“Hence,” Proclus adds, “these things being thus determined, let us physically adapt them to the words of Plato. We call a [physical] plane or superficies, therefore, that which has two powers only, but a [physical] solid that which has three powers. And we say, that if we fashion bodies from two powers, one medium would conjoin the elements to each other. But since, as we assert, bodies possess triple powers, they are bound together by two media. For there are two common powers of the adjacent media, and one power which is different. And the extremes themselves, if they consisted of two powers, would be conjoined through one medium. For let fire, if you will, be alone attenuated and easily moved; but earth, on the contrary, have alone grossness of parts and immobility. One medium, therefore, will be sufficient for these. For grossness of parts and facility of motion, and tenuity of parts and difficulty of motion, are all that is requisite to the colligation of both. Since, however, each of the elements is triple, the extremes require two media, and the things themselves that are adjacent are bound together through two powers. For solids, and these are things that have triple contrary powers, are never co-adapted by one medium.” FOOTNOTES: [26] For το εναντιωτατα here, read τα εναντιωτατα, and for τῳ θερμον τῳ ψυχρῳ, read το θερμον, κ. τ. λ. [27] For απηρτημενα in this place, I read διῃρημενα. [28] For μιαν here, it is obviously necessary to read ἑκατεραν. [29] For ὑπατικον in this place, read ὑπακτικον. [30] Instead of ακινητον here, it is necessary to read ευκινητον. FRAGMENTS OF TAURUS, A PLATONIC PHILOSOPHER, ON THE ETERNITY OF THE WORLD. EXTRACTED FROM PHILOPONUS AGAINST PROCLUS.