The conjunction of the planets mentioned in the above extract, is admirably elucidated by Olympiodorus in his MS. Scholia on the Gorgias of Plato, as follows: “There are seven spheres, that of the moon, that of the sun, and those of the other planets; but the inerratic is the eighth sphere. The lunar sphere, therefore, makes a complete revolution more swiftly, for it is accomplished in thirty days. That of the sun is more slow, for it is accomplished in a year. That of Jupiter is still slower, for it is effected in twelve years. And much more that of Saturn, for it is completed in thirty years. The stars, therefore, are not conjoined with each other in their revolutions, except rarely. Thus, for instance, the sphere of Saturn and the sphere of Jupiter are conjoined with each other in their revolutions in sixty years. For if the sphere of Jupiter comes from the same to the same in twelve years, but that of Saturn in thirty years, it is evident that when Jupiter has made five, Saturn will have made two revolutions; for twice thirty is sixty, and so likewise is twelve times five; so that their revolutions will be conjoined in sixty years. Souls, therefore, are punished for such-like periods. _But the seven planetary spheres conjoin their revolutions with the inerratic sphere, through many myriads of years_; and this is the period which Plato calls τον αει χρονον, _for ever_.”—See the Introduction to the volume of my Aristotle, which contains a translation of Aristotle’s treatise on the Soul, &c. &c. FOOTNOTES: [47] For ισομερικον here, it is obviously necessary to read ισημερινον. It must also be observed that there are two equinoctial points or signs, and these are Aries and Libra. [48] See my explanation of this perfect, which is also called the geometric number, in p. 150 of my Theoretic Arithmetic. [49] i. e. material dæmons, or θηρες χθονος, _the wild beasts of the earth_, as they are called in the Chaldean oracles. [50] i. e. the whole choir of beneficent natures superior to man. But by _the depression of the heads of the sacred birds_, the inaptitude of persons and places to receive divine influence is denoted. [51] Instead of ει δη γενεσις εν τοις περι ἡμας, αιτια γενεσεως εν τοις ὑπερ ἡμας, it is necessary to read, conformably to the above translation, ει δη γενεσεως εν τοις περι ἡμας, αιτια γινεται, κ. τ. λ. [52] i. e. restitutions to a pristine form or condition.