10 



as subjects ; but the cause of generation then sub- 

 sists where the subject matter remains the same : 

 this being the case, it is evident that the cause of 

 generation possesses both an effective and motive 

 power, but that the recipient of generation is 

 adapted to passivity, and to be moved. 



But the Fates themselves distinguish and sepa- 

 rate the impassive part of the world from that which 

 is perpetually moved [or mutuable] *. For the 

 course of the moon is the isthmus of immortality 

 and generation. The region, indeed, above the 

 moon, and also that which the moon occupies, con- 

 tain the genus of the gods; but the place beneath 

 the moon is the abode of strife and nature; for in 

 this place there is a mutation of things that are 

 generated, and a regeneration of things which have 

 perished. 



In that part of the world, however, in which 

 nature and generation predominate, it is necessary 



* In the original, TO *t nrta,6t$ (tigos <rov xoffpeu xeti ro uxtvwrov, 

 which is obviously erroneous. Nogarola, in his note on this pas- 

 sage, says, " Melius arbitror si legatur ro <rt at.ti<x,6t$ ftio$, XKI 

 auxivwrov, ut sit sensus, semper patibilem, et semper mobilem par- 

 tern distinguunt ac separant." But though he is right in reading 

 for axivyrov, he is wrong in substituting a,ntfK0i$ for 

 for Ocellus is here speaking of the distinction between 

 the celestial and sublunary region, the former of which is impas- 

 sive, because not subject to generation and corruption, but the 

 latter being subject to both these \* perpetually mutable. 



