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

Hence to return does not now signify tu spring from beneath, but for the water, being elsewhere increased, top. 101 proceed above the earth ; streams of water being poured into the Nile from other places. But Tamblichus says, it is not requisite to investigate a thing of this kind, but to understand in a more simple way the return of the water from beneath, as equivalent to what is usually called the ascent of water; and he assigns a two-fold cause, through which the Egyptians avoid dryness, from excessive heat, and deluges. And this is manifest from what he says when examining the increase from rains. For he says, that the first cause of the salvation of the Ezyptians, is the will of their presiding Gods, and the boundary from the first of fabrication. But the second cause is the temperature of the air. For the seasons there are contrary to those in the antarctic " regions, from which the Nile flows to these places ; and in them the generation of dryness from violent heat, and of great rains, reciprocates. If, however, some one should blame this explanation, because the rains being increased the increase is not regular, it must be said, that rain frequently happens when there is no descent for disappearance} of the Nile. At the same tine, the uninterrupted succession of rain, and the magnitude of the mountains in which the fountains of the Nile are contained, are the causes of the unceasing increase ofthe water. For these mountains, receiving in all their sides the rain impelled against them from the annual clouds, pour it incessantly into the fountains of the Nile. But these fountains becoming exuberant increase the river. For this, says Theophrastus, is one cause of rain, viz. the pressure of clouds against a mountain. Moreover, it ix not at all wonderful, if clouds are not seen about the cataracts. Lor the stream of the Nile is not first poured from these, but from the Lunar mountains, which are thus denominated from their altitude. And the clouds when present being collected about the mountains, impede the cataracts by their superior magnitude. And thus much against the Egyptian oration of Anistides,

Eratosthenes, however, says, it is no longer requisite to investigate the cause of the increase of the Nile, when we direct our attention to certain waters and rains that run into it, so as to corroborate what is said by Aristotle. These things, therefore, we have concisely indicated on this subject. But from these particulars the Egyptians infer, that their land will never experience either a deluge or a conflagration. That it should however fail from other causes, is not at all wonderful ; since, as Aristotle rightly observes, every part of the earth becomes sea in the infinity of time, and the same place is at one time continent, and at another, sea.

* For avricoss here, it is necessary to read avraperecoss. |

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* For avricoss here, it is necessary to read avraperecoss. |

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And looking to the infinity of time, it must not be denied that the water of the Nile may fail. For what if the annual winds, blowing less vehemently, should not impel the clouds against the mountains ? What also, if the mountains should fall, in which there is a collection of clouds; the wind from subterranean places bursting them, through which, likewise, the oracles say, that succeeding cittes shall be destroyed? And the clouds not being collected, the stream always becoming less and less, will be absorbed by the earth which is dry.

“ But the truth is, thatan all places, where neither intense cold nor immoderate heat prevails, the race of men is always preserved, though it is sometimes more, and at other times less numerous.”

The pricst has spoken concerning the mundane periods, aad the different mutations fin them], and has observed that the safety of the Egyptians is derived from the position of the region, and the providence of the Nile. Now, therefore, he infers in common respecting places of the earth, that every place which is tree from deluges and contlagrations, has always the race of wen remaining, more or less numerous. For the greatest destructions are through fire and water, as was before asserted. Some one, however, may say, that the race of men failina different way. For at present there are none who inhabit these very places of the Attic land [which were formerly so populous), though neither a deluge nor a conflegration has happened, but acertain dire impiety, which has entirely obliterated the race of men." Or it may be said that Plato now calls climates, places. He says, therefore, that every climate has men, though there should not have been a deluge or a contlagration, atone time more, and at another less numerous. Some however will also be saved ina deluge, as Deucalion, who was preserved, when the climate of Greece was deluged. After this manner, therefore, some unfold the meaning of the passage.

But according to our associate (Domninus), Plito means, that every place his always a greater or less number of men, whichis not excessively cold, or immoderately dry through heat. Por mathematicians say, Chat there are certain places Which are uninhabitable through excess of heat or cold, Every place, therefore, which is adapted to the habitation of men, and every climate, has a greater or Jess number of men, And this interpretation is reasonable, and conformable to

‘ oo. . . . . Tu my copy of the original of these Commentaries, a certain annotator observes in the margin, that * Proclus alludes, in what he here says, to the Christian religion,”

> ee NEN STI ΝῊ

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. . . . Tu my copy of the original of these Commentaries, a certain annotator observes in the margin, that * Proclus alludes, in what he here says, to the Christian religion,”

> ee NEN STI ΝῊp. 103 the words of the text. For the words, “where neither intense cold, nor immoderate heat prevails,” appear to signify, where nether of the contrarics being excessive, impedes habitation, And, in short, since Plato had before observed, that the transactions of the Egyptians were said to be most ancient, he very properly adds, that in reality, every climate which is commensurate to the habitation of men, has always men more or less numerous. For not only mathematicians assert that not every climate of the earth has men, but Orpheus also, who says:

The Demiurgus for th’ abode of men,
A seat apart from the immortals gave,
Where turns the Sun's mid axis stretching wide ;

Between excessive cold and heat a mean.

And this likewise Plato now asserts, when he says, “where neither intense cold, nor immoderate heat prevails, the race of men iy always preserved, though it is somedimes more, and at other times less numerous.” With other nations, however, there is an oblivion of ancient transactions, not through the failure of men, but in consequence of frequent destructions taking place, certain illiterate and rustic persons alone remain. But with us [says the priest] many most ancient transactions are said to be preserved, in consequence of every thing being committed to writing in our temples.

* But Vhatever has been transacted either by us, or by you, or in any other place, beautiful or great, or containing any thing uncommon, of which we have heard the report,—every thing of this kind is to be found described in our temples, and preserved to the present day.”

As the situation of the country and its guardian Goddess impart safety to the Egyptians, thus also the preservation of past transactions is effected by their own eare and attention, through which they apply a remedy to the oblivion produced by time. But they are assisted in this by their temples, in which ali great and wonderful actions are recorded, both of their own people and of others, and also paradoxical events of things. For this is the meaning of the words, “or containing any thing uncommon.” The history, however, of these things contributes to their knowledge of similar events; from which the reminiscence of wholes is produced, and also to the knowledge of futurity. For through observations of this kind, they discover the effective powers of the ¢clestial configurations. For assuming that certain

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