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The Mystical Hymns of Orpheus - Platonic Philosophy

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200 ADDITIONAL NOTES.<br />

vov), or through separating souls perfectly from bodies,<br />

through a conversion to things on high, which is the most<br />

fortunate slaughter and death, to such as are worthy <strong>of</strong> it<br />

(v 6ia TO XWPL{ELV ras $vxas TEXEWS EK TWY cwparwv aia 71s<br />

rpos ra avw ETLOTPO@~S, EUTLV EUTVXE~TT~TOS $OYOS KaL<br />

o~cp<br />

t9avaros rois U~LOU,UE~OLS TOWOU). But the name $E~E@UTTU,<br />

Phereiphatta, according to a contract with generation, is<br />

adapted to Proserpine ; but according to wisdom and counsel<br />

to Minerva. At the same time, however, all the appellations<br />

by which she is distinguished are adapted to the<br />

perfection <strong>of</strong> soul. On this account also she is called<br />

Proserpine, and not by the names <strong>of</strong> the extremes ; since<br />

that which was ravished by Pluto is the middle ; the<br />

extremes at the same time being firmly established in<br />

themselves, according to which Core is said to remain a<br />

virgin.<br />

With respect to our sovereign mistress Diana, Plato<br />

delivers three peculiarities <strong>of</strong> her, the undefiled, the mundane,<br />

and the anagogic. And through the first <strong>of</strong> these<br />

indeed, the goddess is said to be a lover <strong>of</strong> virginity; but<br />

through the second, according to which she is perfective<br />

<strong>of</strong> works (TEXE~LOV~~OS) she is said to be the inspective<br />

guardian <strong>of</strong> virtue; and through the third she is said to<br />

hate the impulses arising from generation. Of these three,<br />

likewise, the first is especially adapted to the progression<br />

<strong>of</strong> the goddess, according to which she is allotted an<br />

hyparxis in the vivific triad <strong>of</strong> the supernlundane Gods ;<br />

whether we call this deity Hecatic, as <strong>The</strong>urgists say, or<br />

Diana with <strong>Orpheus</strong>. For there being established, she is<br />

filled with undefiled powers from the Gods called Amilicti40.<br />

But she looks to the fountain <strong>of</strong> virtue, and embraces its<br />

virginity. For the virginity which is there does not proceed<br />

forth, as the Oracle says, but abiding gives subsistence<br />

to Diana, and to supermundane virtue, and is exempt<br />

from all communion, con junction, and progression, according<br />

to generation. Hence Core also, according to the<br />

40 That is, the Corybautes.

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