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

These things, therefore, Marcellus writes in his Ethiopic Llistory. It however this be the ease, and such an island once existed, it Is possible to receive what is said about itas abistory, and also as an image ofa certain mature among eep. 149 wholes. Unfolding likewise the similitude of this, we may gradually accustom those who survey things of this kind, to the whole theory of mundane natures. Por it is possible to behold the same analogies ina more partial, and in a more comprehensive way. Butitis necessary that doctrine proceeding from universals to the subtle elaboration of particulars, should thus give respite to theory. You must not therefore wonder, if before we assumed this analogy more generally, but now aiter another manner, and that we explore the same thing with an accuracy adapted to the things themselves, For since, as we have. said, there is a two-fold co-ordination in: the universe, which originates from the Gods, and is terminated in matter and material form; and since each possesses things more total, and things more partial, [for this we have before said]; but other things are the middles of both these co-ordinations ; for the divine genera are comprehensive of all things, and the last elements are the vilest of all things; and the intellectual and psychical genera subsist between these ;—this being the case, we think fit in’ the lirst place to divide in a three-fold) manner the inferior co-ordination, and to assuine in it some things as most total genera, others as middle, and others as last genera. And to some things, we shall arrange the Atlantics as analogous, to others the other islands, and to others all the opposite continent. But we shall consider the deep, and the Atlantic sea, as analogous to matter. For all the inferior co-ordination is material, and proceeds into multitude and division. But it also has, with respect. to itself, transcendency and deticiency. Hence Plato says that the Atlantics spread themselves externally, as being more remote from the one and nearer to matter; but that they inbabited an island larger than both Libya and Asia, as proceeding into bulk and interval. For all things that are more remote from the one, are diminished according to power, but transcend according to quantity; just as such as are nearer to (he one, are contracted * in quantity, but possess an admirable power. Here, therefore, magnitude is significant of diminution, and of progression and extension to every thing. But the sea Was then navigable, since more total natures proceed as far as_ to the last of things, and adorn matter, but having arrived at the end of the order, they stop, and that which remains beyond it is infinite, For that which in no respect has a subsistence is successive to the boundaries of being. But the addition of those, has an indication that total causes proceed without impediment through matter, and adorn it, but that we do not always subdue it, but are merged in an infinite

But the addition of those, has an indication that total causes proceed without impediment through matter, and adorn it, but that we do not always subdue it, but are merged in an infinite

> For σννέσταμενα here, it is necessary to read σνυνεσταλμενα.

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and indefinite nature. Since however the progression of things is continued, and no vacuum! any where intervenes, but a well-ordered dininution is surveved from more total to middJe natures, which comprehend and are comprehended 5 ane from middles to the last and vilestnatares;s—on this account he says, there wii a passage from the Atlantic island to the other islands, and from these τὸ the opposite continent. And that the Atlantic was one, but the other islands many, and the continent was the greatest. Por the monad is adapted to the first genun in every thing 5 but number and multitude to the second, Por multitude subsists tovether with the duad, And magnitade is adapted to the third genus, on account of the progression of inagnitude to the Gad. Since, however, the extremities of the worse co-ordivation are inmost material, he manifests through the term opposite, that they are at the greatest possible distance from more excellent matures, And he does not alone use the term eafernal, as he does of the Athanties, and which evinces that they belong to the other part, but he also adds the word opposite, that he may indicate the most extreme diminution, But he signifies by the words about that true sea, the hy postasis of them about matter, and the last of mundane natures. For the true sea is analogous to that Which is truly fidse, and truly matter, which in the Politicus he calls the sea of πε τὰν = Moreover, because it’ is necessary that: these two-fold co-ordinations should be separated from each other without confasion, and guarded by demiurgic boundaries, on this account he says, that the Pillars of Hercules separated the internal from the external habitable part. For he denomimates flourishing demiurgic production, and the divine separation of genera in the wniverse, the latter of which always remains stably and strenuously the same, the Pillars ef Hercules. Vis Uereules theretore is Jovian ; but the one prior to thix, and who is divine, is allotted) the guardian order of the generative series. Hence from both the demiurgic division, which cuards these two separate parts of the universe, mast be assumed.

“ Por the waters which are beheld within the mouth we have just now mentioned, have the form of a port with a narrow entrance ; but the mouth itself is a true sea. And the Jand which surrounds it may be in every respect truly denominated the continent.”

The waters within the mouth indicate the genera of the better co-ordination,

' For μενον i this place, the sense requires we should read μενον.

οτος TNS ANT να

HOOK 4.] ᾿ TIMALUS OF PLALO. 15]

And the Jand which surrounds it may be in every respect truly denominated the continent.”

The waters within the mouth indicate the genera of the better co-ordination,

' For μενον i this place, the sense requires we should read μενον.

οτος TNS ANT να

HOOK 4.] ᾿ TIMALUS OF PLALO. 15]

as being converted to themselves, and rejoicing ina stable and) uniting power, For the mouth symbolically manttests the cause which defines and separates the two portions of mundane natures, But the port with a narrow entrance, signifies the convolved, sclGeouverging, arranged, and ΜΔ ΤΟΥ ΑΙ hyparais of these mundane portions. Por through ¢he narrow entrance {ΠΝ signified that interval and extension proceed froma the worse co-ordination. But through the port an hyparxis is indicated, exempt from the confused and disorderly motion of material natures. For such are ports affording a protection from the tamults in the sea. If, however, some one should say, that an elevation to the more intellectual and divine natures in the universe becomes a port to souls, he will not be far from the truth.

“Tn this Atlantic island there was a combination of kings, who with great and admirable power subdued the whole island, together with many other islands and parts of the continent; and = besides this sube jected to their dominion all Libya as far as to Migypt, and Lurope as far as to the ‘T'vrrhene sea.”

lu what is here said it is requisite to recolleet the Platonic hypotheses about the earth, that Plato does not measure the magnitude of it conformably to mathematicians ; but apprehends the interval of it to be greater than they admit it to be, as Socrates says in the Phaedo; and that he supposes there are many habitable parts similar to the part which we inhabit. Tlence he relates that there isanisland and a continent of so great a magnitude in the external sea. For in short, if the earth is naturally spherical, 10 is necessary that it should be so according to the greater part of it. That portion of it, however, which is inhabited by us, exhibits great inequality by its cavities and prominencies. Hence there is elsewhere an expanded plane of the earth, and an interval extended on high. For, according to Heraclitus, he who passes through a region very difficult of aceess, will arrive at the Atlantic mountain, the magnitude of which is said to be so great by the Ethiopic historians, thatit reaches to the wther, and sends forth a shadow as far as to five thousand stadia. For the sun is concealed by it from the ninth hour of the day ull it entirely sets. Nor is this at all) wonderful. For. Athos, a Macedonian mountain, emits a shadow as far as to Lemnos, which is distant from it seven hundred stadia. And Marcellus, who wrote the Ethiopic history, not only relates that the Atlantic mountain was of such a great height,

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