inner motion he divided in six places and made seven unequal circles
having their intervals in ratios of two…and three； three of each；
and bade the orbits proceed in a direction opposite to one another；
and three ＇Sun； Mercury； Venus＇ he made to move with equal
swiftness； and the remaining four ＇Moon； Saturn； Mars； Jupiter＇ to
move with unequal swiftness to the three and to one another； but in
due proportion。
Now when the Creator had framed the soul according to his will； he
formed within her the corporeal universe； and brought the two
together； and united them centre to centre。 The soul； interfused
everywhere from the centre to the circumference of heaven； of which
also she is the external envelopment； herself turning in herself；
began a divine beginning of never ceasing and rational life enduring
throughout all time。 The body of heaven is visible； but the soul is
invisible； and partakes of reason and harmony； and being made by the
best of intellectual and everlasting natures； is the best of things
created。 And because she is composed of the same and of the other
and of the essence； these three； and is divided and united in due
proportion； and in her revolutions returns upon herself； the soul；
when touching anything which has essence； whether dispersed in parts
or undivided； is stirred through all her powers； to declare the
sameness or difference of that thing and some other； and to what
individuals are related； and by what affected； and in what way and how
and when； both in the world of generation and in the world of
immutable being。 And when reason； which works with equal truth；
whether she be in the circle of the diverse or of the same…in
voiceless silence holding her onward course in the sphere of the
self…moved…when reason； I say； is hovering around the sensible world
and when the circle of the diverse also moving truly imparts the
intimations of sense to the whole soul； then arise opinions and
beliefs sure and certain。 But when reason is concerned with the
rational； and the circle of the same moving smoothly declares it； then
intelligence and knowledge are necessarily perfected。 And if any one
affirms that in which these two are found to be other than the soul；
he will say the very opposite of the truth。
When the father creator saw the creature which he had made moving
and living； the created image of the eternal gods； he rejoiced； and in
his joy determined to make the copy still more like the original；
and as this was eternal； he sought to make the universe eternal； so
far as might be。 Now the nature of the ideal being was everlasting；
but to bestow this attribute in its fulness upon a creature was
impossible。 Wherefore he resolved to have a moving image of
eternity； and when he set in order the heaven； he made this image
eternal but moving according to number； while eternity itself rests in
unity； and this image we call time。 For there were no days and
nights and months and years before the heaven was created； but when he
constructed the heaven he created them also。 They are all parts of
time； and the past and future are created species of time； which we
unconsciously but wrongly transfer to the eternal essence； for we
say that he 〃was；〃 he 〃is；〃 he 〃will be；〃 but the truth is that 〃is〃
alone is properly attributed to him； and that 〃was〃 and 〃will be〃 only
to be spoken of becoming in time； for they are motions； but that which
is immovably the same cannot become older or younger by time； nor ever
did or has become； or hereafter will be； older or younger； nor is
subject at all to any of those states which affect moving and sensible
things and of which generation is the cause。 These are the forms of
time； which imitates eternity and revolves according to a law of
number。 Moreover； when we say that what has become is become and
what becomes is becoming； and that what will become is about to become
and that the non…existent is non…existent…all these are inaccurate
modes of expression。 But perhaps this whole subject will be more
suitably discussed on some other occasion。
Time； then； and the heaven came into being at the same instant in
order that； having been created together； if ever there was to be a
dissolution of them； they might be dissolved together。 It was framed
after the pattern of the eternal nature； that it might resemble this
as far as was possible； for the pattern exists from eternity； and
the created heaven has been； and is； and will be； in all time。 Such
was the mind and thought of God in the creation of time。 The sun and
moon and five other stars； which are called the planets； were
created by him in order to distinguish and preserve the numbers of
time； and when he had made…their several bodies； he placed them in the
orbits in which the circle of the other was revolving…in seven
orbits seven stars。 First； there was the moon in the orbit nearest the
earth； and next the sun； in the second orbit above the earth； then
came the morning star and the star sacred to Hermes； moving in
