Theosophical Siftings

Concerning the Beautiful

Vol 7, No 15

Concerning the Beautiful

by Plotinus translated by Thomas Taylor
The Select Works of Plotinus 1792 eprinte! fro" #Theosophical Siftings# Volu"e 7 The Theosophical Pu$lishing Societ%, &nglan!

B&'(T) [ *t is necessar% to infor" the Platonical rea!er, that the Beautiful, in the present !iscourse, is consi!ere! accor!ing to its "ost general acceptation, as the sa"e +ith the ,oo!- though, accor!ing to a "ore accurate !istinction, as Plotinus hi"self infor"s us, the ,oo! is consi!ere! as the fountain an! principle of the Beautiful. * think it like+ise proper to o$ser/e, that as * ha/e en!ea/oure!, $% "% paraphrase, to ren!er as "uch as possi$le the o$scure parts e/i!ent, an! to e0pan! those sentences +hich are so /er% "uch contracte! in the original, * shall $e sparing of notes1 for "% !esign is not to acco""o!ate the su$li"est truths to the "eanest un!erstan!ings, 2as this +oul! $e a conte"pti$le an! useless prostitution3 $ut to ren!er the" perspicuous to trul% li$eral an! philosophic "in!s. 4% reasons for a!opting this "o!e of paraphrase, "a% $e seen in the preface to "% translation of Orpheus's Hymns ] for the "ost part, consists in o$5ects of sight1 $ut it is also recei/e! through the ears, $% the skilful co"position of +or!s, an! the consonant proportion of soun!s1 for in e/er% species of har"on%, $eaut% is to $e foun!. 'n! if +e rise fro" sense into the regions of soul, +e shall [Page 9] there percei/e stu!ies an! offices, actions an! ha$its, sciences an! /irtues, in/este! +ith a "uch larger portion of $eaut%. But +hether there is a$o/e these, a still higher $eaut%, +ill appear as +e a!/ance in its in/estigation. What is it then, +hich causes $o!ies to appear fair to the sight, soun!s $eautiful to the ear, an! science an! /irtue lo/el% to the "in! 6 4a% +e not en7uire after +hat "anner the% all partake of $eaut% 6 Whether $eaut% is one an! the sa"e in all 6 8r, +hether the $eaut% of $o!ies is of one kin!, an! the $eaut% of souls of another 6 'n! again, +hat these are, if the% are t+o 6 8r, +hat $eaut% is, if perfectl% si"ple, an! one 6 9or so"e things, as $o!ies, are !ou$tless $eautiful, not fro" the natures of the su$5ects in +hich the% resi!e, $ut rather $% so"e kin! of participation- $ut others again appear to $e essentiall% $eautiful, or $eauties the"sel/es1 an! such is the nature of /irtue. 9or, +ith respect to the sa"e $o!ies, the% appear $eautiful to one person, an! the re/erse of $eaut% to another1 as if the essence of $o!% +ere a thing !ifferent fro" the essence of $eaut%. *n the first place then, +hat is that, +hich, $% its presence, causes the $eaut% of $o!ies 6 :et us reflect, +hat "ost po+erfull% attracts the e%es of $ehol!ers, an! sei;es the spectator +ith rapturous !elight1 for if +e can fin! +hat this is, +e "a% perhaps use it as a la!!er, ena$ling us to ascen! into the region of $eaut%, an! sur/e% its i""easura$le e0tent. *t is the general opinion that a certain co""ensuration of parts to each other, an! to the +hole, +ith the a!!ition of colour, generates that $eaut% +hich is the o$5ect of sight1 an! that in the co""ensurate an! the "o!erate alone the $eaut% of e/er%thing consists. But fro" such an opinion the co"poun! onl%, an! not the si"ple, can $e $eautiful, the single parts +ill ha/e no peculiar $eaut%1 an! +ill onl% "erit that appellation $% conferring to the $eaut% of the +hole. But it is surel% necessar% that a lo/el% +hole shoul! consist of $eautiful parts, for the fair can ne/er rise out of the !efor"e!. But fro" such a !efinition, it follo+s, that $eautiful colours an! the light of the sun, since the% are si"ple an! !o not recei/e their Page 1

