Page:The Golden verses of Pythagoras (IA cu31924026681076).pdf/158

 often called their Eons thus. According to Beausobre, the philosophers and theologians, seeking for terms in which to express incorporal substances, designated them by some one of their attributes or by some one of their operations, naming them Spirits, on account of the subtlety of their substance; Intelligences, on account of the thought; Words, on account of the reason; Angels, on account of their services; Eons, on account of their manner of subsisting, always equal, without change and without alteration. Pythagoras called them Gods, Heroes, Demons, relative to their respective elevation and the harmonious position of the three worlds which they inhabit. This cosmogonic ternary joined with Creative Unity, constitutes the famous Quaternary, or Sacred Tetrad, the subject of which will be taken up further on. 4. Be a good son, just brother, spouse tender, and good father.

The aim of the doctrine of Pythagoras was to enlighten men, to purify them of their vices, to deliver them from their errors, and to restore them to virtue and to truth; and after having caused them to pass through all the degrees of the understanding and intelligence, to render them like unto the immortal gods.

This philosopher had for this purpose divided his doctrine into two parts: the purgative part and the unitive, [Greek: Hêrôes], [Greek: Daimôn], whence they are derived, the Principle-Beings attained to perfection; the ruling Principle-Beings; Terrestrial Existences. The word [Greek: theos] is formed from the word [Phœn.: **] (aôs), a Principle-Being, preceded by the hemantique letter [Phœn.: **] ([Greek: th], th), which is the sign of perfection. The word is composed of the same word [Phœn.: **] (aôs), preceded by the word [Phœn.: **] (herr), expressing all that rules. The word [Greek: Daimôn] comes from the ancient word [Greek: Dêm], land, united with the word [Greek: ôn], existence.]