X PREFACE. 



Theology of Plato, that all the Theology of that Phllofopher was 

 taken from the Orphic writings and the School of Pythagoras. 



It may he douhted, however, whether Orpheus ever wrote any 

 thing himfclf, and whether his Philofophy was not communicated 

 only to thofe who were initiated in the Myfteries, fuch as the Eleu- 

 fynian and the Samothracian. If fo, thefe writings, which pafled 

 under the name of Orpheus, muft be the work of fome of the Or- 

 pbic'i of later times. But be that as it will, it is certain that his 

 Philofophy came from Egypt, and was at firfi: concealed under Re- 

 ligious Myfteries, and not revealed to the prophane. But even af- 

 ter it allumed another fhape, and walked abroad without its myftic 

 veil, Thales, the firft philoibpher of Greece by profefTion, had no 

 ether mafters but the Egyptian Priefts *, from whom he learned 

 fome Geometry, but does not appear to have carried away much of 

 their Theology or Sublime Philofophy. But fo much he learned 

 from them of the Philofophy of Mind, as to know that even inani- 

 mate Things, as they are commonly called, fuch as Amber and the 

 Loadftone, Vv^ere animated ; that is, were moved by Mind : A funda- 

 mental principle, in my opinion, both of the Philofophy of Nature 

 and of Theifm. He learned alfo there, that the univerfe was full of 

 Daemons or Intelligences f. But knowing how much more was to 

 be learned from them, he advifed Pythagoras to go to Egypt., and 

 put himfelf to the fchool of the Priefts of Memphis and Thebes, 

 from whom, he faid, he had learned everything that had given him 

 any reputation among his countrymen in Greece \. 



Before 



* Diogenes Laertius in Vita Thalctis. 



\ Ibidem. 



I Jamblichus De Vita Pythagora, par?.g. J 2 of Keillcr's EUitica.. 



