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
“Homer, also, when energizing enthusiastically, represents Jupiter
speaking, converting to himself the two-fold co-ordinations of Gods;
becoming himself, as it were, the centre of all the divine genera in
the world, and making all things obedient to his intellection. But
at one time he conjoins the multitude of Gods with himself without a
medium, and at another through Themis as the medium.
But Jove to Themis gives command to call
The Gods to council.
“This Goddess pervading everywhere collects the divine number, and
converts it to the demiurgic monad. For the Gods are both separate
from mundane affairs, and eternally provide for all things, being at
the same time exempt from them through the highest transcendency, and
extending their providence everywhere. For their unmingled nature
is not without providential energy, nor is their providence mingled
with matter. Through transcendency of power they are not filled
with the subjects of their government, and through beneficent will,
they make all things similar to themselves; in permanently abiding,
proceeding, and in being separated from all things, being similarly
present to all things. Since, therefore, the Gods that govern the
world, and the dæmons the attendants of these, receive after this
manner unmingled purity, and providential administration from their
father; at one time he converts them to himself without a medium, and
illuminates them with a separate, unmingled, and pure form of life.
Whence also I think he orders them to be separated from all things,
to remain exempt in Olympus, and neither convert themselves to Greeks
nor Barbarians; which is just the same as to say, that they must
transcend the two-fold orders of mundane natures, and abide immutably
in undefiled intellection. But at another time he converts them to a
providential attention to secondary natures, through Themis, and calls
upon them to direct the mundane battle, and excites different Gods
to different works. These divinities, therefore, especially require
the assistance of Themis, who contains in herself the divine laws,
according to which providence is intimately connected with wholes.
Homer, therefore, divinely delivers two-fold speeches, accompanying
the two-fold energies of Jupiter; but Plato, through this one speech,
comprehends those two-fold modes of discourse. For the Demiurgus
renders the Gods unmingled with secondary natures, and causes them to
provide for, and give existence to, mortals. But he orders them to
fabricate in imitation of himself: and in an injunction of this kind,
both these are comprehended, viz. the unmingled through the imitation
of the father, for he is separate, being exempt from mundane wholes;
but providential energy, through the command to fabricate, nourish, and
increase mortal natures. Or rather, we may survey both in each; for
in imitating the demiurgus, they provide for secondary natures, as he
does for the immortals; and in fabricating they are separate from the