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Concerning the Beautiful

Vol 7, No 15

$eaut% fro" co""ensuration, "ust $e e0clu!e! the regions of $eaut%. Besi!es, ho+, fro" such an h%pothesis, can gol!, $e $eautiful 6 8r the glittering of night an! the glorious spectacle of the stars6 *n like "anner, the "ost si"ple "usical soun!s +ill $e foreign, fro" $eaut%, though in a song +holl% $eautiful e/er% note "ust $e $eautiful, as necessar% to the $eing of the +hole. 'gain, since the sa"e proportion re"aining, the sa"e face is to one person $eautiful an! to another the re/erse, is it not necessar% to call the $eaut% of the co""ensurate one kin! of $eaut% an! the co""ensuration another kin!, an! that the co""ensurate is fair $% "eans of so"ething else 6 But if transferring the"sel/es to $eautiful stu!ies an! fair !iscourses, the% shall assign [Page 10] as the cause of $eaut% in these the proportion of "easure, +hat is that +hich in $eautiful sciences, la+s or !isciplines, is calle! co""ensurate proportion6 8r in +hat "anner can speculations the"sel/es $e calle! "utuall% co""ensurate 6 *f it $e sai! $ecause of the inherent concor!, +e repl% that there is a certain concor! an! consent in e/il souls, a confor"it% of senti"ent, in $elie/ing 2as it is sai!3 that te"perance is foll% an! 5ustice generous ignorance. *t appears, therefore, that the $eaut% of the soul is e/er% /irtue, an! this species of the $eautiful possesses far greater realit% than an% of the superior +e ha/e "entione!. But after +hat "anner in this is co""ensuration to $e foun! 6 9or it is neither like the s%""etr% in "agnitu!e nor in nu"$ers. 'n! since the parts of the soul are "an%, in +hat proportion an! s%nthesis, in +hat te"pera"ent of parts or concor! of speculations, !oes $eaut% consist6 :astl%, of +hat kin! is the $eaut% of intellect itself, a$stracte! fro" e/er% corporeal concern, an! inti"atel% con/ersing +ith itself alone 6 We still, therefore, repeat the 7uestion, What is the $eaut% of $o!ies6 *t is so"ething +hich at first /ie+ presents itself to sense, an! +hich the soul fa"iliarl% apprehen!s an! eagerl% e"$races, as if it +ere allie! to itself. But +hen it "eets +ith the !efor"e!, it hastil% starts fro" the /ie+ an! retires a$horrent fro" its !iscor!ant nature. 9or since the soul in its proper state ranks accor!ing to the "ost e0cellent essence in the or!er of things, +hen it percei/es an% o$5ect relate! to itself, or the "ere /estige of a relation, it congratulates itself on the pleasing e/ent, an! astonishe! +ith the striking rese"$lance [ #&nters !eep into its essence#, etc.. The Platonic Philosoph% insists "uch on the necessit% of retiring into oursel/es in or!er to the !isco/er% of truth1 an! on this account Socrates, in the first Alcibiades, sa%s that the soul entering into herself +ill conte"plate +hate/er e0ists an! the !i/init% hi"self. (pon +hich Proclus thus co""ents, +ith his usual elegance an! !epth 2in Theol. Plat., p. 73-. #9or the soul#, sa%s he, #contracting herself +holl% into a union +ith herself, an! into the centre of uni/ersal life, an! re"o/ing the "ultitu!e an! /ariet% of all</arious po+ers, ascen!s into the highest place of speculation, fro" +hence she +ill sur/e% the nature of $eings. 9or if she looks $ack upon things posterior to her essence, she +ill percei/e nothing $ut the sha!o+s an! rese"$lances of $eings1 $ut if she returns into herself she +ill e/ol/e her o+n essence, an! the reasons she contains. 'n! at first in!ee! she +ill, as it +ere, onl% $ehol! herself1 $ut +hen $% her kno+le!ge she penetrates "ore profoun!l% in her in/estigations she +ill fin! intellect seate! in her essence an! the uni/ersal or!ers of $eings1 $ut +hen she a!/ances into the "ore interior recesses of herself, an! as it +ere into the sanctuar% of the soul, she +ill $e ena$le! to conte"plate, +ith her e%es close! to corporeal /ision, the genus of the go!s an! the unities of $eings. 9or all things resi!e in us, after a "anner correspon!ent to the nature of the soul1 an! on this account +e are naturall% ena$le! to kno+ all things, $% e0citing our inherent po+ers an! i"ages of +hate/er e0ists#] enters !eep into its essence, an!, $% rousing its !or"ant po+ers, at length perfectl% recollects its kin!re! an! allies. What is the si"ilitu!e then $et+een the $eauties of sense an! that $eaut% +hich is !i/ine6 9or if there $e an% si"ilitu!e the respecti/e o$5ects "ust $e si"ilar. But after +hat "anner are the t+o $eautiful6 9or it is $% participation of species that +e call e/er% sensi$le o$5ect $eautiful. Thus, since e/er%thing /oi! of for" is $% [Page 11] nature fitte! for its reception, as far as it is !estitute of reason an! for" it is $ase an! separate fro" the !i/ine reason, the great fountain of for"s1 an! +hate/er is entirel% re"ote fro" this i""ortal source is perfectl% $ase an! !efor"e!. [#'n! such is "atter#, etc.. There is Page 2

