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In the Introduction to my Translation of the Timseus of 

 Plato, I have added the following numbers, for the purpose 

 of representing this beautiful distribution of the elements, 

 by Proclus, arithmetically. 



Let the number 60 represent fire, and 480 earth ; and the 

 media between these, viz. 120 and 240, will correspond to 

 air and water. For, as 60 : 120 : : 240 : 480. But 60 = 

 3 X 5 X 4, 120 = 3 X 10 X 4, 240 = 6 X 10 X 4, and 

 480 = 6 X 10 X 8. So that these numbers will corre- 

 spond to the properties of the elements as follows : 



Fire. Air. 



3X5X4 3X10X4:: 



Subtle, acute, moveable. Subtle, blunt, moveable. 



Water. Earth. 



6 X 10 X4: 6 X 10 X 8. 



Dense, blunt, moveable. Dense, blunt, immoveable. 



" Hence," Proclus adds, " these things being thus deter- 

 mined, let us physically adapt them to the words of Plato. 

 We call a [physical] plane or superficies, therefore, that 

 which has two powers only, but a [physical] solid that which 

 has three powers. And we say, that if we fashion bodies from 

 two powers, one medium would conjoin the elements to each 

 other. But since, as we assert, bodies possess triple powers, 

 they are bound together by two media. For there are two 

 common powers of the adjacent media, and one power which 

 is different. And the extremes themselves, if they consisted of 

 two powers, would be conjoined through one medium. For 

 let fire, if you will, be alone attenuated and easily moved ; 

 but earth, on the contrary, have alone grossness of parts 

 and immobility. One medium, therefore, will be sufficient 

 for these. For grossness of parts and facility of motion, and 



