The six books of Proclus, the Platonic successor, on the theology of Plato (vol. 2 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 p
Plato · en
“From discoursing about king Apollo, Plato proceeds to the Muses, and
the name of music; for Apollo is celebrated as Musagetes, or the leader
of the Muses. And he indeed is a monad with respect to the harmony
in the world; but the choir of the Muses is the monad of all the
number of the ennead (i.e. nine): From both likewise the whole world
is bound in indissoluble bonds, and is one and all-perfect, through
the communications of these divinities; possessing the former through
the Apolloniacal monad, but its all-perfect subsistence through the
number of the Muses. For the number nine which is generated from the
first perfect number (that is 3) is, through similitude and sameness,
accommodated to the multiform causes of the mundane order and harmony;
all these causes at the same time being collected into one summit for
the purpose of producing one consummate perfection. For the Muses
generate the variety of reasons with which the world is replete; but
Apollo comprehends in union all the multitude of these. And the Muses
give subsistence to the harmony of soul; but Apollo is the leader of
intellectual and impartible harmony. The Muses distribute the phænomena
according to harmonical reasons; but Apollo comprehends unapparent and
separate harmony. And though both give subsistence to the same things,
yet the Muses effect this according to number, but Apollo according
to union. And the Muses indeed distribute the unity of Apollo;
but Apollo unites harmonic multitude, which he also converts and
comprehends. For the multitude of the Muses proceeds from the essence
of _Musagetes_, which is both separate, and subsists according
to the nature of _the one_; and their number evolves the one and
primary cause of the harmony of the universe.
That such being the etymology of the name of the Muses, since Plato
calls philosophy the greatest music, as causing our psychical powers
to be moved harmoniously, in symphony with real beings, and in
conformity to the orderly motions of the celestial orbs; and since the
investigation of our own essence and that of the universe leads us to
this harmony, through a conversion to ourselves and more excellent
natures,--hence also we denominate the Muses from investigation. For
Musagetes himself unfolds truth to souls, according to one intellectual
simplicity; but the Muses perfect our various energies elevating them
to an intellectual unity. For investigations have the relation of
matter, with reference to the end from invention; just as multitude
with respect to _the one_, and variety with respect to simplicity.
We know therefore, that the Muses impart to souls the investigation of
truth, to bodies the multitude of powers, and that they are every where
the sources of the variety of harmonies.