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nothing affor!s "ore +on!erful speculation than "atter, +hich ranks as the last a"ong the uni/ersalit% of things, an! has the sa"e relation to $eing as sha!e to su$stance. 9or, as in an ascen!ing series of causes it is necessar% to arri/e at so"ething, +hich is the first cause of all, an! to +hich no perfection is +anting1 so in a !escen!ing series of su$5ects, it is e7uall% necessar% +e shoul! stop at so"e general su$5ect, the lo+est in the or!er of things, an! to +hich e/er% perfection of $eing is !enie!. But let us hear the profoun! an! a!"ira$le !escription +hich Plotinus gi/es us of "atter 2li$. /i, Ennead 33, an! of +hich the follo+ing is a paraphrase- #Since "atter#, sa%s he, #is neither soul, nor intellect, nor life, nor for", nor reason, nor $oun!, $ut a certain in!efiniteness1 nor %et capacit%, for +hat can it pro!uce 6 Since it is foreign fro" all these, it cannot "erit the appellation of $eing, $ut is !eser/e!l% calle! non<entit%. Nor %et is it non<entit% in the "anner as "otion or station1 $ut it is true non<entit%, the "ere sha!o+ an! i"agination of $ulk an! the !esire of su$sistence1 a$i!ing +ithout station, of itself in/isi$le, an! a/oi!ing the !esire of hi" +ho +ishes to percei/e its nature. =ence, +hen no one percei/es it, it is then in a "anner present, $ut cannot $e /ie+e! $% hi" +ho stri/es intentl% to $ehol! it. 'gain, in itself contraries al+a%s appear, the s"all an! the great, the less an! the "ore, !eficience an! e0cess. So that it is a phanto", neither a$i!ing nor %et a$le to fl% a+a%1 capa$le of no one !eno"ination an! possessing no po+er fro" intellect, $ut constitute! in the !efect an! sha!e, as it +ere, of all real $eing. =ence, too, in each of its /anishing appellations it elu!es our search1 for if +e think of it as so"ething great, it is in the "eanti"e s"all1 if as so"ething "ore, it $eco"es less1 an! the apparent $eing +hich +e "eet +ith in its i"age is non<$eing, an! as it +ere a fl%ing "ocker%. So that the for"s +hich appear in "atter are "erel% lu!icrous, sha!o+s falling upon sha!o+, as in a "irror, +here the position of a thing is !ifferent fro" its real situation1 an! +hich, though apparentl% full of for"s, possesses nothing real an! true > $ut i"itations of $eing an! se"$lances flo+ing a$out a for"less se"$lance. The% appear, in!ee!, to affect so"ething in the su$5ect "atter, $ut in realit% pro!uce nothing1 fro" their !e$ile an! flo+ing nature $eing en!ue! +ith no soli!it% an! no re$oun!ing po+er. 'n! since "atter, like+ise, has no soli!it% the% penetrate it +ithout !i/ision, like i"ages in +ater, or as if an%one shoul! fill a /acuu" +ith for"s#] 'n! such is "atter, +hich $% its nature is e/er a/erse fro" the super/ening irra!iations of for". Whene/er, therefore, for" acce!es, it conciliates in a"ica$le unit% the parts +hich are a$out to co"pose a +hole1 for $eing itself one it is not +on!erful that the su$5ect of its po+er shoul! ten! to unit%, as far as the nature of a co"poun! +ill a!"it. =ence $eaut% is esta$lishe! in "ultitu!e +hen the "an% is re!uce! into one, an! in this case it co""unicates itself $oth to the parts an! to the +hole. But +hen a particular one, co"pose! fro" si"ilar parts, is recei/e! it gi/es itself to the +hole, +ithout !eparting fro" the sa"eness an! integrit% of its nature. Thus at one an! the sa"e ti"e it co""unicates itself to the +hole $uil!ing an! its se/eral parts1 an! at another ti"e confines itself to a single stone, an! then the first participation arises fro" the operations of art, $ut the secon! fro" the for"ation of nature. 'n! hence $o!% $eco"es $eautiful through the co""union supernall% procee!ing fro" !i/init%. But the soul, $% her innate po+er, than +hich nothing "ore po+erful, in 5u!ging its proper concerns, +hen another soul concurs in the !ecision, ackno+le!ges the $eaut% of for"s. 'n!, perhaps, its kno+le!ge in this case arises fro" its acco""o!ating its internal ra% of $eaut% to for", an! trusting to this in its 5u!ge"ent1 in the sa"e "anner as a rule is e"plo%e! [Page 12] in the !ecision of +hat is straight. But ho+ can that +hich is inherent in $o!%, accor! +ith that +hich is a$o/e $o!%6 :et us repl% $% asking ho+ the architect pronounces the $uil!ing $eautiful $% acco""o!ating the e0ternal structure to the fa$ric of his soul6 Perhaps, $ecause the out+ar! $uil!ing, +hen entirel% !epri/e! of the stones, is no other than the intrinsic for", !i/i!e! $% the e0ternal "ass of "atter, $ut in!i/isi$l% e0isting, though appearing in the "an%. When, therefore, sense $ehol!s the for" in $o!ies, at strife +ith "atter, $in!ing an! /an7uishing its contrar% nature, an! sees for" gracefull% shining forth in other for"s, it collects together the scattere! +hole, an! intro!uces it to itself, an! to the in!i/isi$le for" +ithin1 an! ren!ers it consonant, congruous an! frien!l% to its o+n inti"ate for". Thus, to the goo! "an, /irtue shining forth in %outh is lo/el% $ecause consonant to the true /irtue +hich lies !eep in the soul. But the si"ple $eaut% of colour arises, +hen light, +hich is so"ething incorporeal, an! reason an! for" entering the o$scure Page ?

