Ia t us however see what the truth is of the things; and in the first place, if you are willing, let us show how the right and the left hand subsist in the universe. For 1 know that the (hcmouiacal Aristotle calls indeed the eastern p trt of tiie world the right hand, but the western the left hand; since the first motion is Iroin the eastern, but the motion posterior to this, from the we>ti ru part-. In all animals, however, the principle of motion is on the right hand. And in this thing Aristotle accords with the dor trine of Pluto, and also in what he asserts conn ‘ruing the same and dif}\rent. He sa\s therefore that the inerratic spin re is the cause to all things of sameness of subsistence, but the plain tary spheres of a subsistence different at different times. This* however appears to me to be tin* illustrious peculiarity of the Platonic doctrine, that it dors not define these things according to our habitude, but delivers these proper-
1 1 lie word* within ttie brar kets are omitted in llic nrignt.il, but art* sii|>|diid from the version of " Thomaeus. Hence after tlic words r»-i fitv nj« rprirrorut nrrtv irnpat m the original, it is necessary fe» add, ro r avror, to rs toovXtvpor, to Xoyistie* in t r rip ^ofioroi, (. X.
I’Hoclus on the
[Book Iii
Ut-N as proceeding from tin- fabrication itself of things. For if the ttemiurgus himself inserts in divine souls t!u: right hand and the left, each of these did not proceed into the world, < ither according to our position, or as a mere habitude, but they are essential peculiarities ■ ju-t as the paternal and maternal in the Cods, are the peculiarities of divine « ssenci >. lor e\t n m partial animals nature does not constitute some of tin* paits on the right, and otln rs on the left hand, accord¬ in': to men* habitude, hut according to physical powers. Anil this is evident from her fashioning some ot the parts on one side, but others [dillereiil liom these on the other side ; and making this to be the principle of motion, but that not. 'Ibis brim: the case, \\ hat ought we tothink lonerrningthr tabrieation its' hot tilings * Js it that it exhibits one tiling on the ri”lit hand, but anotlu r on tin* left, according to habitude alone* Hut how is tins possible, if we admit that it produces by its verv existi in e that w liu b it piodui es, or that a iliv me soul is an essence exempt from every tiling wliieb introduces accidents * Or must we not assert, it this is granted, that tin* nature ol the lalun ation ol things is in a greater decree gene¬ rative of essence than a divine soul is* Hut as it appears to me, w« must say that this soul physically in si its in bodies the right band and the lell, and sus¬ pends from its' If m a gnat« r d. give the right band as the prim ipb* of motion Hence, by a much greater priorilv, it is lit that the maker ol soul should pro- dun both tin -e di miiirgii ally in binisi If, and the light hand an intake as it were of himself; and thus m tin* world, that the inerratic sphere shouhl be circuiil- volv d to the 11” III, but the plain I ary sphere to tile a It * the loriili r hav mg a piiin- ordial life, aenie ol power, and i tlieaeious «inrgy ; blit the latter b« in'; prolific and \ arioiis, and Irom another source than ilsrll iv< riv mg the principles ol nin- tioii, lb lu e aHo in the univi rse the ineiratic spin re lias dominion uv r all dungs, convolving all tilings accord 111*4 to one circle; but the planetary sphere is mul¬ tiform, and as we hav said, is tin* cause ol dilh n lire to generated naturi s. And the one is the mi 11, ol lilt' Heel, but the other ol soul ; for tin* circle ol tin sonic is intellei tual. I11 the soul of the univi rse however, the ri^lit hand is lli.it which is coiivcit'd to inti Ihgihl.s, to truly existing beings, and the (>ods: lor it is a power which tills the soul with di»ine lilt . Hut tin 1 » It hand is that which is converted to the care, and ordeily distriliiituni of setisibles: b»r it is a power, motive ol all '•■eondaiv nature*; and stdivertivc of iiiordiiiatioti. It also produces separation and v.iiii ty in dt miurgii works.
Farther still, the being convolved dumutricollu iiccorui/tg to the left /mini, may be s.ui! to i oiupn In nd the motion from the vvt >t to the east, and the motion to the obhtpic parts, thioi'gli tin; ohlnpiity [of tin zodiac]. Hut you may say that in the soul ISC If, tin cm W of diilcrcnce, being gnostic of all sensible natures, at once
tlOnK III.]
