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 — John Shaqi
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
Moreover, the Gods who are secondary to the demiurgus, have not a
unical dominion over wholes as he has, nor do they antecedently assume
the beginnings, middles and ends of all beings. But some of them
indeed, preside over partial natures totally, as these three fathers;
but others preside over wholes partibly, as those who pour upon all
things the rivers of life, in a divided manner; and others preside over
parts partibly, as the last of the demiurgi, and who are conversant
with the world. The one and impartible demiurgus of wholes therefore,
alone comprehends in himself, the beginning, middle, and end of all
beings, and equally rules over all secondary natures according to one
cause. But Justice follows him, bounding the desert of the whole of
things, and circumscribing each thing in its proper limits. And these
things the Athenian guest manifests in the above-mentioned words; but
Orpheus clearly refers them to the whole demiurgus. For he says that
total Justice follows him, now reigning over, and beginning to arrange
and adorn the universe.
Justice th’ abundant punisher of crimes,
Aid and defence of all things, follows Jove.
Moreover, that Jupiter comprehends the beginnings, middles and ends of
wholes, the theologist says, in addition to these things,
Jove’s the beginning, and the middle’s Jove,
And all things flow from Jove’s prolific mind.
And it appears to me that Plato looking to all the Grecian theology,
and particularly to the Orphic-mystic discipline says, that God,
according to the ancient assertion, possesses the beginning, middle,
and end of all things, bounding the whole of things in a direct path,
and proceeding circularly according to nature, and that he has Justice
for his attendant, through which every thing that departs from the
providential empire of Jupiter is converted to it, and obtains an
appropriate end. Through these things therefore, we have reminded the
reader, that the Athenian guest also looking to the whole demiurgus,
proclaims things of this kind to his pupils. If however, these things
are rightly determined, it is indeed entirely necessary to exempt the
one demiurgus, according to essence, from these three [demiurgi]. For
if one of them indeed, comprehends the beginnings of every thing in
the world, but another the middles, and another, every where convolves
the ends, is it not necessary that he who uniformly rules over the
universe, should be established above divided causes? But, the Athenian
guest gives to him a power generative of this triad [of demiurgi].
For if he comprehends the beginnings, middles, and ends of the whole
of things, according to the primary cause indeed, he generates the
demiurgus, who arranges and adorns first natures; but according to
middle causes, the demiurgus who gives completion to the middle
boundaries of fabrication; and according to the end, the demiurgus who
adapts an appropriate production to the last of things.