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
Moreover, if eternity has the same ratio to intelligible animal, which
time has to that which is sensible, but the universe proximately
participates of time (for time was generated together with the
universe) it is certainly necessary that animal itself should
primarily participate of eternity. Eternity therefore is beyond the
first paradigm. For eternity indeed measures the existence of animal
itself: but animal itself is measured and filled with perpetuity
from it. To which may be added, that we assert eternity to be the
cause of immortality to all things. Hence eternity is that which is
primarily immortal. For as that which is primarily being is the cause
of existence to all things, but that which is effective of form is
itself prior to other forms, so that which is the cause of perpetuity
and immortality, is itself primarily immortal. The dæmoniacal Aristotle
also rightly calls eternity immortal and divine, and that from whence
the existence and life of all things are suspended. If however it is
that which is primarily immortal, and not according to participation,
but is as it were immortality and perpetuity, it will be life,
possessing from itself the ever, and exuberantly scattering the power
of perpetuity, and extending it to other things, so far as each is
naturally adapted to receive it. For the immortal is in life, and
subsists together with life. Hence Socrates in the Phædo,[189] after
many and beautiful demonstrations of the psychical immortality, says,
“God therefore, my dear Cebes, and the form itself of life, are much
more immortal.” Hence, intelligible life, and the God who is connective
of this life, primarily possess the immortal, and are the fountain of
the whole of perpetuity. But this is eternity. Eternity therefore has
its subsistence in life, and will be established in the middle of the
intelligible order.