230 GIORDANO BRUNO PART 



all things. 1 The atom-nature is privativefy so-called, 

 when it is the element and substance of a magnitude which 

 is the same in kind with it, and may be reduced to it, and 

 it is distinguished from the atom negatively so-called, 

 because it is not divisible, either in genus or in species, 

 either per se or per accident. Examples are, ( I ) in dis- 

 crete quantities : unity to the mathematician, the uni- 

 versal proposition to the logician, the syllable to the 

 grammarian ; and (2) in continuous quantities, varying 

 with the species of continuum: the minimal pain, 

 sweetness, colour, light, triangle, circle, straight line, 

 curve ; in duration, the instant ; in place, the minimal 

 space ; in length and breadth, the point ; in body, the 

 least and first body. 



Minimum In the second place, the atom or minimum is also a 

 stance" metaphysical TTOV o-rw ; not only is it the last result of 

 analysis, but it is also the permanent substance of being, 

 and again it contains all being in itself it is essence of 

 being. Thus such an individual nature a never comes 

 into existence by way of generation, nor passes out of 

 it by way of corruption or dissolution ; only per accidens 

 may we say that it now is, now is not." 2 Certain of 

 them, however, the souls, deities, God, are in their intrinsic 

 nature eternal, immortal, indissoluble. Of these it was 

 Bruno's intention to treat at large in a Metaphysics and 

 a De Anima which he purposed to write " if God granted 

 him time." 3 Unfortunately, it was willed otherwise. 



Nothing that becomes, changes, decays, is real 

 (ens). It is by meditating on this perpetual unity of 

 nature, by conforming ourselves, and preserving 

 ourselves in likeness to it, that we come to partake 

 in the life of the gods, and to deserve the name 



1 Of. Lot. i. 3. p. 209. 2 This thought recurs in Leibniz. 



3 Op. Lat. i. 3. pp. 209-211. 



