Page:Works of Plato his first fifty-five dialogues (Taylor 1804) (Vol 2 of 5) (IA Vol2worksofplato00plat).pdf/433

 INTRODUCTION TO THE TIMiEUS.

423

cauſes are previoufly affirmed in him, according to one comprehenfion; as well the intellectual, divine, pure, and vigorous power of fire, as the con¬ taining and vivific caufe of air; and as well the prolific and regerminating eflence of water, as the firm, immutable, and undeviating form of earth. And this the theologift Orpheus knowing, he thus fpealts concerning the demiurgus : His body’s boundlefs, liable, full of light.

And Th’ extended region of furrounding air Forms his broad fhoulders, back and bofom fair.

Again, His middle zone’s the fpreading fea profound.

And The diftant realms of Tartarus obfcure Within earth’s roots his holy feet fecure ; For thefe earth’s utmoft bounds to Jove belong, And form his bafis, permanent and ftrong.

<( But from thefe demiurgic caufes a progreflion of the elements into the

univerfe takes place, but not immediately into the fublunary world.

For

how can the moft immaterial things give fubfiftence to the moft material without a medium ; or things immovable be immediately hypoftatic of fuch as are moved in all directions ?

Since the progreffion of things is nowhere

without a medium, but fubfifts according to a well-ordered fubjeCtion ; and generations into thefe material, diffipated, and dark abodes, take place through things of a proximate order.

Since, therefore, the elements in the

demiurgus are intellects and imparticipable intellectual powers, what will be their firft progreffion ?

Is it not manifeft that they will yet remain

intellectual powers, but will be participated by mundane natures ? For from imparticipable intellect the proximate progreffion is to that which is parti¬ cipated.

And, univerfally, progreffion takes place from imparticipables to

things participated, and from fupermundane to mundane forms.

But what

are thefe things which yet reman intellectual, but are participated, and what 1'ubjeCtion do they poffiefs ?

Is it not evident that they are no longer intel¬

lectual (i. e. effientially intellectual) ?

But I call thofe natures intellectual

which are the forms of intellect, and of a truly intellectual effence.

But

becoming