PYTHAGOREAN WRITINGS. 54.9 



formed # . Whoever has read Timaens Locrus with any 

 degree of attention, will have found in him this very 

 maxim. 



In like manner will a little attention to the antients, 

 together with a competent recollection of particular 

 pafTages, very ealily difcover, that even the oppoiite 

 principles are genuine pythagoric. Ocellus reckons 

 heat and cold, drynefs and moifture, among thefe op- 

 polite principles. This, in conjunction with the juft- 

 mentioned tefti monies, that there are four elements, 

 and with the ordinary perceptions of mankind, that fire 

 is hot, water cold, the air moift, and the earth dry, 

 would of itfelf afford a ftrong prefumption in favour of 

 the oppoiite principles. This prefumption however 

 we have no need of, fmce exprefs teftimonies are ex- 

 tant. Light and darknefs, heat and cold, moifture 

 and drought, fays Diogenes Laertius, after Alexander 

 and Ariftotle, are diftributed in the world in equal 

 portions Who fees not here the oppofite prin- 

 ciples? Ariftotle hirnfelf fpeaks of them, when he 

 cites the ten avrciyja,$, which are all oppofed to each 

 other. Though heat, cold, drought, and moifture 

 are not expreftly found among them ; yet we need only 

 conlider, that heat and cold are with Ocellus the 

 active, drynefs and moifture the paffive principles ; 

 that the Pythagoreans gave the two, in their myftic 

 fymbolical languages, the epithets of male and female, 

 for finding them likewife in Ariftotle. 



* Diog. Laert. viii. 25, 

 f Diog, Laert. viii. 26. 



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