[53] Proclus, finding that this was partially the case in his time, says prophetically, in the Introduction to his Commentary on the Parmenides of Plato, Τουτον εγω φαιην αν τυπον φιλοσοφιας εις ανθρωπους ελθειν επ’ ευεργεσια των τηδε ψυχων, αντι των αγαλματων, αντι των ἱερων, αντι της ὁλης αγιστειας αυτης, και σωτηριας αρχηγον τοις γε νυν ουσιν ανθρωποις, και τοις εισαυθις γενησομενοις. i. e. “With respect to this form of philosophy [viz. of the philosophy of Plato], I should say that it came to men for the benefit of terrestrial souls; _that it might be instead of statues, instead of temples, instead of the whole of sacred institutions, and the leader of salvation both to the men that now are, and to those that shall exist hereafter_.” [54] i. e. evil dæmons. [55] By the _geniture of the world_, the greater _apocatastasis_ is signified, as is evident from the preceding extract from Julius Firmicus. [56] i. e. a mundane period being finished. [57] See the Introduction to my Translation of the Timæus of Plato. [58] Traité de l’Astronomie Indienne et Orientale, par Monsieur Bailly, published in 1787. SELECT THEOREMS IN PROOF OF THE PERPETUITY OF TIME, AND OF THAT WHICH IS NATURALLY MOVED WITH A CIRCULAR MOTION. EXTRACTED FROM THE SECOND BOOK OF PROCLUS ON MOTION. HYPOTHESES. Every natural body is moveable according to place. Every local motion is either in a circle, or in a right line, or mixed from these. Every natural body is moved according to one of these motions. Every natural body is either simple or compounded. Every simple motion is the motion of a simple[59] body. Every simple body is moved with one motion according to nature. DEFINITIONS. That is heavy which is moved towards the middle. That is light which is moved from the middle. That is said to be moved in a circle which is continually borne from the same to the same. Contrary motions are from contraries to contraries. One motion is contrary to one. Time is the number of the motion of the celestial bodies. The motion is one which is without difference according to species, and belongs to one subject, and is produced in a continued time. THEOREM 1. Things which are naturally moved in a circle are simple. _Demonstration._—Let AB be that which is naturally moved in a circle. I say that AB is simple: for, since the motion in a circle is a simple motion; but every simple motion is the motion of a simple body; hence AB is a simple body. Things, therefore, which are naturally moved in a circle are simple. THEOREM 2. Things naturally moved in a circle, are neither the same with those moved in a right line, nor with those which are composed from things moved in a right line.