The six books of Proclus, the Platonic successor, on the theology of Plato (vol. 1 of 2) : $b translated from the Greek, to which a seventh book is added, in order to supply the deficiency of another book on this subject, which was written by Proclus, but since lost, also, a translation from the Greek of Proclus' Elements of theology, to which are added a translation of the treatise of Proclus, On providence and fate, a translation of extracts from his treatise, entitled, Ten doubts concerning — Plato — John Shaqi
The six books of Proclus, the Platonic successor, on the theology of Plato (vol. 1 of 2) : $b translated from the Greek, to which a seventh book is added, in order to supply the deficiency of another book on this subject, which was written by Proclus, but since lost, also, a translation from the Greek of Proclus' Elements of theology, to which are added a translation of the treatise of Proclus, On providence and fate, a translation of extracts from his treatise, entitled, Ten doubts concerning
Plato · en
What therefore remains after this? Is it not evident that it is the
multitude of the mundane Gods? But this also is twofold, the one being
celestial, but the other sublunary. Of these, therefore, the genus
which revolves in the heavens, proceeds together with the equal, the
greater and the less. But in the sublunary genus the equal is allotted
a difference in multitude from the celestial equality, but the unequal
is again divided by the power of the more and the less. According to
another genus therefore of the divine orders, there will be a monad
and a duad, but above indeed, they are allied to _the one_ and to
sameness, and beneath to multitude, and the intellectual cause of
difference. Hence _the one_ transcends all these. For the equal indeed
every where consists of the same parts. By what contrivance therefore
is it possible that the nature which at one and the same time is exempt
from sameness, and the difference which is associated with it, should
participate of equality and inequality?
Besides all these divine orders therefore we must intellectually survey
the genera of deified souls, and which are distributed about the
Gods. For in each of the divine progressions and in the progressions
also of souls, the first genus presents itself to the view connascent
with the Gods; since both in the heavens, and in the sublunary region
divine souls receive the division of the Gods into the world, as the
Athenian Guest in a certain place demonstrates. The psychical extent
therefore, is characterized by time, and by a life according to time.
But the peculiarity of divine souls is shown by Parmenides to consist
in their being younger and at the same time older both than themselves
and other things. For revolving always according to the same time, and
conjoining the beginning with the end, as at one and the same time
proceeding to the end of the whole period they become younger, but
as at the same time circulating to the beginning of it, they become
older. All their ages however, perpetually preserve the same measures
of time. Again, there is sameness in them and difference, the former
indeed preserving equality, but the latter inequality, according to
time. _The one_ therefore subsists prior to divine souls, and generates
these also together with the Gods. We now therefore come to the end of
the whole distribution of more excellent natures; and the cause of all
intelligibles at once unfolds into light the genera that follow the
Gods, and that are triply divided by the three parts of time. But this
cause is demonstrated by the intellectual projections of Parmenides
to be also exempt from these. For that which is beyond all time and
the life which is according to time, can by no contrivance become
subservient to the more partial periods of time.