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
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themselves to an appropriate place, themselves moving themselves.
And through deliberate choice, indeed, they act erroneously and with
rectitude; but through law they distribute to themselves an order
adapted to their former conduct.
in the last place with respect to Fortune, it is necessary to observe
that Plato does not assert as the Stoics do, that the worthy man has
no need of the assistance of this divinity; but he is of opinion that
the energies of our reasoning power, since according to their external
progression they are complicated with corporeal energies, require the
inspiration of good Fortune, in order that they may be prosperous and
benefit others. Hence in the Timæus and the Parmenides, the persons of
the dialogues are represented as meeting together through a certain
good Fortune. And in the Laws he says, that God, and after God,
Fortune and Time govern all human affairs. “Fortune, therefore,” says
Proclus,[174] “and her gifts, are not things destitute of design and
indefinite; but she is a power collective of many dispersed causes, and
which adorns things disordered, and gives completion to the allotments
assigned to every thing from the universe.” According to Sallust in his
elegant treatise On the Gods and the World, “Fortune must be considered
as a power of the Gods, disposing things differing from each other, and
happening contrary to expectation, to beneficent purposes.” He adds,
“On this account it is proper that cities should celebrate this Goddess
in common; since every city is composed of different particulars. But
this Goddess holds her dominion in sublunary concerns, since every
thing fortuitous is excluded from the regions above the moon.”