42 HERMES TRISMEGISTUS. 



hour nor time is it possible to ascertain (a), concerning 

 what also shall I hymn? concerning what things Thou 

 hast made, or concerning those Thou hast not made ? con- 

 cerning those Thou hast made manifest, or concerning 

 those Thou hast concealed? Wherefore also shall I hymn 

 Thee? As if being of myself, as if having something 

 mine own ? (b) as being another ? For Thou art what I 

 may be, Thou art what I may do, Thou art what I may 

 speak, for Thou art all things, and there is nothing else 

 that Thou art not. Thou art everything generated (c). 

 Thou that art not generated ; Mind also, intelligent (d). 

 Father too creating, God also energizing ; good moreover, 

 and making all things. For of matter, indeed, the lightest 

 in parts (e) is air; but of air, Soul(/) ; of Soul, Mind; but 

 of Mind, The God. 



CHAPTEE VI. 



That in The God alone is The Good, and ly no means 

 anywhere else. 



1. THE Good, O Asclepius ! is in nothing excepting The 

 God alone. Eather, indeed, the Good is The God Himself 

 evermore. But it is thus, He must be Essence, destitute (g) 

 -of all moxenient, and of generation (but naught is desti- 

 tute of this), but having around Itself a stable energy 

 wanting nothing, without superfluity, most copious pro- 

 vider^). One thing is the beginning of all things; for that 

 providing (i) everything is Good. When I say also in all 

 respects, it is ever Good. But this belongs to no one else 

 except to The God only. For neither is He wanting of 

 ^anything, so that coveting to possess it He should become 



(d) x.ot.Tot'h.ot.flfiiv. (6) i^tiov. (c) 



(d) vooi>ft,euQ$. (e) tieTTTopspeffTspov. (/ 



(h) xopyiyov. (i) irau yap ro xop 



