timaeu-第8章
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from him all but self…inflicted evils。
When the creator had made all these ordinances he remained in his
own accustomed nature； and his children heard and were obedient to
their father's word； and receiving from him the immortal principle
of a mortal creature； in imitation of their own creator they
borrowed portions of fire； and earth； and water； and air from the
world； which were hereafter to be restored…these they took and
welded them together； not with the indissoluble chains by which they
were themselves bound； but with little pegs too small to be visible；
making up out of all the four elements each separate body； and
fastening the courses of the immortal soul in a body which was in a
state of perpetual influx and efflux。 Now these courses； detained as
in a vast river； neither overcame nor were overcome； but were hurrying
and hurried to and fro； so that the whole animal was moved and
progressed； irregularly however and irrationally and anyhow； in all
the six directions of motion； wandering backwards and forwards； and
right and left； and up and down； and in all the six directions。 For
great as was the advancing and retiring flood which provided
nourishment； the affections produced by external contact caused
still greater tumult…when the body of any one met and came into
collision with some external fire； or with the solid earth or the
gliding waters； or was caught in the tempest borne on the air； and the
motions produced by any of these impulses were carried through the
body to the soul。 All such motions have consequently received the
general name of 〃sensations；〃 which they still retain。 And they did in
fact at that time create a very great and mighty movement； uniting
with the ever flowing stream in stirring up and violently shaking
the courses of the soul； they completely stopped the revolution of the
same by their opposing current； and hindered it from predominating and
advancing； and they so disturbed the nature of the other or diverse；
that the three double intervals ＇i。e。 between 1； 2； 4； 8＇； and the
three triple intervals ＇i。e。 between 1； 3； 9； 27＇； together with the
mean terms and connecting links which are expressed by the ratios of 3
： 2； and 4 ： 3； and of 9 ： 8…these； although they cannot be wholly
undone except by him who united them； were twisted by them in all
sorts of ways； and the circles were broken and disordered in every
possible manner； so that when they moved they were tumbling to pieces；
and moved irrationally； at one time in a reverse direction； and then
again obliquely； and then upside down； as you might imagine a person
who is upside down and has his head leaning upon the ground and his
feet up against something in the air； and when he is in such a
position； both he and the spectator fancy that the right of either
is his left； and left right。 If； when powerfully experiencing these
and similar effects； the revolutions of the soul come in contact
with some external thing； either of the class of the same or of the
other； they speak of the same or of the other in a manner the very
opposite of the truth； and they become false and foolish； and there is
no course or revolution in them which has a guiding or directing
power； and if again any sensations enter in violently from without and
drag after them the whole vessel of the soul； then the courses of
the soul； though they seem to conquer； are really conquered。
And by reason of all these affections； the soul； when encased in a
mortal body； now； as in the beginning； is at first without
intelligence； but when the flood of growth and nutriment abates； and
the courses of the soul； calming down； go their own way and become
steadier as time goes on； then the several circles return to their
natural form； and their revolutions are corrected； and they call the
same and the other by their right names； and make the possessor of
them to become a rational being。 And if these combine in him with
any true nurture or education； he attains the fulness and health of
the perfect man； and escapes the worst disease of all； but if he
neglects education he walks lame to the end of his life； and returns
imperfect and good for nothing to the world below。 This； however； is a
later stage； at present we must treat more exactly the subject
before us； which involves a preliminary enquiry into the generation of
the body and its members； and as to how the soul was created…for
what reason and by what providence of the gods； and holding fast to
probability； we must pursue our way。
First； then； the gods； imitating the spherical shape of the
universe； enclosed the two divine courses in a spherical body； that；
namely； which we now term the head； being the most divine part of us
and the lord of all that is in us： to this the gods； when they put
together the body； gave all the other members to be servants；
considering that it partook of every sort of motion。 In order then
that it might not tumble about among the high and deep places of the
earth； but might be able to get over the one and out of the other；
they provided the body to be its vehicle and means of locomotion；
which consequently had length and was furnished with four limbs
extended and flexible； these God contrived to be instruments of
locomotion with which it might take hold and find support； and so be
able to pass through all places； carrying on high the dwelling…place
of the most sacred and divine part of us。 Such was the origin of
legs and hands； which for this reason were attached to every man；
and the gods； deeming the front part of man to be more honourable
and more fit to command than the hinder part； made us to move mostly
in a forward direction。 Wherefore man must needs have his front part
unlike and distinguished from the rest of his body。
And so in the vessel of the head； they first of all put a face in
which they inserted organs to minister in all things to the providence
of the soul； and they appointed this part； which has authority； to
be by nature the part which is in front。 And of the organs they
first contrived the eyes to give light； and the principle according to
which they were inserted was as follows： So much of fire as would
not burn； but gave a gentle light； they formed into a substance akin
to the light of every…day life； and the pure fire which is within us
and related thereto they made to flow through the eyes in a stream
smooth and dense； compressing the whole eye； and especially the centre
part； so that it kept out everything of a coarser nature； and
allowed to pass only this pure element。 When the light of day
surrounds the stream of vision； then like falls upon like； and they
coalesce； and one body is formed by natural affinity in the line of
vision； wherever the light that falls from within meets with an
external object。 And the whole stream of vision； being similarly
affected in virtue of similarity； diffuses the motions of what it
touches or what touches it over the whole body； until they reach the
soul； causing that perception which we call sight。 But when night
comes on and the external and kindred fire departs； then the stream of
vision is cut off； for going forth to an unlike element it is
changed and extinguished； being no longer of one nature with the
surrounding atmosphere which is now deprived of fire： and so the eye
no longer sees； and we feel disposed to sleep。 For when the eyelids；
which the gods invented for the preservation of sight； are closed；
they keep in the internal fire； and the power of the fire diffuses and
equalises the inward motions； when they are equalised； there is
rest； and when the rest is profound； sleep comes over us scarce
disturbed by dreams； but where the greater motions still remain； of
whatever nature and in whatever locality； they engender
corresponding visions in dreams； which are remembered by us when we
are awake and in the external world。 And now there is no longer any
difficulty in understanding the creation of images in mirrors and
all smooth and bright surfaces。 For from the communion of the internal
and external fires；
