mals, of which we have spoken, (one) immortal; but the whole of the[1] other has been created of the earth, mortal; (and)[1] let us attempt[2] to speak of the three, which are in the midst of the five [between them],[3] and exist according to reasonable opinion, most clearly. For after fire let us place æther; and let us lay down that from it the soul moulds animals, which possess a power, like some other genera, the greater portions from their own nature, but the smaller portions, for the sake of a link, from other genera; and after the æther that soul moulds from air another genus of animals, and a third from water. And it is probable that soul, after it had fabricated all these, filled the whole of heaven with living matter, by making use, to the best of its power, of all genera, since all of them exist, partakers of life; but that the second and the third, and the fourth and the fifth, beginning their generation from the gods, who are manifest, end in us, who are men.
[8.] The gods, then, Zeus and Juno, and all the rest, (let any one place)[4] where he pleases, according to the same law; and let him consider this reasoning as fixed.
We must call therefore the nature of the stars, and such things as we perceive existing together with the stars, the visible gods, the greatest and the most worthy of honour, and who as seeing on every side the most acutely, are the first in rank. And after them, and under them in due order, it is very meet to honour with prayers the dæmons, [5]for the sake of their silent going to and fro,[5] an aërial genus, that occupies a third[6] and middle seat, and is the cause of interpreting. But of these
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 I have translated, as if the Greek were γέγονε καὶ, not γεγονέναι—
- ↑ Ast says that πειραθῆναι depends upon ἐγχειρῶμεν— but what is the meaning of "let us endeavour to attempt," he has not attempted to show. The author wrote πειραθῶμιν— as I have translated.
- ↑ The words τὰ μεταξὺ τούτων are evidently an explanation of τὰ μέσα τῶν πέντε.
- ↑ Ficinus alone supplies "locato"— Ast would insert ὀνομάζων, understanding by θεοὺς— φανεροὺς, the stars, or planets; one of which, commonly called Venus, had likewise the name of Juno, as shown by Timæus Locrus, p. 96, E. and Apuleius De Mund. p. 58.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 So I have translated εὐφήμου διαπορείας— remembering the passage in the Banquet, §28, where mention is made of a race, that is ἑρμηνεῦον καὶ διαπορθμεῦον θεοῖς τὰ παρ’ ἀνθρώπων καὶ ἀνθρώποις τὰ παρὰ θεῶν.
- ↑ "The dæmons are said to possess a third seat, as coming after the gods, visible by the mind, and the stars, visible by the eye." Ast.
