The philosophical and mathematical commentaries of Proclus on the first book of Euclid's elements (Vol. 1 of 2) : $b To which are added, A history of the restoration of Platonic theology, by the latter Platonists: And a translation from the Greek of Proclus's Theological elementsProclus
Philosophy
The philosophical and mathematical commentaries of Proclus on the first book of Euclid's elements (Vol. 1 of 2) : $b To which are added, A history of the restoration of Platonic theology, by the latter Platonists: And a translation from the Greek of Proclus's Theological elements
Proclus
Euclid. Elements; Platonists
_1. Four Hymns._ In the preceding life we are informed, by
Marinus, that Proclus composed many hymns, in which the divinities,
both of Greeks and Barbarians, were celebrated; but unfortunately there
are only four preserved, the first of which is to the Sun, the second
and third to Venus (which may be found in the Florilegium of Stobus, p.
249. edit. Grotii,) and the fourth to the Muses. They are collected by
Fabricius, in the eighth volume of his Bibliotheca Græca; and are most
happy specimens of philosophical poetry. Indeed, they bear most evident
marks of a mind full of divine light, and agitated with the fury of
the Muses; and possess all that elegance of composition for which the
writings of Proclus are so remarkable. So that it is very strange
Gyraldus should ascribe them to a Hierophant of Laodicæa, of that name;
since, as Fabricius observes, Suidas mentions other writings of this
priest, but does not speak of him as the author of any hymns. And if he
had, these hymns breathe too much of the spirit and manner of Proclus,
to be the production of any other.
_2. Two Books concerning the useful Parts of Learning, contained
in Grammar._ Three books on this subject are mentioned by Suidas,
and four by Photius; but there are alone extant fragments of two,
in the Bibliotheca of Photius; which were published separate by
Andrew Schottus, at the end of the syntax of Apollonius Alexandrinus,
Francof. 1590. Hanov. 1615. quarto. It appears from these extracts,
that Proclus, in this work, not only treats of every kind of verse, but
also of the more celebrated poets. And hence Fabricius conjectures,
that the short life of Homer, which Leo Allatius published under the
name of Proclus, was taken from the first book of this Chrestomathia.
_3. Eighteen Arguments against the Christians._ The learned Cave,
was egregiously mistaken, in supposing that this work, as well as the
answer to it by Philoponus, is lost; not considering, probably, that
these arguments in defence of the world’s eternity are (as Fabricius
well observes) directly against one of the Christian dogmata, the
creation of the world. These arguments (except the first, which is
lost,) are preserved in the answer of Philoponus; the Greek edition of
which was published at Venice, in 1535, folio; and in Latin from the
version of Joh. Mahatius, at Lyons, 1557. folio. Simplicius, in his
commentaries on the first book of Aristotle de Cœlo, and elsewhere,
opposes this work of Philoponus; at the same time, suppressing
his name. The arguments are, in my opinion, extremely subtle, and
unanswerable; and Philoponus, in his refutation, every where discovers,
that he has by no means fathomed the depth of our philosopher.
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