Theosophical Siftings

An Essay on the Beautiful

Vol 7, No 15

An Essay on the Beautiful

by Plotinus translated by Thomas Taylor
The Select Works of Plotinus 17 ! "eprinte# fro$ %Theosophical Siftings% Volu$e & The Theosophical Pu'lishing Society, Englan#

PREFACE T(E present issue of T(E)S)P(*+A, S*-T*N.S is a reprint of an e/cee#ingly rare little 0olu$e, pu'lishe# in ,on#on in the year 17 !1 The translator 2as Tho$as Taylor, the fa$ous Platonist, an# it is one of the $ost #ifficult of his 2orks to procure1
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)f Plotinus, the author of the treatise %)n the Beautiful%, here translate#, The Theosophical Glossary says that he 2as the no'lest, highest, an# gran#est of all the Neo3Platonists after the foun#er of the school, A$$onius Saccas1 (e 2as the $ost enthusiastic of the Philalethians or %lo0ers of truth%, 2hose ai$ 2as to foun# a religion on a syste$ of intellectual a'straction, 2hich is true Theosophy, or the 2hole su'stance of Neo3Platonis$1 *f 2e are to 'elie0e Porphyry, Plotinus has ne0er #isclose# either his 'irthplace or conne/ions, his nati0e lan# or his race1 Till the age of t2enty3eight he ha# ne0er foun# teacher or teaching 2hich 2oul# suit hi$ or ans2er his aspirations1 Then he happene# to hear A$$onius Saccas, fro$ 2hich #ay he continue# to atten# his school1 At thirty3nine, he acco$panie# the E$peror .or#ian to Persia an# *n#ia, 2ith the o'4ect of learning their philosophy1 (e #ie# at the age of si/ty3si/, after 2riting fifty3four 'ooks on philosophy1 (e reache# Sa$5#hi 6highest ecstasy or %re3union 2ith .o#%, the #i0ine Ego7 se0eral ti$es #uring his life, as sai# 'y a 'iographer1 %So far #i# his conte$pt for his 'o#ily organs go, that he refuse# to use a re$e#y, regar#ing it as un2orthy of a $an to use $eans of this kin#%1 Again 2e rea#8 %As he #ie#, a #ragon 6or serpent7 that ha# 'een un#er his 'e#, gli#e# through a hole in the 2all an# #isappeare#% 9 a fact suggesti0e for the stu#ent of sy$'olis$1 (e taught a #octrine i#entical 2ith that of the Ve#antins, na$ely, that the Spirit3Soul e$anating fro$ the )ne #eific principle, 2as, after its pilgri$age, re3unite# to *t1 E#itor Theosophical Pu'lishing Ser0ices