TIM/EUS OF 1*1,AT(>.
comprehends tlie cpjadniple order of things, through the four centres, ac¬ cording to which the visible motion of the bodies that revolve to the left hand and diametrically is effected ; just as the circle of the same, knows in— telligiblcs as primordial causes, as supernally unfolding all secotulary na¬ tures, and convolving according to one union the various order of sensibles. Again also, these things accede to the soul according to its similitude to the zr/iule vivificaticn For as the soul is a monad and duad according to this, so likewise it is allotted through it the right hand and the left. For in the vholc vivi/ication, these tilings first present themselves to the view, and are derived from it; one multitude being produced from the right hand, but another from the left hand parts, zchdhcr you call them head*, or hands, or intestines. For according to all these, theologists deliver to us the prolific powers of the Goddess. These things however being appropriately asserted, it is evident that it is not the same thing to say that a certain thing is moved on the right, or on the left hand, and that it is moved towards the right or the left hand parts. For the bitter of these assertions is attributed to tilings that are moved in a circle, manifesting that to be mou <i to the right hand parts is to be moved to that part to which the right band moves, and also that to be moved to the left band parti, is to lie moved to that part to which the left band moves. Since therefore, the right hand and the h it are called the east and the west through the before-mentioned causes, so that the lonner is the beginning of motion, hut the latter billows, and m a similar man¬ ner, the one being a power m the circle of the same, hut the other in the circle of the different, from which the motion of each is derived, the words “ towards the right and the left hand, are very projterly introduced by Plain. But to Ik* moved on the right hand or on the left, pertains to things that are moved in a right line, these being the boundaries * of the motions according to breadth. Hence ’1 imams, having before separated the six motions in a right line, from the motion in a circle, and lieginning in what is now said, from the soul, deservedly gives to it the difference of the millions towards the right and the left hand. And thus much concerning tlie^e motions.
Lot u>, however, consider the remaining opposition. For Tiimrus, as in the world, convolves the inerratic sphere according to the side,but the planetary sphere according to the diameter, just as in the soul he convolves the circle of the same laterally, hut the circle of the different diametrically. In the first place, therefore, this must he considered mathematically, by drawing in a quadrilateral figure a
1 i. f. To Ccrrs, or RSiea, who contains in her n»ht hand parts Juno tefou stain ofaoula, and m lirr left Vesta the fountain of virtue.
’ For wopa ra ot ra here, it is necessary to read wcpnra orrn.
Am. Plat. Vol. II.
PItOCLUS ON Till*'
diameter, and conceiting thnt the circle of the same,' is convolved according to the side, hut the c ircle of the different . according to the diameter of the figure. The quadrilateral figure, also, must Ik- adapted to the two circles, i. e. to the sum¬ mer and winter tropics; and we must conceit e, that they are moved with the motion towards tin* right hand parts, according to the two >ides which are simi¬ larly posited in hoth the circles ; and also that the nnddio or the circle of the jtfwu’j is united according to the gn atest of the two circ es, hut that the eucle ot the different, which is ohliqiiewith n fen-nee to hotli, is moved according to the diameter of this quadrilateral figure. For the oblique circle [i. e. tin* zodiac] is described about this, according to which all the period of the circle of the different is convolved.
Ideating however the mathematics, let us consider what the jiecuhanties are of the diameter and the side. For we shall find those of the latter to he, the unolr hque, the effahle, the comprehensive, and that which is connective of angles; hut on the contrary those of the former to he, obliquity, the irrational, the com¬ prehended, and that which divides angles. For according to all these \u culian- ties, the side difii-rs from the diameter. And llu-a* also are inherent in the cn- cles of the soul, l’or one ot flies** circles i-* all ed to simplicity, hound, and cud ; hut the other to variety, multitude, and the nature win* h possesses infinite power. The one likewise is connective, hut die other is the cause of division. And the .un¬ is allotted the dignity of comprehending, but the oilier that of bring comprehended. Hence the one is very prop* rly said to he convolved according to the side, as im¬ mutable, 1 as united, and as uniform ; hut tin* oilier according to tin: diameter, as rejoicing in progression, and multiplications, and as effective of dillereuce. For the diameter is greater in power than the side, divides the angles, makes many spaces from one, and is situated obliquely. Hence in what follows, Flato say s, that the lalion of the circ le ot the different is oblique. But a., t ie.->e partic » ais are indications of the nature of the infinite.
“ B u t he gave dominion to the circulation ot the same and similar. For lie suffered it alone to remain undivided.
Tins is the demiurgic sacred law, intelligibly proceeding from on high from in- telligibles; viz. that more simple should predominate over more various nature s,
* Tbt- circle of tfu tamt, is iu the universe the equinoctial circle; and the circle of Me tl.fltrtnt, •» ill* zodiac.
4 K. r ot tins place, read owa/uiAXa*xo».
TIM.IX'S OI FLAK).