Page:Works of Plato his first fifty-five dialogues (Taylor 1804) (Vol 2 of 5) (IA Vol2worksofplato00plat).pdf/425

 uſual with the Pythagoreans, previous to the tradition of a ſcientific doctrine, to preſent the reader with a manifeſtation of the propoſed inquiry, through ſimilitudes and images: but in the middle part the whole of Coſmogony is delivered; and towards the end, partial natures, and ſuch as are the extremities of fabrication, are wove together with wholes themſelves. For the repetition of the Republic, which had been ſo largely treated of before, and the Atlantic hiſtory, unfold through images the theory of the world. For, if we conſider the union and multitude of mundane natures, we muſt ſay, that the ſummary account of the Republic by Socrates, which eſtabliſhes as its end a communion pervading through the whole, is an image of its union; but that the battle of the Atlantics againſt the Athenians, which Critias relates, is an image of the diſtribution of the world, and eſpecially ſo according to the two coordinate oppoſitions of things. For, if we make a diviſion of the univerſe into celeſtial and ſublunary, we muſt ſay that the Republic is aſſimilated to the celeſtial diſtribution; Since Socrates himſelf aſſerts that its paradigm is eſtabliſhed in the heavens; but that the Atlantic war correſponds to generation, which ſubſiſts through contrariety and mutation. And ſuch are the particulars which precede the whole doctrine of phyſiology.

But after this the demiurgic, paradigmatic, and final cauſes of the univerſe are delivered; from the prior ſubſiſtence of which the univerſe is fabricated, both according to a whole and according to parts. For the corporeal nature of it is fabricated with forms and demiurgic ſections, and is diſtributed with divine numbers; and ſoul is produced from the demiurgus, and is filled with harmonic reaſons and divine and fabricative ſymbols. The whole mundane animal too is connected together, according to the united comprehenſion which ſubſiſts in the intelligible world; and the parts which it contains are distributed ſo as to harmonize with the whole, both ſuch as are corporeal and ſuch as are vital. For partial ſouls are introduced into its ſpacious receptacle, are placed about the mundane Gods, and become mundane through the luciform vehicles with which they are connected, imitating their presiding and leading Gods. Mortal animals too are fabricated and vivified by the celeſtial Gods; and prior to theſe, the formation of man is delivered as a