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
Since therefore, as we have before observed, there are twelve leaders
of all the mundane Gods, of all dæmons, and farther still, of such
partial souls as are able to be extended to the intelligible, again
in this dodecad, the mighty Jupiter and Vesta are allotted the more
ruling order. But the principality of the rest is co-arranged with
these, and has a secondary dignity. And Jupiter indeed, being neither
the intellect of the universe, as some say he is, nor the intellect
in the sun, nor in short, any one of mundane intellects or souls, but
being expanded above all these, and pre-existing among the liberated
Gods, elevates the choir of Gods, and of the genera superior to us that
follow him, and imparts paternal goodness to the multitude converted to
him. But he is the leader of all the other numbers that terminate under
the twelve Gods. Again however, Vesta indeed governs an appropriate
multitude, but she neither has the order of the first soul, nor is that
which is called the earth in the universe. But prior to these, she is
allotted a ruling power among the supercelestial Gods. She imparts
however, her own peculiarity to the numbers of the other leaders, in
the same manner as Jupiter. For the leaders that are suspended from the
decad, participate also of these two monads.
Jupiter however, being indeed the cause of motion is the leader to all
things of a progression to the intelligible. But Vesta illuminates
all things with stable[54] and inflexible power; though Jupiter also
abiding in himself, is thus elevated to the intelligible place of
survey; and Vesta on account of an inflexible and undefiled permanency
in herself, is conjoined to the first causes. The emission however of
a different peculiarity, affords the difference of dominion. For since
there are twofold conversions in the Gods (for all things are converted
to themselves and to their principles) each form of conversion indeed,
was impartibly in king Saturn. For according to Parmenides he is
demonstrated to be in himself, and in another. And the latter indeed,
pertains to a conversion to a more excellent nature, but the former
implies a conversion to himself. In the secondary however, and more
partial Gods, both these forms shine forth in a divided manner. And
Vesta indeed, imparts to the mundane Gods an undefiled establishment
in themselves; but Jupiter imparts to them an elevating motion to
first natures. For Vesta belongs to the undefiled, but Jupiter to
the paternal series; but they are divided by a subsistence in self,
and a subsistence in another, as we have before observed. It must
be said therefore, that every thing stable and immutable, and which
possesses an invariable sameness of subsistence, arrives to all mundane
natures from the supercelestial Vesta, and that on this account all
the poles are immoveable, and the axes about which the circulations
of the spheres convolve themselves. It must also be said, that the