Page:Works of Plato his first fifty-five dialogues (Taylor 1804) (Vol 2 of 5) (IA Vol2worksofplato00plat).pdf/432

 422

INTRODUCTION

TO THE TIM^EUS.

For, as earth comprehends all things in a terreſtrial manner, fo the heavens contain all things according to a fiery charaderiftic. But the following extraordinary paflage from Proclus admirably unfolds the nature of this divine body, and the various gradations of fire and the other elements.

“ It is neceffary to underftand (fays he *) that the fire of

the heavens is not the fame with fublunary fire, but that this is a divine fire confubfiftent with life, and an imitation of intelledual fire ; while that which fubfifts in the fublunary region is entirely material, generated and corruptible. Pure fire, therefore, fubfifts in the heavens, and there the whole of fire is contained ; but earth according to caufe, fubfifting there as another fpecies of earth, naturally affociating with fire, as it is proper it fhould, and pofleffmg nothing but folidity alone.

For, as fire there is illuminative, and

not burning, fo earth there is not grofs and fluggifh, but each fubfifts according to that which is the fummit of each.

And as pure and true fire is

there, fo true earth fubfifts here, and the riwholensfs, oAor^, of earth 3 ; and fire is here according to participation, and materially, as earth is according to a primary fubfiftence.

So that in heaven the fummit of earth is con¬

tained, and in earth the dregs and fediment of fire.

But it is evident that

the moon has fomething folid and dark, by her obftruding the light; for obftrudion of light is alone the province of earth.

The ftars too obftrud

our fight, by cafting a fhadow of themfelves from on high.

But fince fire

and earth fubfift in heaven, it is evident that the middle elements muft be there alio; airfirft of all, as being moft diaphanous and agile, but water, as being moft vaporous : each at the fame time fubfifting far purer than in the fublunary region, that all things may be in all, and yet in an accommodated manner in each. “ However, that the whole progreffion and gradations of the elements may become apparent, it is neceftary to deduce the fpeculation of them from on high.

Thefe four elements, then, fire, air, water, and earth, fubfift firft of

all in the demiurgus of wholes, uniformly according to caufe.

For all

1 In Tim. p. 152. before obferved, according to part total, in order to the perfed union of the world; and this part total is called by the Platonifts ohotuj, or a ivhoktiefs.
 * For it is neceffary that the firft fubfiftence of each of the elements fhould be, as we have

caufes