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in/olutions of "atter, irra!iates an! for"s its !ark an! for"less nature. *t is on this account that fire surpasses other $o!ies in $eaut%, $ecause, co"pare! +ith the other ele"ents, it o$tains the or!er of for"1 for it is "ore e"inent than the rest, an! is the "ost su$tle of all, $or!ering, as it +ere, on an incorporeal nature. 'n! too, that though i"per/ious itself it is inti"atel% recei/e! $% others, for it i"parts heat, $ut a!"its no col!. =ence it is the first nature +hich is orna"ente! +ith colour, an! is the source of it to others1 an! on this account it $ea"s forth e0alte! like so"e i""aterial for". But +hen it cannot /an7uish its su$5ect, as participating $ut a slen!er light, it is no longer $eautiful, $ecause it !oes not recei/e the +hole for" of colour. 'gain, the "usic of the /oice rouses the har"on% latent in the soul, an! opens her e%e to the perception of $eaut%, e0isting in "an% the sa"e. But it is the propert% of the har"on% percei/e! $% sense, to $e "easure! $% nu"$ers, %et not in e/er% proportion of nu"$er or /oice1 $ut in that alone +hich is o$e!ient to the pro!uction, an! con7uest of its species. 'n! this "uch for the $eauties of sense, +hich, like i"ages an! sha!o+s flo+ing into "atter, a!orn +ith spectacles of $eaut% its for"less $eing, an! strike the respecti/e senses +ith +on!er an! !elight. But it is no+ ti"e, lea/ing e/er% o$5ect of sense far $ehin!, to conte"plate, $% a certain ascent, a $eaut% of a "uch higher or!er1 a $eaut% not /isi$le to the corporeal e%e, $ut alone "anifest to the $righter e%e of the soul, in!epen!ent of all corporeal ai!. =o+e/er, since, +ithout so"e pre/ious perception of $eaut% it is i"possi$le to e0press $% +or!s the $eauties of sense, $ut +e "ust re"ain in the state of the $lin!, so neither can +e e/er speak of the $eaut% of offices an! sciences, an! +hate/er is allie! to these, if !epri/e! of their inti"ate possession. Thus +e shall ne/er $e a$le to tell of /irtue@s $rightness, unless $% looking in+ar! +e [Page 13] percei/e the fair countenance of 5ustice an! te"perance, an! are con/ince! that neither the e/ening nor "orning star are half so $eautiful an! $right. But it is re7uisite to percei/e o$5ects of this kin! $% that e%e $% +hich the soul $ehol!s such real $eauties. Besi!es it is necessar% that +hoe/er percei/es this species of $eaut%, shoul! $e sei;e! +ith "uch greater !elight, an! "ore /ehe"ent a!"iration, than an% corporeal $eaut% can e0cite1 as no+ e"$racing $eaut% real an! su$stantial. Such affections, * sa%, ought to $e e0cite! a$out true $eaut%, as a!"iration an! s+eet astonish"ent1 !esire also an! lo/e an! a pleasant trepi!ation. 9or all souls, as * "a% sa%, are affecte! in this "anner a$out in/isi$le o$5ects, $ut those the "ost +ho ha/e the strongest propensit% to their lo/e1 as it like+ise happens a$out corporeal $eaut%1 for all e7uall% percei/e $eautiful corporeal for"s, %et all are not e7uall% e0cite!, $ut lo/ers in the greatest !egree. But it "a% $e allo+a$le to interrogate those, +ho rise a$o/e sense, concerning the effects of lo/e in this "anner1 of such +e en7uire, +hat !o %ou suffer respecting fair stu!ies, an! $eautiful "anners, /irtuous +orks, affections, an! ha$its, an! the $eaut% of souls 6 What !o %ou e0perience on percei/ing %oursel/es lo/el% +ithin 6 'fter +hat "anner are %ou rouse! as it +ere to a Bacchalian fur%1 stri/ing to con/erse +ith %oursel/es, an! collecting %oursel/es separate fro" the i"pe!i"ents of $o!% 6 9or thus are true lo/ers enrapture!. But +hat is the cause of these +on!erful effects. *t is neither figure, nor colour, nor "agnitu!e1 $ut soul herself, fair through te"perance, an! not +ith the false gloss of colour, an! $right +ith the splen!ours of /irtue herself. 'n! this %ou e0perience as often as %ou turn %our e%e in+ar!s1 or conte"plate the a"plitu!e of another soul1 the 5ust "anners, the pure te"perance1 fortitu!e /enera$le $% her no$le countenance1 an! "o!est% an! honest% +alking +ith an intrepi! step, an! a tran7uil an! stea!% aspect1 an! +hat cro+ns the $eaut% of the" all, constantl% recei/ing the irra!iations of a !i/ine intellect. *n +hat respect then, shall +e call these $eautiful 6 9or the% are such as the% appear, nor !i! e/er an% one $ehol! the", an! not pronounce the" realities. But as %et reason !esires to kno+ ho+ the% cause Page A

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the lo/eliness of the soul1 an! +hat that grace is in e/er% /irtue +hich $ea"s forth to /ie+ like light 6 're %ou then +illing +e shoul! assu"e the contrar% part, an! consi!er +hat in the soul appears !efor"e! 6 for perhaps it +ill facilitate our search, if +e can thus fin! +hat is $ase in the soul, an! fro" +hence its !eri/es its original. :et us suppose a soul !efor"e!, to $e one inte"perate an! un5ust, fille! +ith a "ultitu!e of !esires, a pre% to foolish hopes an! /e0e! +ith i!le fears1 through its !i"inuti/e an! a/aricious nature the su$5ect of en/%1 e"plo%e! solel% in thought of +hat, is i""oral an! lo+, [Page 14] $oun! in the fetters of i"pure !elights li/ing the life, +hate/er it "a% $e, peculiar to the passion of $o!%1 an! so totall% "erge! in sensualit% as to estee" the $ase pleasant, an! the !efor"e! $eautiful an! fair. But "a% +e not sa%, that this $aseness approaches the soul as an a!/entitious e/il, un!er the prete0t of a!/entitious $eaut%1 +hich, +ith great !etri"ent, ren!ers it i"pure, an! pollutes it +ith "uch !epra/it%1 so that it neither possesses true life, nor true sense, $ut is en!ue! +ith a slen!er life through its "i0ture of e/il, an! this +orn out $% the continual !epre!ations of !eath1 no longer percei/ing the o$5ects of "ental /ision, nor per"itte! an% "ore to !+ell +ith itself, $ecause e/er hurrie! a+a% to things o$scure, e0ternal an! lo+ 6 =ence, $eco"ing i"pure, an! $eing on all si!es snatche! in the unceasing +hirl of sensi$le for"s, it is co/ere! +ith corporeal stains, an! +holl% gi/en to "atter, contracts !eepl% its nature, loses all its original splen!our, an! al"ost changes its o+n species into that of another1 5ust as the pristine $eaut% of the "ost lo/el% for" +oul! $e !estro%e! $% its total i""ersion in "ire an! cla%. But the !efor"it% of the first arises fro" in+ar! filth, of its o+n contracting1 of the secon!, fro" the accession of so"e foreign nature. *f such a one then !esires to reco/er his for"er $eaut%, it is necessar% to cleanse the infecte! parts, an! thus $% a thorough purgation to resu"e his original for". =ence, then if +e assert that the soul, $% her "i0ture, confusion an! co""erce +ith $o!% an! "atter, $eco"es thus $ase, our assertion +ill, * think, $e right. 9or the $aseness of the soul consists in not $eing pure an! sincere. 'n! as the gol! is !efor"e! $% the a!herence of earthl% clo!s, +hich are no sooner re"o/e! than on a su!!en the gol! shines forth +ith its nati/e purit%1 an! then $eco"es $eautiful +hen separate! fro" natures foreign fro" its o+n, an! +hen it is content +ith its o+n purit% for the possession of $eaut%1 so the soul, +hen separate! fro" the sor!i! !esires engen!ere! $% its too great i""ersion in $o!%, an! li$erate! fro" the !o"inion of e/er% pertur$ation, can thus an! thus onl%, $lot out the $ase stains i"$i$e! fro" its union +ith $o!%1 an! thus $eco"ing alone, +ill !ou$tless e0pel all the turpitu!e contracte! fro" a nature so opposite to its o+n. *n!ee!, as the ancient oracle !eclares, te"perance an! fortitu!e, pru!ence an! e/er% /irtue, are certain purgati/es of the soul1 an! hence the sacre! "%steries prophes% o$scurel%, %et +ith truth, that the soul not purifie! lies in Tartarus, i""erse! in filth. Since the i"pure is, fro" his !epra/it%, the frien! of filth, as s+ine, fro" their sor!i! $o!%, !elight in "ire alone. 9or +hat else is true te"perance than not to in!ulge in corporeal !elights, $ut to fl% fro" their connection, as things +hich are neither pure, nor the offspring of purit% 6 'n! true fortitu!e is not to fear !eath1 for [Page 1 ] !eath is nothing "ore than a certain separation of soul fro" $o!%, an! this he +ill not fear, +ho !esires to $e alone. 'gain, "agnani"it% is the conte"pt of e/er% "ortal concern1 it is the +ing $% +hich +e fl% into the regions of intellect. 'n! lastl%, pru!ence is no other than intelligence !eclining su$or!inate o$5ects1 an! !irecting the e%e of the soul to that +hich is i""ortal an! !i/ine. The soul, thus refine!, $eco"es for" an! reason, is altogether incorporeal an! intellectual, an! +holl% participates of that !i/ine nature, +hich is the fountain of lo/eliness, an! of +hate/er is allie! to the $eautiful an! fair. =ence the soul re!uce! to intellect, $eco"es astonishingl% $eautiful1 for as the la"$ent fla"e +hich appears !etache! fro" the $urning +oo!, enlightens its !ark an! s"ok% parts, so intellect irra!iates an! a!orns Page 5

