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
Plato · en
separate and apart from those who were estranged from their ceremonies
and manner of living. He adds, they are always seen employed among the
resemblances of the gods, either carrying their images, or preceding
them in their accustomed processions, and disposing them with gravity
of deportment, and in a graceful order. In all which operations
they did not indicate any pride of disposition; but exhibited some
particular natural reason. But their gravity was conspicuous from their
habit; for when they walked, their pace was equable, and their aspect
so perfectly steady, that they refrained from winking whenever they
pleased. Their risibility too, extended no farther than to a smile.
But their hands were always contained within their garments; and as
there were many orders of priests, every one carried about him some
remarkable symbol of the order he was allotted in sacred concerns.
Their sustenance too was slender and simple; and with respect to wine,
some of them entirely refrained from it; and others drank it very
sparingly, affirming that it hurt the nerves, was an impediment to the
invention of things, and an incentive to venereal desires. They also
abstained from many other things, never using bread in exercises of
purity; and if they ate it at other times, it was first cut in pieces,
and mingled with hyssop. But they abstained, for the most part, from
oil, and when they used it mixt with olives, it was only in small
quantities, and as much as was sufficient to mitigate the taste of the
herbs.