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

“ But when certain senses, borne along externally, fall on the soul, and eo-attraet the whole cavity of it, then the circulations which are governed, appear to govern."

It has l>een already asserted, that no one of the periods governs, or is a leader; and that our head is buried m matter, and our feet heroine elevated. Hut through the present words, it is added, that the mortal rule over the immortal natures, for the stuses are externally born? along, lieeause they announce external'; and they fill on the soul, Iwcause their enunciations are accompanied with passion. If therefore, they cit-attmct the cuvity of the soul, viz. the whole of its essence ; for the word x-jTiig, cavity, is asserted as of certain things that an; convolved ; and prepare this * to adopt whatever they assert, they heroine the lead* rs of the whole life of the soul, cause it to speak and think such things as they announce ; and to fancy that which is apprehended hv sense, and vvlicdi a man touches, or eats, or drinks, has a true existence, but the intelligible, and that which is chosen hv phi! osupliv, to lie a non-entity. These therefore, being the leaders, the appetites govern, and the multitude possess the sovereign pow« r. Hut deliberate choice and reason having an arrangement in the p.ut of things subservient, at length administer to the passions. Does therefore sense in reality had and govern? And how is it possible, sinre it is mortal and material, that it should govern? Hut it appears indeed to govern reason, vet it is itself, and deservedly, governed by other tilings. For it is itself dill* rent [or eharaetei ised by difference]; and on this account it is suspended from externals, is vanquished by them, and is differently disposed at dillerent times. Hut the irrational life is the cause to itself of slavery. lienee, it does not in reality govern, not having a ruling power which is incapable of being vanquished; but biing siibserv ient to other things it rules over natures better than itstlf, m consequence of their being deceived.

“ On account of these passions therefore, tlie soul becomes stupid at present, and was so originally when she was first hound in a mortal body.”

Instead of ravra lirre, it seems requisite to read tovtc.

Boll K V. j

H MAX'S or I’f.ATO.

p. 459

“ On account of these passions therefore, tlie soul becomes stupid at present, and was so originally when she was first hound in a mortal body.”

Instead of ravra lirre, it seems requisite to read tovtc.

Boll K V. j

H MAX'S or I’f.ATO.

p. 459

I his is 11 io conclusion of aii that has been said concerning tlir incarnation of souls, from "hirl Plato discovers the causes ot their perturbation and tumult arising from generation ; and filially, of the insanity in those that are recently le‘rn. And hence again, it is evident that he conceived the rational soul to exist also in children ; hut that it is fettered and sluggish,' Wing vanquished by other po\v< rs, and does n <>t accede in a certain posterior time, as some fancy it does. I*or he delivers the causes through which though reason is present, yet it i> not [effectively present, and concludin'' the enumeration of these he says, that the sn, *l through these, Wrame stupid originally, "hen she "as first hound in a mortal body, and is so at present, l-or what dillerence is there between Wing juvenile accord in:; to age. and juvenile according to life ? As therefore, in those that arc stupid "Ih ii they have arrived at maturity, reason Win" present, is quiescent, ill the same manner in those that are just born,’ reason indeed is present, but Wing vanquished by stupidity, is sluggish.

“ W lien however, the stream of increase and nutrition flows along with a less abundant, course, the circulations being again restored to tranquillity, proceed in their proper path; in process of time become more regular and steady, and pass into a figure accommodated to their nature, lienee in this case, the revolutions of each of the circles, bcinc according to rectitude, and calling both same and different by their proper appellations, they render him by whom they are possessed, pru¬ dent and wise.”

Plato in the Pha-drus, teaches us the felicitous life of the soul, according to which it revolves together with the finds, recurs to the siqierrelestinl place, and surveys Justice lu rsclf, Temperance herself, and each of the iliv iue virtues; and again, he gradually leads it, from supreme felicity, and this blessedness, to at one time raising the head ol the charioteer above the heaven, and at another entering within it; and from this through diminution, to surveying none of these blessed spectacles, yet still following from custom. For the lapse to souls is not directly from an abundant vision ot the intelligible into generation, but proceeds through many media. In what is here said however, tragically describing the passions of the soul falling into generation, its turnings, fractures ami streams, he wishes to

* For ap\«iv in this piact, it is ntetear; to rrad apytiv.

* Instead of non in this place, it u requisite to read rtoytvu.

4«0

PKOCLUS ON Tin;

[book v.

* Instead of non in this place, it u requisite to read rtoytvu.

4«0

PKOCLUS ON Tin;

[book v.

lead it gradually back to an intellectual life, and to a life conformable to its nature. Hut there indeed, a cessation taking place of tilings more excellent, nnd of tin* "nod* imparted by intellect and the (bids, things of a worse nature suc¬ ceed, vi/. lameness, u dciluxion of l!ie wings of tbe soul, oblivion, Hie meeting with [evil ila-mons] and a gravdating t( ndeiicy downward, lb re however things of a worse nature ce;sni';, and also the impedimi nts arising from matter, immcdialt*- ly the circulations proceed at * ordmg to nature, and things more e\< client present themselves to the view, m/. order, and reason, and a prudent and wise condition of In ing For advancing to maturity of age, we Iwconie more prudent and i misiilerate, and make the progression * of ail oiptublc and orderlv hie, nature being tbi* leader. by' then lore, should tiah u sav, that tin* povva rs of the soul follow the temper.mu nts of the body, and that when the bodv is muM, unstable, and in an all-varimis flux, then the soul is stupid and unstable; but when the parts of the body an* properly adapted to « ich other, so that the w hole is ni sv muietry, tin* soul acts with rectitude, and becomes prudent and wise? And how is it possible we should admit this ? I or as the imuioilal soul i \ists prior to the body, it is not lawful to make it intellei lual through the bodv ; but wo ought rather to say, that the body becomes at one time an impediment to the soul, in its attain¬ ment of a well-ordered life; and at another, disturbs it in a less degiee. As therefore, if We should dwell near a trilling and garrulous neighbour, we should not bet ome inure pm rile through him, Imt it is possible for him to hind* r us more or less hum the enjoyment of a ipnet life; alter the same maimer also, the counexioii of the hodv at one time disturbs tin soul, and at another, remits tin* tumult I lie soul however, does not even then become tranquil, till t rudltion accedes. fhe hotly llierclore, is an impeiliineiit indeed, to the attainment of a prudent life, hut is by no means elli t live of it. And tints much as to these particulars.

W illi rcsjH ct however to the words of the U \t severally, it must he said, that “ the stream of increase amt nutrition inauifi t the phv>ical river. For it is ne¬ cessary, that a greater increase taking place, there sliouhl lie a greater quantity of liutruin lit. Hut the im reast is gn ater, because nature which affords tin iu< rease, is then nmre powertui. l or nature tu those that ale vuiing, flourishes, ami is very robust, hut m those that are .ulvaueed in age, with whom, the soul is more considerate, nature is imbecile. And you mav not only s«-e, that die soul is con¬ tra rily aflected by ages, lint also by times. the soul, m those that arc awake, is