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the inferior po+ers of the soul, +hich, +ithout it sai!, +oul! $e $urie! in the gloo" of for"less "atter. But intellect, an! +hate/er e"anates fro" intellect, is not the foreign, $ut the proper orna"ent of the soul, for the $eing of the soul, +hen a$sor$e! in intellect, is then alone real an! true. *t is, therefore, rightl% sai!, that the $eaut% an! goo! of the soul consists in her si"ilitu!e to the Beit%1 for fro" hence flo+s all her $eaut%, an! her allot"ent of a $etter $eing. But the $eautiful itself is that +hich is calle! $eings1 an! turpitu!e is of a !ifferent nature an! participates "ore of non<entit% than $eing. But, perhaps, the goo! an! the $eautiful are the sa"e, an! "ust $e in/estigate! $% one an! the sa"e process1 an! in like "anner the $ase an! the e/il. 'n! in the first rank +e "ust place the $eautiful, an! consi!er it as the sa"e +ith the goo!1 fro" +hich i""e!iatel% e"anates intellect as $eautiful. Ne0t to this, +e "ust consi!er the soul recei/ing its $eaut% fro" intellect, an! e/er% inferior $eaut% !eri/ing its origin fro" the for"ing po+er of the soul, +hether con/ersant in fair actions an! offices, or sciences an! arts. :astl%, $o!ies the"sel/es participate of $eaut% fro" the soul, +hich, as so"ething !i/ine, an! a portion of the $eautiful itself, ren!ers +hate/er it super/enes an! su$!ues, $eautiful as far as its natural capacit% +ill a!"it. :et us, therefore, re<ascen! to the goo! itself, +hich e/er% soul !esires1 an! in +hich it can alone fin! perfect repose. 9or if an%one shall $eco"e ac7uainte! +ith this source of $eaut% he +ill then kno+ +hat * sa%, an! after +hat "anner he is $eautiful. *n!ee!, +hate/er is !esira$le is a kin! of goo!, since to this !esire ten!s. But the% alone pursue true goo!, +ho rise to intelligi$le $eaut%, an! so far onl% ten! to goo! itself1 as far as the% la% asi!e the !efor"e! /est"ents of "atter, +ith +hich the% $eco"e connecte! in their !escent. Cust as those +ho penetrate into the hol% retreats of sacre! "%steries, are first purifie! an! then !i/est the"sel/es of their gar"ents, until so"e one $% such a process, ha/ing !is"isse! e/er%thing foreign fro" the ,o!, $% hi"self alone, $ehol!s the solitar% principle of [Page 1!] the uni/erse, sincere, si"ple an! pure, fro" +hich all things !epen!, an! to +hose transcen!ent perfections the e%es of all intelligent natures are !irecte!, as the proper cause of $eing, life an! intelligence. With +hat ar!ent lo/e, +ith +hat strong !esire +ill he +ho en5o%s this transporting /ision $e infla"e! +hile /ehe"entl% affecting to $eco"e one +ith this supre"e $eaut%. 9or this it is or!aine!, that he +ho !oes not %et percei/e hi", %et !esires hi" as goo!, $ut he +ho en5o%s the /ision is enrapture! +ith his $eaut%, an! is e7uall% fille! +ith a!"iration an! !elight. =ence, such a one is agitate! +ith a salutar% astonish"ent1 is affecte! +ith the highest an! truest lo/e1 !eri!es /ehe"ent affections an! inferior lo/es, an! !espises the $eaut% +hich he once appro/e!. Such too, is the con!ition of those +ho, on percei/ing the for"s of go!s or !ae"ons, no longer estee" the fairest of corporeal for"s. What, then, "ust $e the con!ition of that $eing, +ho $ehol!s the $eautiful itself 6 *n itself perfectl% pure, [D*n itself perfectl% pureE. This is analogous to the !escription of the $eautiful in the latter part of Bioti"aFs Speech in the Banquet1 a speech +hich is surel% une7uale!, $oth for elegance of co"position an! su$li"it% of senti"ent. *n!ee!, all the !isciples of Plato are re"arka$le for nothing so "uch as their profoun! an! e0alte! conceptions of the Beit%1 an! he +ho can rea! the +orks of Plotinus an! Proclus in particular, an! after+ar!s pit% the +eakness an! erroneousness of their opinions on this su$5ect, "a% $e fairl% presu"e! to $e hi"self e7uall% an o$5ect of pit% an! conte"pt] not confine! $% an% corporeal $on!, neither e0isting in the hea/ens, nor in the earth, nor to $e i"age! $% the "ost lo/el% for" i"agination can concei/e1 since these are all a!/entitious an! "i0e!, an! "ere secon!ar% $eauties, procee!ing fro" the $eautiful itself. *f, then, an%one shoul! e/er $ehol! that +hich is the source of "unificence to others, re"aining in itself, +hile it co""unicates to all, an! recei/ing nothing, $ecause possessing an ine0hausti$le fulness1 an! shoul! so a$i!e in the intuition, as to $eco"e si"ilar to his Page G

