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 juxtapositions； and the return of them in their
revolutions upon themselves； and their approximations； and to say
which of these deities in their conjunctions meet； and which of them
are in opposition； and in what order they get behind and before one
another； and when they are severally eclipsed to our sight and again
reappear； sending terrors and intimations of the future to those who
cannot calculate their movements…to attempt to tell of all this
without a visible representation of the heavenly system would be
labour in vain。 Enough on this head； and now let what we have said
about the nature of the created and visible gods have an end。
To know or tell the origin of the other divinities is beyond us； and
we must accept the traditions of the men of old time who affirm
themselves to be the offspring of the gods…that is what they say…and
they must surely have known their own ancestors。 How can we doubt
the word of the children of the gods？ Although they give no probable
or certain proofs； still； as they declare that they are speaking of
what took place in their own family； we must conform to custom and
believe them。 In this manner； then； according to them； the genealogy
of these gods is to be received and set forth。
Oceanus and Tethys were the children of Earth and Heaven； and from
these sprang Phorcys and Cronos and Rhea； and all that generation； and
from Cronos and Rhea sprang Zeus and Here； and all those who are
said to be their brethren； and others who were the children of these。
Now； when all of them； both those who visibly appear in their
revolutions as well as those other gods who are of a more retiring
nature； had come into being； the creator of the universe addressed
them in these words： 〃Gods； children of gods； who are my works； and of
whom I am the artificer and father； my creations are indissoluble；
if so I will。 All that is bound may be undone； but only an evil
being would wish to undo that which is harmonious and happy。
Wherefore； since ye are but creatures； ye are not altogether
immortal and indissoluble； but ye shall certainly not be dissolved；
nor be liable to the fate of death； having in my will a greater and
mightier bond than those with which ye were bound at the time of
your birth。 And now listen to my instructions：…Three tribes of
mortal beings remain to be created…without them the universe will be
incomplete； for it will not contain every kind of animal which it
ought to contain； if it is to be perfect。 On the other hand； if they
were created by me and received life at my hands； they would be on
an equality with the gods。 In order then that they may be mortal；
and that this universe may be truly universal； do ye； according to
your natures； betake yourselves to the formation of animals； imitating
the power which was shown by me in creating you。 The part of them
worthy of the name immortal； which is called divine and is the guiding
principle of those who are willing to follow justice and you…of that
divine part I will myself sow the seed； and having made a beginning； I
will hand the work over to you。 And do ye then interweave the mortal
with the immortal； and make and beget living creatures； and give
them food； and make them to grow； and receive them again in death。〃
Thus he spake； and once more into the cup in which he had previously
mingled the soul of the universe he poured the remains of the
elements； and mingled them in much the same manner； they were not；
however； pure as before； but diluted to the second and third degree。
And having made it he divided the whole mixture into souls equal in
number to the stars； and assigned each soul to a star； and having
there placed them as in a chariot； he showed them the nature of the
universe； and declared to them the laws of destiny； according to which
their first birth would be one and the same for all；…no one should
suffer a disadvantage at his hands； they were to be sown in the
instruments of time severally adapted to them； and to come forth the
most religious of a