126 HERMES TRISMEGISTUS. 



XVI. 



OF HERMES (Stobceus, Physica, 800 j 1 Meineke, i. 227; 

 Patrit, 41 and 40b). 



SOUL then is an eternal intelligent Essence having 

 understanding after its own mode. 



Ibid. The Soul then is incorporeal Essence ; for if it 

 has body it will be no longer conservative of itself. For 

 every body has need of the To Be (a) and has need also of 

 life, that situate in order. For universally upon that 

 having generation change also must follow. For the 

 generate is generate in magnitude, for generate has in- 

 crease; but universally upon that increased follows after 

 diminution; upon diminution corruption. Having re- 

 ceived the form of life it lives and has community of the 

 To Be with the Soul. But the cause of the To Be to 

 another itself first is Being (&). But the To Be now I call 

 generation in Eeason (c) and partaking of intelligent life (c) ; 

 but the Soul affords intelligent life. But it is named 

 Animal indeed because of the life, but rational because of 

 the intelligent, mortal because of the body. Soul there- 

 fore is incorporeal, having the power without degeneration. 

 For how is it fitting (e) to speak of the intelligent animal, 

 there not being Essence of that also affording life? 

 Neither is it fitting to say Eational, there not being the 

 thoughtful (/) Essence, that affording also intelligent life. 

 But in all the intelligence does not follow on (g) because 

 of the constitution of the body as regards (A) the Harmony. 

 For if in the constitution the warm is superabundant it 

 becomes light and ardent, but if the cold, it becomes heavy 

 and slow; for nature adapts (-&) the constitution of the 



(a) Citron rov tlvoti. (6) etvrvi Kparv) ov lor/. (c) TO h 



(d) &$)$ voep&g. (e) oiov re. (/) 



((/) aqHwiiroii. (h) irpo$. (i) appoget. 



1 In this and the three following Excerpts, Stobseus does not state 

 from whatfc works of Hermes they are extracted. 



