The Mystical Hymns of Orpheus - Platonic Philosophy
The Mystical Hymns of Orpheus - Platonic Philosophy
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-