orbits which have an equal swiftness with the sun； but in an
opposite direction； and this is the reason why the sun and Hermes
and Lucifer overtake and are overtaken by each other。 To enumerate the
places which he assigned to the other stars； and to give all the
reasons why he assigned them； although a secondary matter； would
give more trouble than the primary。 These things at some future
time； when we are at leisure； may have the consideration which they
deserve； but not at present。
Now； when all the stars which were necessary to the creation of time
had attained a motion suitable to them；…and had become living
creatures having bodies fastened by vital chains； and learnt their
appointed task； moving in the motion of the diverse； which is
diagonal； and passes through and is governed by the motion of the
same； they revolved； some in a larger and some in a lesser orbit…those
which had the lesser orbit revolving faster； and those which had the
larger more slowly。 Now by reason of the motion of the same； those
which revolved fastest appeared to be overtaken by those which moved
slower although they really overtook them； for the motion of the
same made them all turn in a spiral； and； because some went one way
and some another； that which receded most slowly from the sphere of
the same； which was the swiftest； appeared to follow it most nearly。
That there might be some visible measure of their relative swiftness
and slowness as they proceeded in their eight courses； God lighted a
fire； which we now call the sun； in the second from the earth of these
orbits； that it might give light to the whole of heaven； and that
the animals； as many as nature intended； might participate in
number； learning arithmetic from the revolution of the same and the
like。 Thus then； and for this reason the night and the day were
created； being the period of the one most intelligent revolution。
And the month is accomplished when the moon has completed her orbit
and overtaken the sun； and the year when the sun has completed his own
orbit。 Mankind； with hardly an exception； have not remarked the
periods of the other stars； and they have no name for them； and do not
measure them against one another by the help of number； and hence they
can scarcely be said to know that their wanderings； being infinite
in number and admirable for their variety； make up time。 And yet there
is no difficulty in seeing that the perfect number of time fulfils the
perfect year when all the eight revolutions； having their relative
degrees of swiftness； are accomplished together and attain their
completion at the same time； measured by the rotation of the same
and equally moving。 After this manner； and for these reasons； came
into being such of the stars as in their heavenly progress received
reversals of motion； to the end that the created heaven might
imitate the eternal nature； and be as like as possible to the
perfect and intelligible animal。
Thus far and until the birth of time the created universe was made
in the likeness of the original； but inasmuch as all animals were
not yet comprehended therein； it was still unlike。 What remained；
the creator then proceeded to fashion after the nature of the pattern。
Now as in the ideal animal the mind perceives ideas or species of a
certain nature and number； he thought that this created animal ought
to have species of a like nature and number。 There are four such；
one of them is the heavenly race of the gods； another； the race of
birds whose way is in the air； the third； the watery species； and
the fourth； the pedestrian and land creatures。 Of the heavenly and
divine； he created the greater part out of fire； that they might be
the brightest of all things and fairest to behold； and he fashioned
them after the likeness of the universe in the figure of a circle； and
made them follow the intelligent motion of the supreme； distributing
them over the whole circumference of heaven； which was to be a true
cosmos or glorious world spangled with them all over。 And he gave to
each of them two movements： the first； a movement on the same spot
after the same manner； whereby they ever continue to think
consistently the same thoughts about the same things； the second； a
forward movement； in which they are controlled by the revolution of
the same and the like； but by the other five motions they were
unaffected； in order that each of them might attain the highest
perfection。 And for this reason the fixed stars were created； to be
divine and eternal animals； ever…abiding and revolving after the
same manner and on the same spot； and the other stars which reverse
their motion and are subject to deviations of this kind； were
created in the manner already described。 The earth； which is our
nurse； clinging around the pole which is extended through the
universe； he framed to be the guardian and artificer of night and day；
first and eldest of gods that are in the interior of heaven。 Vain
would be the attempt to tell all the figures of them circling as in
dance； and their juxtapositi