POEMANDRES. XIV. 97 



rate by other ; but of the generated beings it is impossible j 

 that any be older than all, except only the Ingenerate. ^J 



3. But this is both Superior and One and Only, really 

 wise as to all things, as not having anything older. For 

 He rules both over the multitude, and the magnitude and 

 difference of things generate, and over the continuity (a) 

 of the making and the energy. Then the generated are 

 visible but He invisible. On account of this He makes, 

 that He may be mvisible (&). He always then is making, 

 wherefore He is invisible. Thus He is worthy to under- 

 stand, and for the understander to wonder at, and the 

 wonderer to bless Himself, having recognised his own 

 kindred Father (c). 



4. For what is sweeter than an own kindred Father? ^ 

 Who then is He, and how shall we recognise Him ? 

 Whether is it just to ascribe to Him the appellation of 

 The God or that of The Maker, or that of The Father, or 

 also the three? God indeed because of the Power, Maker 

 because of the energizing, Father because of the Good. 

 For Power is different from things generate, but energy is 

 in this, that all things are generated. Wherefore having 

 cast away the much speaking and vain speaking, we must 

 understand these two, That Generate, and The Maker ; for 

 between these is naught, nor any third thing. 



5. Understanding then all things and hearing all things, 

 remember these Two ; and consider these to be the All, 

 placing nothing in ambiguity (cl), neither of those above 

 nor of those below, nor of those divine, nor of those 

 changeable, nor of those in secrecy. For Two are all ^ 

 things ; That Generate, and The Maker, and that the one 

 be separated from the other is impossible ; for neither is 

 it possible for the Maker to be apart from the Generate, 

 nor the Generate apart from the Maker ; for both of them 

 are the very same ; wherefore it cannot be that the one be 

 separated from the other, as neither self from itself. 



(a) TJi avvt&icc rtjg irQiyotas. (b) "ivoc, dopotrag 19; another reading 



adopted by Patricius is Ivoc. opetros 17. 



(c) yvqaiov TT art pot. (rf) ai-ropix. 



G 



