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

? For ro rovrp here, read τοσσυτῳ.

Tim. Plat. in '(.) an 6 U

p. 154

Plato docs not say that there was once sedition among divine natures, or that subordinate subducd more excellent beings. But let these things indeed be true in homan affairs : the present narration however, Indicates, that the most total of the genera in the second co-ordination of things in the universe procced through all things. For there are both in the heavens and every where, a separating and uniting power, and nothing is destitute of these. In more excellent natures however, these powers do not subsist with division, nor multitudinously, but collected into one, and with one impulse; but this is, umitedly, and according to one and a continued life, For as in the worse co-ordination the one is multiplied, thus also in the better, multitude is united. Llence multitude is every where, and is vanquished through union, Of these things the Atlantics wishing to subdue every place within the mouth of the Atlantic sea, all their powers being collected into one, but at the same time being vanguished by the Athenians, are an Image, Por multitude and) separation, though they may be surveyed in the better co-ordination, yet they will be seen to subsist’ there unitedly; multitude not being there victorious, but sameness, and in short, the better genera.

“Then it was, O Solon, that the power of your city was conspicuous to all men for its virtue and strength.”

Plato opposes to the power of the Atlantics, the power of the Athenians ; preferring this appellation, as heing adapted to the middle fabrication. And he celebrates the more excellent power for its virtue and strength 3 in order that through virtue, he may indicate its alliance τὸ the philosophic nature of

Minerva; (for another theology, ‘and not the Orphic only, calls her virtue,) but through strength its alliance to her plulopolemic nature. But he ealls the power conspicuous, because it is mundane, and contributes to the fabrication of sensibles: and to the Atlanties indeed, he alone attributes power, and this continually, beeause they are arranged under infinity, But he says that the Athenians vanquished this power, through virtue, Por as they belong to the co-ordination of bound; they are characterized by virtue, which measures the passions, and uses powers in a becoming manner.

* i.e, The Chaldean theology.

net

TAR ες“ “νυ RS

p. 155

* i.e, The Chaldean theology.

net

TAR ες“ “νυ RS

p. 155

“For as its armies surpassed all others, both ia magnanimity and military arts, so with respect to its contests, whether it) was assisted by the rest of the Grecks, over whom it sometimes presided in wathke affairs, or whether it was deserted by them through the incursions of the cnemics, and thus was in extreme danger, yet still” it remained triumphant. In the mean time, those who were not yet enslaved, it liberated from danger; and procured the most ample liberty for all those of us who dwell within the Pillars of ITlercules.”

As we have triply divided the inferior co-ordination, into first, middle, and last boundaries, thus also we must divide the superior, into the most total, and the most partial genera, and those that subsist between these. And having made this division, we shall arrange the Athenians as analogous to the first genera; but the other Grecks who were not yet enslaved, to the middle; and those who were now slaves, to the last genera. For according to this arrangement, those that belong to the Minerval series, vanquish those that belong to the series of Neptune; those that rank as first, subduing those that rank as second,’ the monadic, the dyadic, and in short, the better vanquishing the worse. But the middle genera eternally preserve their own order, and are not vanquished by the worse co-ordination, on account of the union of themselves, and the stable genus of power. They likewise liberate from slavery those that are enslaved, recalling them to union and permanency. Tor some things indeed, are always in matter, others are always separated from it, and others, sometimes become situated under the material genera, and sometimes have an arrangement in a separate life. Just as in the drama pertaining to us; at one time we are arranged under the Titanic, and at another, under the Olympian order; and at one time our course terminates in gencration, but at another, in the heavens. This however happens to partial souls, through the invariably permanent providence of the Gods, which leads back souls to their pristine felicity. For as in consequence of there being genesiurgic Gods, souls descend, in subserviency to their will, thus also, through the prior subsistence of anagogic causes, the ascent of our souls from the realms of generation is elected. And thus much

* For xpwrwy here, it scems necessary to read Sevrepwr,p. 156 concerning the whole meaning of the words before us. Let us however, concisely discuss each particular,

And thus much

* For xpwrwy here, it scems necessary to read Sevrepwr,p. 156 concerning the whole meaning of the words before us. Let us however, concisely discuss each particular,

The words therefore, surpassed all others, manifest the total comprehension of the first genera of the more divine part. But the words im magnantnity, and military arts, have the same meaning as Minervatlly. Por through mag nanimily, they imitate the philosophic characteristic of the Goddess, but through warlike arts, her philopolemic characteristic. And the words, whether it was assisted by the rest of the Greeks, over whom it sometimes presided tn warlike affairs, or whether it was deserted by them through the incursions of the enemies, signify that first and total causes, produce some things in conjunction with second and middle causes, but others by themselves, beyond the production of these, and being alone in their energy. For the genus of the Gods, and that which is posterior to the Gods, do not produce equally, but the eflective power of the Gods proceeds to a greater extent; since every where more divine causes energize prior to, together with, and posterior to their effects. Credibility therefore of this may be multifariously produced. But the extreme danger manifests the last production of the: first genera. And the ¢rophics signify that the second co-ordination is perfected under the first, being adorned by it; that it is in a certain respect converted by the power of it; and that there are in the last of things invariably permanent indications of the conversion of less excellent natures, proceeding from the first of things. For whatever is arranged in the worse co-ordination, and invested with form, material causes receding, affords a suflicient indication of the inspective care' of the better order, which is especially the peculiarity of trophies. But the most ample liberty, is an indication of the divine and iiberated order, proceeding from on high to all things; which liberty the Athenians imparted to the Greeks, by vanquishing the Atlantics; or rather the Olympic, by subduing the ‘Titanic genera, For thus the demiurgic will is accomplished, and the worse is vanquished by the better co-ordination; in partial natures indeed the Atlantics by the Athenians, but in wholes, the Titans by the Olympian Gods,“ Though they are robust, and oppose the better order, through pernicious pride, and insolent improhity,” says the theologist; whom Plato emulating, asserts that the Atlantics insolently proceeded against the Athenians.

“ But in succeeding times prodigious earthquakes and deluges taking

* For extorparcas here, it is necessary to read exoraoias.

πο ses er στον

p. 157