It is retpiisite however, fnmi wli.tf hits lx-«-n s.ud, to collect tins one thing, that tin; fixed stars, according to Plato, are sii|w*rior to the planets, not only in place, hnl also in dignity. I or ul tin: former he stys, “ that the Deunurgus placid them m the xrisdnni of the circle (J the stum , hut of the latti r, “ that tin 1 hmiurgusplaced them in the circulations, made bp the pi rad of the aide of the different so that the former alone live in conjunction with the intelh < tual life of the circle of the same, hut the latter with the revolution of the cin le of the different. For this is entirely the case vvith the latter, because they arc convolved in conjunction with the in- crralic sphere in the same uiauiicr as the lived stars, hut lhc\ ate also convolved together with the period' of the circh of the different. If therefore, the former immediately participate of a more divine life, hut the latter through the medium of .in inferior life, it necessarily follows, that the former are of a superior, hut the latti r of a .subordinate dignity. Hence it se< ms, if it he requisite to infer any thin" from these things, that the souls of the fixed stars, though they have both the circles ; hut they have both, liecatiso our souls also, as Plato says, have the circle of the same, and the circle of the diff a cut ; yet they live more according to the former circle, and on this account, live in a greater degree in conjunction with the circle which resembles that of the whole soul of the universe. But the souls of the planets, live in a gn ater degree according to the latter circle. Hence, also their bodies are moved with various motions, and are inserted in the revolutions of the circle id the different. These inferences likewise, may he reasonably made by those, who look to the motions of them alone, wliiih h the peculiarity of the physical theory'. Thus ton, the [Chaldean] tlu-urgiM .luliau] teaching us con- cerning the wisdom of the fixed stars and the planets, say> of tin: fabrication of the fixed stars: “The father established the numerous multitude of inerratic stars, not by a laborious and evil tension, but so as ilitf tin y might be moved’ with a stability void of a wandering motion.’' But by the word established, the theurgist manifests a motion in the same, and according to the same things. And concerning the planets he sa\s, “ 'Flic father made the planeLs six in imml^A
that all tlie other mundane Coni* subsist m ilic twelve atiovc mentioned, ami that the first triad of these is drmitngic or Jabriratirr, via. Jupiter, Neptune, Vulr.»ii; the second, Vesta, Minerva, Mars, itrfrmire ; the third, Ceres Juno, Ihana, rirific ; and the fourth. Mercury, Venus. Apollo, rlrrattns and harmonic: — I say, if we unite this with the preceding theory, there i-» nothin*; in the* ancient theology that will not appear admirably sublime and brautifully connected, accurate in all its parts, scientific, and dirine. J
* Instead of w»j£o hr -Xar«j*> mi* rycviry ypupfr** 10 tin* place, il is requisite to read, conformably to the collection of the Chaldean Oracles by Patrkius, wigjj ht irXai ijr ovk ^rptaOae.
1’Uoclus on the
and for tli£ seventh, he hurled into the midst the tire of the sun ; suspending their disorderly motion in orderly disposed zones.” C tiling the anomalous nature of their motions, disorderly ; hut the motion which predominates over the zones in which the\ are arranged, orderly disposed ; represi ntmg to us tlie circumduction ot disorder into order. For they an; not moved anomalously through imbecility, like inanimate natures, hut through the will of the powers that preside over them. He also exhibits to us their different intellections which he calls zones, through the order in which the) are arranged. And he says that the apparent irregularity’ of their bodies, is circularly led by them to an appropriate order, in consequence of preserving eac h ot them by then pow« i s.
“Hut he machinated Kailli our nurse; who being eonglobctl about the pole, which is extended through the universe, is the guardian and Deiniup r us ot night and dav, and is the first and most ancient of the Gods 1 that were* generated within the heavens.”
The physiology concerning the earth is proximatcly connected with the dis cussion ol the motion of tin st irs; not that I'ima-us now first produces it through these, for he had already constituted it, when he represented the world as con¬ sisting of the whole elements, both the extreme and the middle; blit because the consideration of the eaitli contributes to the discussion ot the progression of the planets and fixed stars "f time, and the t< inporal p« liods, as it was generated the "uardian of night and dav. Fur all he uni dances round, and circularly revolves about it,,and as ranking among physical budn >, it is the c» litre ot the universe. For the impartible centre is one thing, as in the most true sphere, vvhii li compre¬ hends on all sides that which is physical, which also is the power of the sphere, havin ,r an arrangement analogous to the poles; and the physical centre is anollii r, which nature estahlisl ed m the middle, about whii h all the stars are moved in a circle, and to which tin v transmit their energies, and which also we say is the earth Hence, l’lato having spoken concerning the circulation of the heave nly bodies, very properly conjoins with vvliat lias been said, the discussion of the
* For evr«£ia*hcrc, it is nece'»ar> In read arajiai.
* The IV 11 >oi>1, amt therefore I so]>|>ose all the editions of l*l.ilo, have here erroneously ou/iurwv instead of tttun. The maiiiistnpt liunmr, from ninth Fieinus made his translation of the T.mails had the light reading in this plate. For his version of this part is, “ Terrain autem altmein nostraiu, tired pulum per uimersum extensuoi alligalani, diei nottisque effect ricem et ciiMothm ioi toluit, necuonprmiiiiu dntuiuissiuianit|ue tltornru oiiimuin qu» intra ctrlum sunt genili.
cOi'K IV.]
