Pythagoras: His Life and Teaching, a Compendium of Classical Sources by James Wasserman, Thomas Stanley, Henry L. Drake, J Daniel Gunther Page B
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place of the chief end and better things either in our words or thoughts.
SYMBOL III
That which follows— Sacrifice and worship barefoot —is an exhortation to the same. For this signifies that we ought to serve the godsand perform their knowledge decently and moderately, not exceeding the order in the earth. Another way that we ought to perform their service and knowledge is to be free and without fetters. This, the symbol commands to be observed not in the body only, but in the acts of the soul. That such acts be not restrained by passions, nor by the infirmity of the body, nor by our external generation, but all free and ready for communication with the gods.
SYMBOL IV
There is another symbol of this kind exhorting to the same virtue: Concerning the gods, disbelieve nothing wonderful, nor concerning divine doctrines. This rule is religious, and declares the superlative excellence of the gods, instructing us and putting us in mind that we ought not to estimate the divine power by our own Judgment. To us who are corporeal, and generated, and corruptible, and transitory, and obnoxious to several diseases, and to narrowness of habitation, and to aggravation of motion towards the center, and to sleepiness, and to indigence, and to abundance, and to imprudence, and to infirmity, and to impediment of soul and the like—some things will seem difficult, and impossible. Yet have we many excellencies by nature. But we are quite short of the gods. Neither have we the same power or ability. This symbol, therefore, chiefly advises to a knowledge of the gods, as of those who are able to do all things; whence it admonishs to disbelieve nothing concerning the gods. There is added, nor concerning divine doctrines , meaning those which are declared by the Pythagorean philosophy. Because, they being settled by mathematics and scientific speculation, will show by demonstration, strengthened by necessity, that there are true beings existent void of fallaciousness.
These may also exhort to the science concerning the gods and persuade that such a Science is to be acquired, as by which we shall not disbelieve 907 anything concerning the gods. The same may advise to divine doctrines and to proceed by mathematics; for they only clear the eyes and are illuminative of all beings to him that will behold them. For by participation of mathematics, one thing is constituted before all: that we disbelieve not anything, either concerning the nature of the gods, or their essence, or their power. Nor of those Pythagorean doctrines which seem monstrous to personsnot initiated into mathematics. Thus “disbelieve not” is equivalent to “acquire and possess those things by means whereof you shall not disbelieve”—that is mathematics, and Scientific demonstrations.
SYMBOL V
The next symbol tends (as I conceive) to the same effect: Declining highways, walk in pathways. For it commands to leave the public popular course of life and to pursue that which is separate and divine. Likewise, that we despise the common opinions, and much esteem the private which are not to be divulged. And to condemn the pleasure which tends towards men; but to value exceedingly that felicity which is joined with the divine will. And to leave human customs as vulgar; but to apply ourselves to the worship of the Gods, which far excels the ordinary course of life. Allied to this, is that which follows.
SYMBOL VI
Abstain from the Melanure, for it belongs to the Terrestrial Gods. We shall say more upon this in our explication of the exhortative Symbols. It advises to make choice of the Heavenly Journey and to adhere to the Intellectual Gods. To withdraw ourselves from Material nature, and to direct our course to that life which is pure, void of matter, and to make use of the best way of Divine worship and that which is most suitable to the chief deities. These Symbols are exhortative to the knowledge and worship of the Gods.
SYMBOL VII
The following symbols exhort to Wisdom:
SYMBOL III
That which follows— Sacrifice and worship barefoot —is an exhortation to the same. For this signifies that we ought to serve the godsand perform their knowledge decently and moderately, not exceeding the order in the earth. Another way that we ought to perform their service and knowledge is to be free and without fetters. This, the symbol commands to be observed not in the body only, but in the acts of the soul. That such acts be not restrained by passions, nor by the infirmity of the body, nor by our external generation, but all free and ready for communication with the gods.
SYMBOL IV
There is another symbol of this kind exhorting to the same virtue: Concerning the gods, disbelieve nothing wonderful, nor concerning divine doctrines. This rule is religious, and declares the superlative excellence of the gods, instructing us and putting us in mind that we ought not to estimate the divine power by our own Judgment. To us who are corporeal, and generated, and corruptible, and transitory, and obnoxious to several diseases, and to narrowness of habitation, and to aggravation of motion towards the center, and to sleepiness, and to indigence, and to abundance, and to imprudence, and to infirmity, and to impediment of soul and the like—some things will seem difficult, and impossible. Yet have we many excellencies by nature. But we are quite short of the gods. Neither have we the same power or ability. This symbol, therefore, chiefly advises to a knowledge of the gods, as of those who are able to do all things; whence it admonishs to disbelieve nothing concerning the gods. There is added, nor concerning divine doctrines , meaning those which are declared by the Pythagorean philosophy. Because, they being settled by mathematics and scientific speculation, will show by demonstration, strengthened by necessity, that there are true beings existent void of fallaciousness.
These may also exhort to the science concerning the gods and persuade that such a Science is to be acquired, as by which we shall not disbelieve 907 anything concerning the gods. The same may advise to divine doctrines and to proceed by mathematics; for they only clear the eyes and are illuminative of all beings to him that will behold them. For by participation of mathematics, one thing is constituted before all: that we disbelieve not anything, either concerning the nature of the gods, or their essence, or their power. Nor of those Pythagorean doctrines which seem monstrous to personsnot initiated into mathematics. Thus “disbelieve not” is equivalent to “acquire and possess those things by means whereof you shall not disbelieve”—that is mathematics, and Scientific demonstrations.
SYMBOL V
The next symbol tends (as I conceive) to the same effect: Declining highways, walk in pathways. For it commands to leave the public popular course of life and to pursue that which is separate and divine. Likewise, that we despise the common opinions, and much esteem the private which are not to be divulged. And to condemn the pleasure which tends towards men; but to value exceedingly that felicity which is joined with the divine will. And to leave human customs as vulgar; but to apply ourselves to the worship of the Gods, which far excels the ordinary course of life. Allied to this, is that which follows.
SYMBOL VI
Abstain from the Melanure, for it belongs to the Terrestrial Gods. We shall say more upon this in our explication of the exhortative Symbols. It advises to make choice of the Heavenly Journey and to adhere to the Intellectual Gods. To withdraw ourselves from Material nature, and to direct our course to that life which is pure, void of matter, and to make use of the best way of Divine worship and that which is most suitable to the chief deities. These Symbols are exhortative to the knowledge and worship of the Gods.
SYMBOL VII
The following symbols exhort to Wisdom:
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