Taylor - Theoretic Arithmetic.pdf - Platonic Philosophy

ina, Triton, and the perfect of the sea, Tritogeneia and
Achelous, Naetis and Agyiopeza, Curetide and Cratzide, Symbenia
and marriage, Gorgonia and Phorcia, Trisamos and Lydios."
Thus far Nicomachus. That the triad then is the first odd
number in energy, will be evident from considering that it is in
reality the first number; for number is more increased by multiplication
than by addition, as we have before observed from
Proclus, and this is the case with the triad, but is not so with
the duad or the monad. That it is also the first perfect number
is evident from this, that three things, as Aristotle* observes,
arc all, and the all is perfect from having a beginning, middle,
and end. But the triad is a middle and analogy, because all
analogy or proportionality consists of three terms at least, and
analogies were by the ancients called middles. It also causes
the power of the monad to proceed into energy, and extension,
because the monad considered as unproceeding is hyparxis, or
the summit of essence, but it is prolific through power, and in
the third place, it unfolds multitude into light through energy.
That it is likewise the first of numbers we have before shown.
And it appears to me that it was said to be a system of monads,
because every system has a first, middle, and last. But it gives
bound to the infinity of number, because it is all-perfect.
Hence too, from its all-perfect nature, it is similar and the
same, homologous and definite. As energy also it is intellect;
for intellect is the first energy. But it is the cause of good counsel,
intelligence, and knowledge, "because," as the anonymous
author observes, "men correctly employ present circumstances,
foresee such as are future, and acquire experience from such as
are past." It is also the most principal, because it is the first
of numbers. And it is the mistress and composition of all music,
because harmony contains three symphonies, the diapason,
* De WO. lib. i. cap. 1.