28 HERMES TRISMEGISTUS. 



the men, for knowledge of Divine works, and energizing 



testimony (a) of nature and multitude of men for the 



dominion of all things that are under heaven, and the 



cognition (&) of good things, for to be increased in increase, 



and to be multiplied in multitude, and every soul in flesh 



I through course of encircling Gods (c), for contemplation of 



I Heaven, and course of the heavenly Gods, 1 and divine 



works and energy of nature, and for signs of good things, 



(a) Ivspyoixrav ftaprvaioiv. (b) l-Kiyvuaiv. (c) 6tav l^ 



li From Reason then and this Providence of God for the generation 

 of Time, that Time might be generated, Sun and Moon, and five 

 others denominated Planet Stars, were generated for the division 

 and protection of the numbers of Time. And The God having made 

 bodies of each of them, placed them in the Orbits in which the 

 period of the others went being Seven, the stars being seven. Moon, 

 indeed, in the first around the earth, but Sun in the second above 

 earth, but Hesper and that called sacred of Hermes going in the 

 circle equal in swiftness with the Sun, but having the contrary force 

 to it, whence the Sun and that of Hermes and Hesper both overtake 

 and are overtaken in these by one another. When all the Stars then 

 needed to fabricate Time, had attained the course suitable each to each, 

 -and had become living bodies bound by vital chains, and had learned 

 that ordained to them according to the motion of the diverse being 

 diagonal (a-Aeey/**) and overruled by the same, they revolved, some in 

 -a larger, some in a lesser orbit; those in a lesser orbit revolving faster, 

 but those which had the larger revolving more slowly. That there 

 might be some measure of their relative swiftness in their eight courses, 

 God kindled Light in the second of the orbits, that next the earth, 

 which we call Sun, especially that it might shine over all the heaven, 

 and that living creatures, such to whom it was suitable, might partake 

 of number, learning it from the orbit of this and the like. Thus 

 then became Night and Day, and the period of the one and most 

 intellectual revolution," &c. " There is no difficulty in seeing that 

 the perfect number of Time completes the perfect year, when all the 

 eight periods having their relative degrees of swiftness are accom- 

 plished together, and begin again at their original points of departure." 

 See ante, sec. 2, note 2. 



1 The Seven Stars, with their guardian angels (viz., the Sun, the 

 Moon, Venus, Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn), were by Hermes 

 believed to revolve round the Earth, which remained unmoved in 

 the midst. So also the remainder of the Stars, but these latter fixed 

 in a solid firmament (ampta/aa,, Septuagint). See post, ch. xi. 7, and 

 note. 



