The Theology of Plato, in six books — trans. Thomas Taylor

f Pythagoras ; but perhaps no doctrine is more generally mistaken. By most of the present day it is exploded as ridiculous ; and the few who retain some veneration for its founder, endeavour to destroy the literal, and to confine it to an allegorical meaning. By some of the ancients this mutation was limited to similar bodies; t*> that thry conceived the human soul might transmigrate into various human bodies, but not into those of brutes. And this was the opinion of Hicroclcs, as may be seen in his Commentary on the Golden Verses. But why may not the Iti'inan soul l>ecome connected with subordinate, as w ell as wiili superior lives, by a tendency of inclination ? Do not similars love to be united; aod is there not in all kinds of life something similar and common ? Hence when the affections of the soul verge to a baser nature, whilf connected with a human body, these affections on the dissolution of such a body, become envelo|>cd as it were, in a brutal nature, and the rational eye, in this case, clouded with perturbations, is oppressed bv the irrational entries of the bmlc, and surveys nothing but the dark phantasms of a degraded imagination. But this doctrine is viudica'ed by Proclus with his usual acutenes*,ui his admirable Commentaries on the Tima-us, lib. s. p. 3»9, aslollowsi " It is tiMial, says he, to enquire bow human souls can descend into brute animals. And some indeed, think that there are certain similitudes of men to brutes, which they call savage lives : for they by no means think it possible that the rational essence can become the soul of a savage animal. On the contrary, others allow it may be sent into brute;, because all souls are of one and the same kind; so that they may become wolves and panthers, and ichneumons. But true reason indeed, asserts that the human soul may be lodged in brutes, yet in such a manner, as that it may obtain its own proper life, and that the degraded soui may, as it were, be canied above it, and be bound to the baser nature by a propensity aod similitude of affection. And that tins is tl.c only mode of insinuation, we have proved by a multitude of arguments, in our Commentaries on the rim drtis. If however, it lie requisite to take notice, that this is the opinion of I'lato, we add that in his Republic he *;iys, that the <oul of Thcrsitrs assumed an ape, but not the body of an ape i and in the Phzdms, that the <cjI descends into a savage Int. but not into a savage body. For life is conjoined with its proper soul. And in this place be says it is changed inc.

that the <oul of Thcrsitrs assumed an ape, but not the body of an ape i and in the Phzdms, that the <cjI descends into a savage Int. but not into a savage body. For life is conjoined with its proper soul. And in this place be says it is changed inc. a brutal nature. For a brutal nature is not a brutal body, but a brutal life."

INTKOPUCTION.

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And thus much for the life of Procliu.

W4 .reject to the translation of the following work, 0i, the Theology of Plato, 1 can only s.y •bat I have endeavoured to render it as faithful as possible, and to preserve the manner a, well a, the matter of the author ; tbi, being mdisperuably necemry, both from the importance of the sub- ** *C,Cnt,fic 8CCUrac* of «**»»i"g w«h which it is discussed. I have added a .even* sr the work complete; for without the development of the mundane God*, and the more excellent e< i ,

^ P"ual ancnaants, it would obviously be incomplete. From the catalogue of the manuscript. i„ the late French king'. librarv> it is evident ,„., Pfoc|ua M wrmen seventh book,- as ,ome chapters of it are mere «id to be e.tan, in that library. These I have endeavoured, bu, without success, to obtain. The want of this seventh book by Produs, wi oubtless be considered by all the friends of Greek literature, and particularly by all who are lovers of the doctrme, of Plato, a, a loss of „o common magnitude. It is, however, a fortunate crcumstancc, that in the composition of the seventh book I have been able to supply the deficiency ansmg from the want of that which was written by Proclus, in . great measure from other works of Proclu, himself, and particularly from his very elegant and scientific commentaries on the IWus of Plato. So that I trust the loss is in some measure supplied ; though 1 am sensible, very madequately, could i, be compared with the book which was written by a man of such gigantic him whtUhB4!.,hCe,!d0fthte «mbwkofthi»^My.. «Uia« divine™*™ will I* accuracy discoid bv

Zl are ~ 1 T I luT "J*""' P0Wm" ™S' Wer'» ■otdMebyhim in any onsoflbe »u book, Hat are extant ; which shows that another book is warning. T u.

1NTBODUCTIOV.

powers of mind as Proclus, and who had also sources of informatiou ou the subject, which at the present period, it is impossible to obtain.

onsoflbe »u book, Hat are extant ; which shows that another book is warning. T u.

1NTBODUCTIOV.

powers of mind as Proclus, and who had also sources of informatiou ou the subject, which at the present period, it is impossible to obtain.

A translation of the Elements of Theology is added in order to render the treatise On the Theology of Plato, more complete, and to assist the reader who wishes to penetrate the depths of that most abstruse and sublime work; for the former elucidates, and is elucidated by the Utter.

In translating the treatise of Proclus On Providence and Fate, I had great difficulties to encounter, as the original Greek is lost, and nothing but a Latin translation, which Fabricius observes, is all but barbaroia, remains. If the reader compares that translation with mine, he will at once acknowledge the truth of my remark. Indeed, that translation is in some parts so barbarous, that nothiug but an intimate acquaintance with the writings of Proclus, and the philosophy of Plato could enable any one to render them intelligible in another language. The same observation is partially applicable to the translation of the Extracts from two other treatises of Proclus.

The Greek text of Proclus abounds with errors, so that the emendations which I have made, and the deficiencies which 1 have supplied in this volume, amount to more than four hundred. And the Latio translation of Portus is so very faulty, as to be almost beyond example bad. Having discovered this to be the case, and having in so many places corrected the original, I scarcely think that any of my critical enemies will be hardy enough to say, that any part of this volume was translated from the Latin, where the Greek could be obtained. As I am conscious however, that in what is now offered to the public, I had no other view man to benefit those who are capable of being benefited by such sublime speculations; that wishing well to all mankind, and " particularly to iny country, I have laboured to disseminate the philosophy and theology of Plato, as highly favourable to the interests of piety and good government, and most hostile to lawless conduct and revolutionary principles; and that I have done my best to deserve the esteem of the wise and worthy part of mankind, 1 am wholly unconcerned as to the reception it may meet with from the malevolent, though I wish for the approbation of the candid critics of the day.