IIM/EIS or PLATO.
earth. Farther still, according to another inode, the nature of the earth has the relation of a mother, to the eeh stial order. For such things as Heaven produces paternally, Earth produces maternally. For all the meteors, through which the circle of •generation is effected,' derive their subsistence from Heaven, as from a father, who governs smicrnnllv everv material and Honing essence, but from Earth as from a mother. For she adonis matter for exhalations, from the sub¬ stances which flow together into her, just as Heaven imparts to them form and morphe. Through this cause therefore, Plato very properly co-arrangcs the discussion of the earth with that of the heavens, looking to the nature itself of things, the concord and communion of the two, and surveying their kindred conjunction in their principles. Moreover, through the order of liis discussion, he make s the power of analogy to lie manifest in reality; by assuming the dis¬ course alumt the planets in the lirst place; and in the middle, and delivering the discussion of Earth, prior to that of other sublunary daemons. For thus the extremes become the first and the middle, and again, the media are transferred into the order of the extremes : but analogy is especially adapted to accomplish this. According to all modes therefore, the physiology of the Earth is connas- cont with the theory of the Heavens. And thus much concerning the order of the
discussion.
\\ hat however is Earth, whence does she proceed, how is she said to 1 m* our nurse, and how is she the most ancient and first of the (bids ? For it we shall l»e able to understand these things, we shall obtain the theory concerning her sufficiently for the present purpose. Earth then proceeds primarily from the intelligible earth which unically comprehends all the intelligible orders of the Gods, and is eternally established in the father.* It also proceeds from the in¬ tellectual Earth which is co-arranged with Heaven, and all the productions of which it rec< ives. Eor being analogous to these, it also abides perpetually as in the 'centre of the heavens, and being contained on all sides by them, is lull of generative power, and demiurgic perfection. The true earth therefore, is neither this corporeal-fonued and gross hulk; for it will not he the most ancient of the Gods from its bulk, nor the lir^t of the Gods that are arranged within the heavens; nor is it the soul of this body ; for it would not lie, as I*lato says it is, extended about the pole of the universe, since not the soul, but the body of the earth is a thing of this kind ; but if it Ik* necessary'to speak what is most true concerning it.
1 For * -ruroXriToi here, it n nrrmar\ to road iwi^iroi.
* \ is. »n <lh(r or bc*nd, the *nmniitnf thr iiili lloililc triad.
[llUUK I'
it i* an animal consisting of a divine soul, and a living body. Hence the whole is, as Plato says, an animal. For there are in it an immaterial and separate in¬ tellect ; a divine soul dancing round this intellect ; an ethereal ImmIv proximately suspended from its informing soul; and in the last place this visible bulk, which is on all sides inspired with life bv the vehii le 1 of this soul, with which also Ireing tilled, it generates and nourishes all-various animals. For some animals* un¬ rooted in it, but others are moved about it. And this likew ise, Aristotle perceiv¬ ing, was a-hann-d not to give to the earth a natural life. For whence is it that plants while they remain in the earth live, but when divulx-il from it die, unless > this earthly mass was full id life 1 It is necessary also to assume universally, that I wholes are animated prior to parts. For it would In- ridiculous that man indeed -hould participate o< a rational soul and of intellect, but that no soul should be : assigned to the earth and the air, .supernallv riding in [as it were] and governing tin elements, anil preserving them in their proper boundaries. For wholes, as Theophrastus savs, would have less authority than parts, and perpetual than corruptible nature-, if they were destitute of soul. Hence, it is necessary to grant
I that a soul and an intellect are in the earth ; the former causing it to be prolific, but the latter connect! dly containing it in tin* middle of the uiiive rse.
Farth lu i>c If then fore, being a divine annual, is also a plenitude of intellectual ami p-M local essences, and of immaterial powers. For if a partial soul has besides » material bodv an immaterial vehicle as we have elsewhere .shown, what ouuhl we to think of a soul so divine as that of the earth ? Is it not, that by a imicli greater priorilv visible bodies are suspended from this soul through other vehic les as media, and that through these the visible bodies are able to receive the illumina¬ tion- of soul T Such then being the nature of Farth herself, she is said to be our nurse ; in the first place indeed, as possessing a powe r in a certain respec t equi¬ valent to Heaven. l or as that comprehends in itself divine animals, thus also Earth l- sec n to contain terrestrial animals. But in the second plac e, she is our nurse, as inspiring our lives from her own proper life. For she not only produces | fruit-, and nourishes our bodies through the se, but she also tills our souls with the I illuminations of her-elf. For being a divine animal, mid ge nerating ns who are partial animals, through her own body indeed, she nourishes and connec tedly contains our bulk; but from lur own soul perfects ours. By her uwn intellect likewise, she excites the intellect which is in us; and thus according to the whole
' Instead of cr^ij/iaroi here, il is necessarv to read oj^iuroc.
* tor accord mg to Pkito, plants also, as having life, arc animals.
iu'uk is.) OF PLATO.