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The Mystical Hymns of Orpheus - Platonic Philosophy

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192 ADDITIONAL NOTES.<br />

3s our whoIe period receives a triple division, into s life<br />

prior to generation, which is Jovian, into a life <strong>of</strong> generation,<br />

which is Neptunian, and into a life posterior to generation,<br />

which is Plutonian ; Pluto, who is characterized by<br />

intellect, very properly converts ends to beginnings, effecting<br />

a circle without a beginning and without an end, not<br />

only in souls, but also in every fabrication <strong>of</strong> bodies, and<br />

in short, <strong>of</strong> all periods ;-which circle also he perpetually<br />

convolves. Thus for instance, he converts the ends to the<br />

beginnings <strong>of</strong> the souls <strong>of</strong> the stars, and the convolutions <strong>of</strong><br />

souls about generation, and the like. And hence Jupiter<br />

is the guardian <strong>of</strong> the life <strong>of</strong> souls prior to generation.<br />

Some, however, badly analyze the name <strong>of</strong> Pluto into<br />

wealth from the earth, through fruits and metals; but<br />

Hades into the invisible, dark, and dreadful. <strong>The</strong>se Socrates<br />

now reprobates, bringing the two names to the same<br />

signification ; referring the name <strong>of</strong> Pluto, as intellect, to<br />

the wealth <strong>of</strong> prudence, but that <strong>of</strong> Hades to an intellect<br />

knowing all things. For this God is a sophist, who, purifying<br />

souls after death, frees them from generation. For<br />

Hades is not, as some improperly explain it, evil : for<br />

neither is death evil ; though Hades to some appears to be<br />

attended with perturbations (E~PCLBOS) ; but it is invisible,<br />

and better than the apparent ; such as is every thing intelligible.<br />

Intellect, therefore, in every triad <strong>of</strong> beings, convolves<br />

itself to being, and the paternal cause, imitating in<br />

its energy the circle.<br />

Men who are lovers <strong>of</strong> body badly refer to themselves<br />

the passions <strong>of</strong> the animated nature, and on this account<br />

consider death to be dreadful, as being the cause <strong>of</strong> corruption.<br />

<strong>The</strong> truth, however, is, that it is much better for man<br />

to die, and live in Hades a life according to nature, since a<br />

life in conjunction with body is contrary to nature, and is<br />

an impediment to intellectual energy. Hence it is necessary<br />

to divest o~irselves <strong>of</strong> the fleshly garments with which<br />

we are clothed, as Ulysses did <strong>of</strong> his ragged vestments,<br />

and no longer like a wretched mendicant, together with<br />

the indigence <strong>of</strong> body, put on our rags. For, as the Chal-

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