*or the media, the scsquialtor, the sesquitertian, and the scsquioclave ratios, together with the lcimina, are in all souls 1 or how could tin* soul otherwise know total h u nion \, and procreate ratios so heautilul, oxet pt she contained in herself the causes of them, heing herself, accord¬ ing to her ow n order, a certain harmony of harmonies ; not consisting of things harmonized, since a haimony of this kind is in another thing, is alter-motive, and is susp< tided li'oin another niotne cause ; hut of that which harmonizes itself, and is harmonized hy wholes? lienee, it has all harmonized ratios, and besides these, die divisions info se\» n of the circle ot the ddlerenl. I*or tin* demiurgic section ' begins superfluity irom divine souls, and proceeds as far as to the most partial souls ; and besides this, sueli other tilings as we have survevi <1 about the soul of the universe. The mode of interpretation likewise is the same, except that we must add the peculiarity in each, adjoining, in some souls the divine, in others the (hriuoniacal, ami in others the partial peculiarity. We have however l>cfore observed, that though all the ratios are m all souls, viz. the divine, the darmoniacal, and the partial, alter the mundane soul, it is not at all wonderful that the hounding t< mis should difler, by each lieing more multiplied in the subordinate souls, than hi those prior to them. Lor those of the soul of the universe were primary, or radical terms, (truOju.m*\) yet nothing hinders their being afterwards, the duple, or triple, or in short, multiples ot these, winch through diminution are multiplied in orderly ratios, as far as to partial souls. Amlin some of these, they are more multiplied than in others. For neither are all divine souls of equal dignity, nor all demoniacal after these, nor all partial souls. And thus they have some things common to all of them, but others di tiering accord mg to essence

1 Instead of to fur in this place, it is necessary to read

VOL. II.

Tim. Flat.

3L

p. 460

For neither are all divine souls of equal dignity, nor all demoniacal after these, nor all partial souls. And thus they have some things common to all of them, but others di tiering accord mg to essence

1 Instead of to fur in this place, it is necessary to read

VOL. II.

Tim. Flat.

3L

p. 460

PROCLUS ON THE

[book t.

itself. It is also necessary to reint mber the**e tilings, not carelessly, in order that we fnay he able to assign the all-various differences in the generation of souls; of the mundane indeed with re--q»<*e-t to the supermundane, according to the mul¬ titude, or diminution of parts; amt aUo m the generation of the mundane, divine, demoniacal, anil partial souls, according to the terms themselves, which are either radical, or more remote from those that are radical, the same ratios remaining.

All harmonic ratios therefore, exist in a partial soul, and exist essentially, and are not a coacervation of posterioi origin. 1'or those things which the first l)emiurgus produces, these are essentially inherent in heings, viz. tin* seven terms, the three media, the se-sepiialte r, sesquitertian, and sesipiioctuve ratios, and the ieiinmas, which are now called culligatinns. It is evident therefore, that all these are essences. For things which always subsist after the same manner, and those which give completion to essence, are themselves essences. And it is necessary to view these particulars not mathematic.illy, hut physically, l'or the mathema¬ tical ratios and habitudes, vv Inch souls generate, through possessing the above mentioned ratios, are of a elifli cut kind, ltut if all tin* harmonic ratios are essenres.it is evident that they have powers. l’or tin one power, and the one form of the soul, are not generated from things deprived of power, and without quality. How likewise could the harmonic latios operate, and produce other ratios, unless they had a power of generating? And how could they know, and excite other ratios, if they did not antecedently contain gnostic powers, or it these powers were unenergetic ? It is ueeessarv therefore that tin ratios should be essences, and possess powers gnostic o| all harmony ; those indeed in the period of the same, of intelligible; hut those in tin* period of the different, of sensible harmony. It Is likewise necessary that thev should « in rgi/e when they arc- able; some indeed, about inti lligibles; but others about seiisihles. \\ lien however, being badly affected thmegh oblivion, they become- impeded, sense- drawing down the soul to material natures, then, they remain indeed essentially; for thev are pe rpe tual, indissoluble-, and immutable: but ae cording to cuergv, they are turn¬ ed with every possible- kind ed revcdiition. Anel again, ae-e-ording to power, the-y suffer all possible fractures anil distortions. For this is e eunmon to both,' but not through the period of the same; sme-e- that is alone sluggish. But the- circles m the- pi-rie»el of the different, he-mg se-ve-n, anel all eif them having all the- harmonic ratios; for thus it was s.uel ed the* sold of the universe* tlie-y are* turne d anel frae-tun-el. For what is here saiel hy I’lato, is concerning these media anel the

1 Vu to liolh |>o\\er anet energj in tlif circle of thr different.

Iihok v.]

TIM.l-lS or PLATO.

p. 461

colligation in (hr «irolt* 1 o( the diffirent, a*; sustaining all-various injuries*, l>y the senses ami physical motions ; hut is not concerning those in (he circle of the same. l or this i- alone fettered ; Imt the circle of the different is agitated, and being agitated, sidlers sm h things as he mentions.