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nature, +hat "ore of $eaut% can such a one !esire6 9or such $eaut%, since it is supre"e in !ignit% au! e0cellence, cannot fail of ren!ering its /otaries lo/el% an! fair. '!! too, that since the o$5ect of contest to souls is the highest $eaut%, +e shoul! stri/e for its ac7uisition +ith una$ate! ar!our, lest +e shoul! $e !eserte! of that $lissful conte"plation, +hich, +hoe/er pursues in the right +a%, $eco"es $lesse! fro" the happ% /ision1 an! +hich he +ho !oes not o$tain is una/oi!a$l% unhapp%. 9or the "isera$le "an is not he +ho neglects to pursue fair colours, an! $eautiful corporeal for"s1 +ho is !epri/e! of po+er, an! falls fro" !o"inion an! e"pire1 $ut he alone +ho is !estitute of this !i/ine possession, for +hich the a"ple !o"inion of the earth an! sea an! the still "ore e0ten!e! e"pire of the hea/ens, "ust $e relin7uishe! an! forgot, if, !espising an! lea/ing these far $ehin!, +e e/er inten! to arri/e at su$stantial felicit%, $% $ehol!ing the $eautiful itself. What "easures, then, shall +e a!opt 6 What "achine e"plo%, or +hat reason consult $% "eans of +hich +e "a% conte"plate this ineffa$le [Page 1"] $eaut%1 a $eaut% a$i!ing in the "ost !i/ine sanctuar% +ithout e/er procee!ing fro" its sacre! retreats lest it shoul! $e $ehel! $% the profane an! /ulgar e%e 6 We "ust enter !eep into oursel/es, an!, lea/ing $ehin! the o$5ects of corporeal sight, no longer look $ack after an% of the accusto"e! spectacles of sense. 9or, it is necessar% that +hoe/er $ehol!s this $eaut%, shoul! +ith!ra+ his /ie+ fro" the fairest corporeal for"s 1 an!, con/ince! that these are nothing "ore than i"ages, /estiges an! sha!o+s of $eaut%, shoul! eagerl% soar to the fair original fro" +hich the% are !eri/e!. 9or he +ho rushes to these lo+er $eauties, as if grasping realities, +hen the% are onl% like $eautiful i"ages appearing in +ater, +ill, !ou$tless, like hi" in the fa$le, $% stretching after the sha!o+, sink into the lake an! !isappear. 9or, $% thus e"$racing an! a!hering to corporeal for"s, he is precipitate!, not so "uch in his $o!% as in his soul, into profoun! an! horri! !arkness1 an! thus $lin!, like those in the infernal regions, con/erses onl% +ith phanto"s, !epri/e! of the perception of +hat is real an! true. *t is here, then, +e "a% "ore trul% e0clai", #:et us !epart fro" hence, an! fl% to our father@s !elightful lan!#. [D:et us !epart,E etc, vide =o". Iliad, li$. ii, 1AH, et li$, i0, 27] But, $% +hat lea!ing stars shall +e !irect our flight, an! $% +hat "eans a/oi! the "agic po+er of Circe, an! the !etaining char"s of Cal%pso6 [ Porph%r% infor"s us in his e0cellent treatise, #Be 'ntro N%"ph#, #that it +as the opinion of Nu"enius, the P%thagorean 2to +hich he also assents3, that the person of (l%sses in the 8!%sse%, represents to us a "an, +ho passes in a regular "anner, o/er the !ark an! stor"% sea of generation1 an! thus, at length, arri/es at that region +here te"pests an! seas are unkno+n, an! fin!s a nation +ho DNe@er kne+ salt, or hear! the $illo+s roar.# *n!ee!, he +ho is conscious of the !elusions of the present life an! the enchant"ents of this "aterial house, in +hich his soul is !etaine! like (l%sses in the irriguous ca/ern of Cal%pso, +ill like hi" continuall% $e+ail his capti/it%, an! onl% pine for a return to his nati/e countr%. 8f such a one it "a% $e sai! as of (l%sses 2in the e0cellent an! pathetic translation of 4r. Pope3. #But sa! (l%sses $% hi"self apart Pour@! the $ig sorro+s of his s+elling heart, 'll on the lonel% shore he sate to +eep 'n! roll@! his e%es aroun! the restless !eep To+@r! the lo/@! coast he roll@! his e%es in /ain Till, !i""e! +ith rising grief, the% strea"@! again.# Page 7