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Theosophical Siftings

An Essay on the Beautiful

INTR !"CTI N

Vol 7, No 15

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$ay see$ 2on#erful that language, 2hich is the only $etho# of con0eying our conceptions, shoul#, at the sa$e ti$e, 'e an hin#rance to our a#0ance$ent in philosophy: 'ut the 2on#er ceases 2hen 2e consi#er, that it is sel#o$ stu#ie# as the 0ehicle of truth, 'ut is too fre;uently estee$e# for its o2n sake, in#epen#ent of its connection 2ith things1 This o'ser0ation is re$arka'ly 0erifie# in the .reek language: 2hich, as it is the only repository of ancient 2is#o$, has, unfortunately for us, 'een the $eans of concealing, in sha$eful o'scurity, the $ost profoun# researches an# the su'li$est truths1 That 2or#s, in#ee#, are not other2ise 0alua'le than as su'ser0ient to things, $ust surely 'e ackno2le#ge# 'y e0ery li'eral $in#, an# 2ill alone 'e #ispute# 'y hi$ 2ho has spent the pri$e of his life, an# consu$e# the 0igour of his un#erstan#ing, in 0er'al criticis$s an# gra$$atical trifles1 An#, if this is the case, e0ery lo0er of truth 2ill only stu#y a language for the purpose of procuring the 2is#o$ it contains: an# 2ill #ou'tless 2ish to $ake his nati0e language the 0ehicle of it to others1 -or, since all truth is eternal, its nature can ne0er 'e altere# 'y transposition, though 'y this $eans its #ress $ay 'e 0arie#, an# 'eco$e less elegant an# refine#1 Perhaps e0en this incon0enience $ay 'e re$e#ie# 'y se#ulous culti0ation: at least, the particular ina'ility of so$e, ought not to #iscourage the 2ell3$eant en#ea0ours of others1 Whoe0er rea#s the li0es of the ancient (eroes of Philosophy, $ust 'e con0ince# that they stu#ie# things $ore than 2or#s, an# that Truth alone 2as the ulti$ate o'4ect of their search: an# he 2ho 2ishes to e$ulate their glory an# participate their 2is#o$, 2ill stu#y their #octrines $ore than their language, an# 0alue the #epth of their un#erstan#ings far 'eyon# the elegance of their co$position1 The nati0e char$s of Truth 2ill e0er 'e sufficient to allure the truly philosophic $in#: an# he 2ho has once #isco0ere# her retreats 2ill surely en#ea0our to fi/ a $ark 'y 2hich they $ay 'e #etecte# 'y others1 But, though the $ischief arising fro$ the stu#y of 2or#s is pro#igious, 2e $ust not consi#er it as the only cause of #arkening the splen#ours of Truth, an# o'structing the free #iffusion of her light1 <ifferent $anners an# philosophies ha0e e;ually contri'ute# to 'anish the go##ess fro$ our real$s, an# to ren#er our eyes offen#e# 2ith her celestial light, (ence 2e $ust not [Page $] 2on#er that, 'eing in#ignant at the change, an# percei0ing the e$pire of ignorance rising to un'oun#e# #o$inion, she has retire# fro$ the sprea#ing #arkness, an# conceale# herself in the tran;uil an# #i0inely luci# regions of $in#1 -or 2e nee# 'ut 'arely sur0ey $o#ern pursuits to 'e con0ince# ho2 little they are connecte# 2ith 2is#o$1 Since, to #escri'e the nature of so$e particular place, the for$, situation an# $agnitu#e of a certain city: to trace the 2in#ings of a ri0er to its source, or #elineate the aspect of a pleasant $ountain: to calculate the fineness of the silk2or$=s threa#s, an# arrange the gau#y colours of 'utterflies: in short, to pursue $atter through its infinite #i0isions, an# 2an#er in its #ark la'yrinths, is the e$ploy$ent of the philosophy in 0ogue1 But surely the energies of intellect are $ore 2orthy our concern than the operations of sense: an# the science of uni0ersals, per$anent an# fi/e#, $ust 'e superior to the kno2le#ge of particulars, fleeting an# frail1 Where is a sensi'le o'4ect to 'e foun#, 2hich a'i#es for a $o$ent the sa$e: 2hich is not either rising to perfection, or 0erging to #ecay: 2hich is not $i/e# an# confuse# 2ith its contrary: 2hose flo2ing nature no resistance can stop, nor any art confine> Where is the che$ist 2ho, 'y the $ost accurate analy?ation can arri0e at the principles of 'o#ies: or 2ho, though he $ight 'e so lucky in his search as to #etect the ato$s of <e$ocritus, coul# 'y this $eans gi0e respite to $ental in0estigation> -or e0ery ato$, since en#ue# 2ith figure, $ust consist of parts, though in#issolu'ly ce$ente# together: an# the i$$e#iate cause of this ce$ent $ust 'e so$ething incorporeal or kno2le#ge can ha0e no sta'ility an# en;uiry no en#1 Where, says @r1 (arris, is the $icroscope 2hich can #iscern 2hat is s$allest in nature> Where the telescope 2hich can see at 2hat point in the uni0erse 2is#o$ first 'egan> Since, then, there is no portion of $atter 2hich $ay not 'e the su'4ect of e/peri$ents 2ithout en#, let us 'etake oursel0es to the regions of $in#, 2here all things are 'oun#e# in intellectual $easure: 2here Page !

