PROCLUS, THE PLATONIC SUCCESSOR

And if it should be said, that they do not wish
to possess this knowledge," this would be
attended with a much greater absurdity than to
assert that they are not able to possess it; since,
though they give subsistence to things of this
kind, they would be unwilling to pay a
providential attention to their own productions.
Or on this hypothesis it must likewise be
granted, that not all mortal natures and
particulars, and everything which the world
contains, were produced by the Gods. And
some things, indeed, were [immediately]
fabricated by the one father of the universe, but
others by the mundane gods, yet through the
command of their father, who at the same time
through them produced these. But it is not
lawful for those beings who produce other
things either immediately or mediately to
neglect the Gods.
If, however, the Gods wish a to provide for
things indefinite definitely, and are able to
effect this, they will entirely both provide for
them, and at the same time that they
providentially attend to, will know the desert of
the subjects of their providential care. And the
Gods, indeed, will possess this knowledge
exemptly b , extending to all things their
providential attention: but daemons,
distributing into parts
a The version of Morbeka has here " nolunt," but the
true reading is obviously volunt.
b This word, used here by Morbeka in his version, is
"exaltatim;" but the word used by Proclus was, I have
no doubt, conformably to my version, exērēmenōs.
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the superessential illuminations which they
receive from them, are allotted a different
prefecture over different herds of animals, as
far as to the last partition, as Plato says; so that
some of them preside over men, others over