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
What has been above delivered concerning the mundane Gods is perfectly
conformable to the doctrine of Plato, as delivered by him in the
Timæus, in the speech[71] of the demiurgus to the junior Gods. For it
is there said, “When, therefore, all such Gods as visibly revolve,
and all such as become apparent when they please, were generated, he
who fabricated this universe thus addressed them: Gods of Gods, of
whom I am the demiurgus and father, whatever is generated by me is
indissoluble, such being my will in its fabrication. Indeed every thing
which is bound is dissoluble; but to be willing to dissolve that which
is beautifully harmonized and well composed is the property of an evil
nature. Hence, so far as you are generated, you are not immortal, nor
in every respect indissoluble, yet you shall never be dissolved, nor
become subject to the fatality of death; my will being a much greater
and more excellent bond than the vital connectives with which you were
bound at the commencement of your generation. Learn now, therefore,
what I say to you indicating my desire. Three genera of mortals yet
remain to be produced. Without the generation of these, therefore,
the universe will be imperfect; for it will not contain every kind of
animal in its spacious extent. But it ought to contain them, that it
may be sufficiently perfect. Yet if these are generated and participate
of life through me they will become equal to the Gods. That mortal
natures, therefore, may subsist, and that the universe may be truly
all, convert yourselves according to your nature to the fabrication
of animals, imitating the power which I employed in your generation.
And whatever among these is of such a nature as to deserve the same
appellation with immortals, which is called divine, obtains sovereignty
in them, and willingly pursues justice and reverences you,--of this
I myself will deliver the seed and beginning. It is your business
to accomplish the rest; to weave together the mortal and immortal
nature; by this mean fabricating and generating animals, causing them
to increase by supplying them with nutriment, and receiving them back
again when dissolved by corruption.”
As the commentary of Proclus on this speech most admirably unfolds
its recondite meaning, and is at the same time replete with the most
interesting information respecting the mundane Gods, I shall give the
following extracts from it, in which the most magnificent exuberance of
diction is combined with the greatest fecundity and scientific accuracy
of conception.