Taylor - Theoretic Arithmetic.pdf - Platonic Philosophy

that they are separate, they are not impeded from being united,
but the quantities of the two numbers which are placed together,
become the subject of the pentad. The triad, therefore, is
one, and also the tetrad, even in mathematical numbers: for
though in the ennead or number nine, you may conceive a
first, second, and third triad, yet you see one thing thrice assumed;
and in short, in the ennead there is nothing but the
form of the ennead in the quantity of nine monads. But if you
mentally separate its subjects, (for form is impartible) you will
immediately invest it with forms corresponding to its division;
for our soul cannot endure to see that which is formless, unadorned,
especially as she possesses the power of investing it
with ornament.
Since also separate numbers possess a demiurgic or fabricative
power, which mathematical numbers imitate, the sensible
world likewise contains images of those numbers by which it
is adorned; so that all things are in all, but in an appropriate
manner in each. The sensible world, therefore, subsists from
immaterial and energetic reasons,* and from more ancient
causes. But those who do not admit that nature herself is full
of productive powers, lest they should be obliged to double
things themselves, these wonder how from things void of mag
nitude and gravity, magnitude and gravity are composed;
though they are never composed from things of this kind
which are void of gravity and magnitude, as from parts. But
magnitude is generated from essentially impartible element;
since form and matter are the elements of bodies; and still
much more is it generated from those truer causes which are
considered in demiurgic reasons and forms. Is it not therefore
necessary that all dimensions, and all moving masses, must
from these receive their generation? For either bodies are
unbegotten like incorporeal natures, or of things with inter-
+ i.c. Productive principles.