124 HERMES TRISMEGISTUS. 



without, as being immortal. For it behoved that the 

 Bodies generated by Him to have such sort also the 

 Nature. But He our Creator being in body hath made us 

 and makes, and ever will make bodies dissoluble and 

 mortal. For it was not lawful for Him to imitate the 

 Creator of Himself, besides it also being impossible. For 

 He indeed made out of the first Essence being incor- 

 poreal; but He out of that embodiment (a) made us. 

 Justly then according to the right reason, these the bodies 

 indeed, as having been generated from an incorporeal 

 Essence, are immortal ; but ours are dissoluble and mortal 

 (the material of us being composed out of bodies), be- 

 cause of being weak and requiring much succour. For 

 how ever even haply had the connection of our bodies 

 kept up, if it had not some nourishment superinduced 

 thereon from the like elements, and refreshing us (&) each 

 day by day? For both of earth and of water and of fire 

 and of air there is an influx generated upon us, which 

 renovating our bodies keeps together the tabernacle. So 

 also for the motions we are rather weak, bearing motions 

 not even one day. For be well assured, Child! that 

 unless in the nights the bodies of us reposed, we should 

 not bear up for one day. Whence the Creator being good 

 having foreprovided (c) all things made the Sleep for the 

 preservation of the Animal, the greatest soother of the 

 fatigue of the motion, and ordained an equality to each 

 time, or rather a longer for the repose. But understand, 

 O Child ! the very great energy of the sleep, opposite to 

 that of the Soul, but not less than that. For as the Soul 

 is energy of motion, the same way the bodies also cannot 

 live apart from the sleep ; for it is relaxation and libera- 

 tion of the compacted members, and it energizes within, 

 making into body the superinduced (d) matter, distributing 

 to each that congenial (e) to it ; the water indeed to the 

 blood, but the earth to the bones and marrows, the air to 

 the nerves and veins, but the fire to the vision. Where- 



(ct) ytivx/aii/Yis aufAonuastos. (&) vKtaufAolTov. (c) 

 (d) fTrtiffthOovactv. (e) TO oi 