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Such a one too, like (l%sses, +ill not al+a%s +ish in /ain for a passage o/er the !ark ocean of a corporeal life, $ut $% the assistance of 4ercur%, +ho "a% $e consi!ere! as the e"$le" of reason, he +ill at length $e ena$le! to 7uite the "agic e"$races of Cal%pso, the ,o!!ess of *"agination, an! to return again into the ar"s of Penelope, or Philosoph%, the long lost an! proper o$5ect of his lo/e] 9or thus the fa$le of (l%sses o$scurel% signifies, +hich feigns hi" a$i!ing an un+illing e0ile, though pleasant spectacles +ere continuall% presente! to his sight1 an! e/er% thing +as pro"ise! to in/ite his sta% +hich can !elight the senses, an! capti/ate the heart. But our true countr%, like that of (l%sses, is fro" +hence +e ca"e, an! +here our father li/es. But +here is the ship to $e foun! $% +hich +e can acco"plish our flight6 9or our feet are [Page 1#] une7ual to the task since the% onl% take us fro" one part of the earth to another. 4a% +e not each of us sa%, @EWhat ships ha/e *, +hat sailors to con/e% What oars to cut the long la$orious +a%.# [See PopeFs =o"erFs 8!%sse%, $ook /, 1I2] But it is in /ain that +e prepare horses to !ra+ our ships to transport us to our nati/e lan!. 8n the contrar%, neglecting all these, as une7ual to the task, an! e0clu!ing the" entirel% fro" our /ie+, ha/ing no+ close! the corporeal e%e, [DWe "ust stir up an! assu"e a purer e%e +ithinE. This in+ar! e%e is no other than intellect, +hich contains in its "ost in+ar! recesses a certain ra% of light, participate! fro" the sun of Beaut% an! ,oo!, $% +hich the soul is ena$le! to $ehol! an! $eco"e unite! +ith her !i/inel% solitar% original. This !i/ine ra%, or, as Proclus calls it, "ark or i"pression, is thus $eautifull% !escri$e! $% that philosopher 2Theol. Plat. p 1H53- DThe 'uthor of the (ni/erseE, sa%s he, Dhas plante! in all $eings i"pressions of his o+n perfect e0cellence an! through these he has place! all $eings a$out hi"self, an! is present +ith the" in an ineffa$le "anner, e0e"pt fro" the uni/ersalit% of things. =ence, e/er% $eing entering into the ineffa$le sanctuar% of its o+n nature fin!s there a s%"$ol of the 9ather of all. 'n! $% this "%stical i"pression +hich correspon!s to his nature the% $eco"e unite! +ith their original, !i/esting the"sel/es of their o+n essence an! hastening to $eco"e his i"pression alone1 an!, through a !esire of his unkno+n nature an! of the fountain of goo!, to participate in hi" alone. 'n! +hen the% ha/e ascen!e! as far as to this cause the% en5o% perfect tran7uilit% an! are con/ersant in the perception of his !i/ine progen% an! of the lo/e +hich all things naturall% possess, an! goo!ness, unkno+n, ineffa$le, +ithout participation an! transcen!entl% fullE] +e "ust stir up an! assu"e a purer e%e +ithin, +hich all "en possess, $ut +hich is alone use! $% a fe+. What is it, then, this in+ar! e%e $ehol!s6 *n!ee!, su!!enl% raise! to intellectual /ision, it cannot percei/e an o$5ect e0cee!ing $right. The soul "ust therefore $e first accusto"e! to conte"plate fair stu!ies an! then $eautiful +orks, not such as arise fro" the operations of art, $ut such as are the offspring of +orth% "en1 an! ne0t to this it is necessar% to /ie+ the soul, +hich is the parent of this lo/el% race. But %ou +ill ask, after +hat "anner is this $eaut% of a +orth% soul to $e percei/e!6 *t is thus. ecall %our thoughts in+ar!, an! if +hile conte"plating %ourself, %ou !o not percei/e %ourself $eautiful, i"itate the statuar%1 +ho +hen he !esires a $eautiful statue cuts a+a% +hat is superfluous, s"ooths an! polishes +hat is rough, an! ne/er !esists until he has gi/en it all the $eaut% his art is a$le to effect. *n this "anner "ust %ou procee!, $% lopping +hat is lu0uriant, !irecting +hat is o$li7ue, an!, $% purgation, illustrating +hat is o$scure, an! thus continue to polish an! $eautif% %our statue until the !i/ine splen!our of Virtue shines upon %ou, an! Te"perance seate! in pure Page I

