EXCERPTS BY STOB^EUS. 131 



with 2g;>, Kpovos, and "HX/O; Greek and Egyptian Deities 

 to whom no allusion is made in the other writings of 

 our author, which are also manifestly inconsistent with 

 any belief in the existence of such beings.] 



XX. 



OF HERMES (Stolceiis, Ethica, Lib. ii., 358; Meiwke, Vol. 

 ii., p. 100. It is not stated from what woi*k of Hermes 

 this is taken). 



THERE is then Essence and Eeason and Understanding 

 and Thought. Both Opinion and Sense are referred to (a) 

 the Thought, but the Reason goes to the Essence, but the 

 Understanding goes by itself. But the Understanding is 

 interwoven (6) with the Thought; but permeating one 

 another (c) they become one Form [or Idea], and that is 

 that of the Soul. But Opinion and Sense are referred to 

 the Thought of the same ; but these do not remain at the 

 same ; whence they both exceed and fall short and differ 

 with Itself (d). Worse indeed it becomes when drawn 

 away from the Thought; but when it accompanies and 

 is obedient, it holds communion with the intellectual 

 Eeason through the Sciences. But we have the choos- 

 ing. For the choosing the superior is with us, and like- 

 wise the worse at our will. 1 For choice being made of 

 the evils brings us near to the corporeal nature : through 

 this Fate tyrannizes over the chooser (e). When then 

 the corporeal Essence in us, the intellectual Eeason, is 

 self-determinate (/), and this [Essence] holds on always 

 according to this and in such wise, through this Fate 



(a) Qiptrai. (&) 



(c) lA^oVra B< <xA?^Av. (d) 



(e) ^vifotffnvsi T$ thofiiva. (/) 



1 See Poemandres, ante, ch. iv. 6. 



