POEMANDRES. II. 19 



the very opposition (a), are moved amongst each other (b) 

 by the stable (c). And it is impossible that it should be 

 otherwise ; for those arctic (spheres) which thou seest 

 neither setting nor rising, revolved about the same pointy 

 dost thou think to be moved or to stand still ? 



Asclepius. To be moved, Trismegistus. 



Hermes. What sort of motion, Asclepius ? 



Asclepius. That being turned always about the same 

 point. 



Hermes. But the circulation about the same point is 

 motion restrained by stableness (d). For what is around 

 the same hinders that exceeding the same; but that in 

 excess being hindered, if it stand in that which is around 

 the same, so also the contrary course stands firm, being 

 always maintained (e) by the contrariety. 1 



8. But I will mention to you a terrestrial example meet- 

 ing the eye about this. Contemplate terrene animals, such 

 as the man, I say, swimming. For the water flowing on- 

 wards, the resistance of the feet and of the hands becomes 

 stability to the man, that he be not carried along with the 

 water, nor be sunk by it. 



Asclepius. Thou hast spoken a very apposite example, 

 O Trismegistus! 



Hermes. All motion then is moved in stability (/) and 

 by stability. The motion therefore of the World, and of 

 every material animal, does not happen to be generated by 

 things without the World, but by those within to that 

 without, either by soul or spirit, or something else incor- 

 poreal ; for body does not move a thing with soul (</), not 

 even the entire body, if it be without soul. 



9. Asclepius. How sayest thou this, Trismegistus? 

 Woods then and stones, and all other without soul, are 

 they not bodies that are movers? 



(a) Ttpl rqv Mctvrivnrrrat, ccvr^y. (6) v^i dft.~h.fauv. (c) VKO rvjg l 

 (d) tiro ffTtiffsaS' ( e ) ffTypt^oftevYi. (/) It/ ardiasi. ( 



1 The same attempt to explain the relative motions of the planets 

 and stars is to be found in the " Timseus " of Plato. See also ante, 

 ch. i. 14, note. 



