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The Mystical Hymns of Orpheus - Platonic Philosophy

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x INTRODUCTION.<br />

something superior even to being itself ; as<br />

exempt from the whole <strong>of</strong> things, <strong>of</strong> which it<br />

is nevertheless ineffably the source ; and does<br />

not therefore think fit to connumerate it with<br />

any triad, or order <strong>of</strong> beings. Indeed, it even<br />

apologizes for attempting to give an appro-<br />

priate name to this principle, which is in<br />

reality ineffable, and ascribes the attempt to<br />

the imbecility <strong>of</strong> human nature, which striv-<br />

ing intently to behold it, gives the appella-<br />

tion <strong>of</strong> the most simple <strong>of</strong> its conceptions<br />

to that which is beyond all knowledge and<br />

all conception. Hence Plato denominates it<br />

the one and the good; by the former <strong>of</strong> these<br />

names indicating its transcendent simplicity,<br />

and by the latter its subsistence as the object<br />

<strong>of</strong> desire to all beings. For all things desire<br />

good. But <strong>Orpheus</strong>, as Proclus well ob-<br />

serves 3, " availing himself <strong>of</strong> the license <strong>of</strong><br />

fables, manifests every thing prior to Heaven<br />

(or the intelligible and at the same time in-<br />

tellectual order) by names, as far as to the<br />

first cause. He also denominates the ineff-<br />

able, who transcends the intelligible unities,<br />

Time." And this according to a wonderful<br />

analogy, indicating the generation, i. e. the<br />

In. Plat. Cratyl. p. 23.

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