Page:Works of Plato his first fifty-five dialogues (Taylor 1804) (Vol 2 of 5) (IA Vol2worksofplato00plat).pdf/431

 INTRODUCTION TO THE TIMiEUS.

421

fore, is very properly ſaid to be generated, at the fame time that this gene¬ ration is perpetual ; becaufe, on account of its divifibility and extenfion, it alone derives its exiftence from an external caufe : likewife, becaufe it is a compofite, and becaufe it is not at once wholly that which it is, but poflefles its being in continual generation.

This body, too, on account of the perpe¬

tuity of its duration, though this is nothing more than a flowing eternity, may be very properly called a whole with a total fubfiftence : for every thing endued with a total fubfiftence is eternal ; and this may be truly aflerted of the body of the world, when we confider that its being is co-extended with the infinite progreffions of time.

Hence, this divine or celeftial body

may be properly called oMg oXixug, or a whole totally, juft as the limb of an animal is yspog fMpntug, or a Jiart partially.

But between whole totally and

part partially two mediums are neceftarily required, viz. part totally and whole partially (yspog oixu>g and oKog

The parts, therefore, with a

totalfubjijlence which the world contains, are no other than the celeftial

orbs, which are confequently eternal and divine, after the fame manner as the whole body of the world, together with the fpheres of the elements ; and the wholes partially are no other than the individuals of the various fpecies of animals, fuch as a man, a horfe, and the like. Now this divine body, on account of its fuperiority to fublunary natures, was called by Ariftotle a fifth body, and was faid by Plato to be compofed for the moft part from fire.

But in order to a more perfect comprehenfion

of its nature, it is neceflary to obferve, that the two elements which, accord¬ ing to Plato, are fituated in the extremes, are fire and earth, and that the characteriftic of the former is vifibility, and of the latter tangibility ; fo that every thing becomes vifible through fire, and tangible through earth.

Now

the whole of this celeftial body, which is called by the antients heaven, confifts of an unburning vivific fire, like the natural heat which our bodies con¬ tain, and the illuminations of which give life to our mortal part.

But the

ftars are for the moft part compofed from this fire, containing at the fame, time the fummits of the other elements.

Hence, heaven is wholly of a

fiery charadieriftic, but contains in a caufal manner the powers of the other elements ; as, for inftance,, the folidity and liability of earth, the conglutinating and unifying nature of water, and the tenuity and tranfparsncy of air.. For,