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an! hol% "a5est% rises to %our /ie+. *f %ou $eco"e thus purifie! resi!ing in %ourself, an! ha/ing nothing an% longer to i"pe!e this unit% of "in!, an! no farther "i0ture to $e foun! +ithin, $ut percei/ing %our +hole self to $e a true light, an! light alone1 a light +hich though i""ense is not "easure! $% an% "agnitu!e, nor li"ite! $% an% circu"scri$ing figure, $ut is e/er%+here i""easura$le, as $eing greater than e/er% "easure, an! "ore e0cellent than e/er% 7uantit%1 if, percei/ing %ourself thus i"pro/e!, [Page 19] an! trusting solel% to %ourself, as no longer re7uiring a gui!e, fi0 no+ stea!fastl% %our "ental /ie+, for +ith the intellectual e%e alone can such i""ense $eaut% $e percei/e!. But if %our e%e is %et infecte! +ith an% sor!i! concern, an! not thoroughl% refine!, +hile it is on the stretch to $ehol! this "ost shining spectacle, it +ill $e i""e!iatel% !arkene! an! incapa$le of intuition, though so"eone shoul! !eclare the spectacle present, +hich it "ight $e other+ise a$le to !iscern. 9or, it is here necessar% that the percei/er an! the thing percei/e! shoul! $e si"ilar to each other $efore true /ision can e0ist. Thus the sensiti/e e%e can ne/er $e a$le to sur/e% the or$ of the sun, unless strongl% en!ue! +ith solar fire, an! participating largel% of the /i/i! ra%. &/er%one therefore "ust $eco"e !i/ine, an! of go!like $eaut%, $efore he can ga;e upon a go! an! the $eautiful itself. Thus procee!ing in the right +a% of $eaut% he +ill first ascen! into the region of intellect, conte"plating e/er% fair species, the $eaut% of +hich he +ill percei/e to $e no other than i!eas the"sel/es1 for all things are $eautiful $% the super/ening irra!iations of these, $ecause the% are the offspring an! essence of intellect. But that +hich is superior to these is no other than the fountain of goo!, e/er%+here +i!el% !iffusing aroun! the strea"s of $eaut%, an! hence in !iscourse calle! the $eautiful itself $ecause $eaut% is its i""e!iate offspring. But if %ou accuratel% !istinguish the intelligi$le o$5ects %ou +ill call the $eautiful the receptacle of i!eas1 $ut the goo! itself, +hich is superior, the fountain an! principle of the $eautiful1 or, %ou "a% place the first $eautiful an! the goo! in the sa"e principle, in!epen!ent of the $eaut% +hich there su$sists. But $efore * take "% lea/e of Plotinus, * cannot refrain fro" a!!ressing a fe+ +or!s to the Platonical part of "% rea!ers. *f such then is the +is!o" containe! in the +orks of this philosopher, as +e "a% conclu!e fro" the present speci"en, is it fit so !i/ine a treasure shoul! $e conceale! in sha"eful o$li/ion 6 With respect to true philosoph% %ou "ust $e sensi$le that all "o!ern sects are in a state of $ar$arous ignorance1 for 4aterialis" an! its atten!ant Sensualit% ha/e !arkene! the e%es of the many +ith the "ists of error, an! are continuall% strengthening their corporeal tie. 'n! can an%thing "ore effectuall% !issipate this increasing gloo" than !iscourses co"pose! $% so su$li"e a genius, pregnant +ith the "ost profoun! conceptions, an! e/er%+here full of intellectual light 6 Can an%thing so thoroughl% !estro% the phanto" of false enthusias" as esta$lishing the real o$5ect of the true 6 :et us then $ol!l% enlist oursel/es un!er the $anners of Plotinus, an!, $% his assistance, /igorousl% repel the encroach"ents of error, plunge her !o"inions into the a$%ss of forgetfulness, an! !isperse the !arkness of her $aneful night. 9or in!ee! there ne/er +as a perio! +hich re7uire! so "uch philosophic e0ertion, or such /ehe"ent contention fro" the lo/ers of Truth. 8n all si!es nothing of philosoph% re"ains $ut the na"e, an! this is $eco"e the su$5ect of the /ilest prostitution1 since it is not onl% engrosse! $% the naturalist, che"ist, an! anato"ist, $ut is usurpe! $% the "echanic in e/er% trifling in/ention, an! "a!e su$ser/ient to the lucre of traffic an! "erchan!ise. There cannot surel% $e a greater proof of the !egenerac% of the ti"es than so unparallele! a !egra!ation an! so $ar$arous a per/ersion of ter"s. 9or the +or! philosoph%, +hich i"plies the lo/e of +is!o", is no+ $eco"e the orna"ent of foll%. *n the ti"es of its in/entor, an! for "an% succee!ing ages, it +as e0pressi/e of "o!est% an! +orth 1 in our !a%s it is the $a!ge of i"pu!ence an! /ain pretensions. *t +as for"erl% the s%"$ol of the profoun! conte"plati/e genius, it is no+ the "ark of the superficial an! unthinking practitioner. *t +as once re/erence! $% kings an! clothe! in the ro$es of no$ilit%1 it is no+ 2accor!ing to its true acceptation3 a$an!one! an! !espise! an! ri!icule! [Page 20] $% the /ilest ple$eian. Per"it "e, then, "% frien!s, to a!!ress %ou in the +or!s of 'chilles to =ector# ouse, then, %our forces this i"portant hour Collect %our strength an! call forth all %our po+@r.# Page 9

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Since, to a!opt the ani"ate! language of Neptune to the ,reeks, # . . 8n !astar!s, !ea! to fa"e, * +aste no anger, for the% feel no sha"e, But %ou, the pri!e, the flo+er of all our host, 4% heart +eeps $loo!, to see %our glor% lost.#

or !ee" the e0hortation i"pertinent, an! the !anger groun!less. # 9or lo J the fate! ti"e, th@ appointe! shore, =ark, the gates $urst, the $ra;en $arriers roar.# *"petuous ignorance is thun!ering at the $ul+arks of philosoph% an! her sacre! retreats are in !anger of $eing !e"olishe!, through our fee$le resistance. ise then, "% frien!s, an! the /ictor% +ill $e ours. The foe is in!ee! nu"erous, $ut at the sa"e ti"e fee$le1 an! the +eapons of truth in the han!s of /igorous union, !escen! +ith irresisti$le force, an! are fatal +here/er the% fall] 9*N*S

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