Theosophical Siftings

An Essay on the Beautiful

Vol 7, No 15

e0erything is per$anent an# 'eautiful, eternal an# #i0ine1 ,et us ;uit the stu#y of particulars, for that 2hich is general an# co$prehensi0e, an# through this, learn to see an# recogni?e 2hate0er e/ists1 With a 0ie2 to this #esira'le en#, * ha0e presente# the rea#er 2ith a speci$en of that su'li$e 2is#o$ 2hich first arose in the colleges of the Egyptian priests, an# flourishe# after2ar#s in .reece: 2hich 2as there culti0ate# 'y Pythagoras, un#er the $ysterious 0eil of nu$'ers: 'y Plato, in the graceful #ress of poetry: an# 2as syste$ati?e# 'y Aristotle, as far as it coul# 'e re#uce# into scientific or#er: 2hich, after 'eco$ing in a $anner e/tinct, shone again 2ith its pristine splen#our a$ong the philosophers of the Ale/an#rian school: 2as learne#ly illustrate# 2ith Asiatic lu/uriancy of style 'y Proclus: 2as #i0inely e/plaine# 'y la$'lichus8 an# profoun#ly #eli0ere# in the 2ritings of Plotinus1 *n#ee#, the 2orks of [Page %] this last philosopher are particularly 0alua'le to all 2ho #esire to penetrate into the #epths of this #i0ine 2is#o$1 -ro$ the e/alte# nature of his genius, he 2as calle# *ntellect 'y his conte$poraries, an# is sai# to ha0e co$pose# his 'ooks un#er the influence of #i0ine illu$ination1 Porphyry relates, in his life, that he 2as four ti$es unite# 'y an ineffa'le energy 2ith the #i0inity: 2hich, ho2e0er such an account $ay 'e ri#icule# in the present age, 2ill 'e cre#ite# 'y e0eryone 2ho has properly e/plore# the profun#ity of his $in#1 The facility an# 0ehe$ence of his co$position 2as such, that 2hen he ha# once concei0e# a su'4ect, he 2rote as fro$ an internal pattern, 2ithout paying $uch attention to the orthography, or re0ie2ing 2hat he ha# 2ritten: for the celestial 0igour of his intellect ren#ere# hi$ incapa'le of trifling concerns, an# in this respect, inferior to co$$on un#erstan#ings, as the eagle, 2hich in its 'ol# flight pierces the clou#s, ski$s the surface of the earth 2ith less rapi#ity than the s2allo21 *n#ee# a $inute attention to trifles is inconsistent 2ith great genius of e0ery kin#, an# it is on this account that retire$ent is so a'solutely necessary to the #isco0ery of truths of the first #ignity an# i$portance: for ho2 is it possi'le to $i/ $uch 2ith the 2orl#, 2ithout i$'i'ing the false an# puerile conceptions of the $ultitu#e: an# 2ithout losing that true ele0ation of soul 2hich co$parati0ely #espises e0ery $ortal concern > Plotinus, therefore, conscious of the incorrectness of his 2ritings arising fro$ the rapi#ity, e/u'erance an# #aring su'li$ity of his thoughts, co$$itte# their re0ision to his #isciple Porphyry: 2ho, though inferior in #epth of thought to his $aster, 2as, on account of his e/traor#inary a'ilities, calle# 'y 2ay of e$inence the Philosopher1 The #esign of the follo2ing #iscourse is to 'ring us to the perception of the 'eautiful itself, e0en 2hile connecte# 2ith a corporeal nature, 2hich $ust 'e the great en# of all true philosophy an# 2hich Plotinus happily o'taine#1 To a genius, in#ee#, truly $o#ern, 2ith 2ho$ the cruci'le an# the air3pu$p are alone the stan#ar#s of Truth, such an atte$pt $ust appear ri#iculous in the e/tre$e1 With these, nothing is real 'ut 2hat the han# can grasp or the corporeal eye percei0es, an# nothing useful 'ut 2hat pa$pers the appetite or fills the purse: 'ut unfortunately, their perceptions, like (o$er=s frail #rea$s, pass through the i0ory gate: an# are conse;uently e$pty an# fallacious, an# contain nothing 'elonging to the 0igilant soul1 To such as these a treatise on the 'eautiful cannot 'e a##resse#: since its o'4ect is too e/alte# to 'e approache# 'y those engage# in the i$purities of sense, an# too 'right to 'e seen 'y the eye accusto$e# to the o'scurity of corporeal 0ision1 But it is alone proper to hi$ 2ho is sensi'le that his soul is strongly $arke# 2ith ruin 'y its union 2ith 'o#y: 2ho consi#ers hi$self in the language of E$pe#ocles, as % (ea0en=s e/ile, straying fro$ the or' of light: % an# 2ho so ar#ently longs for a return to his true country, that to hi$, as to Alysses 2hen fighting for *thaca,
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Theosophical Siftings

An Essay on the Beautiful

Vol 7, No 15

%Slo2 see$s the fun to $o0e, the hours to roll: (is nati0e ho$e #eep3i$ag=# in his soul1% CPopeDs (o$erDs )#yssey, Book /iii, 0er B7E But here it is re;uisite to o'ser0e that our ascent to this region of Beauty $ust 'e $a#e 'y gra#ual a#0ances, for, fro$ our association 2ith $atter, it is i$possi'le to pass #irectly, an# 2ithout a $e#iu$, to such transcen#ent perfection: 'ut 2e $ust procee# in a $anner si$ilar to those 2ho pass fro$ #arkness to the 'rightest light, 'y a#0ancing fro$ places $o#erately enlightene#, to such as are the $ost lu$inous of all1 *t is necessary therefore, that 2e shoul# 'eco$e 0ery fa$iliar 2ith the $ost a'stract conte$plations: an# that our intellectual eye shoul# 'e strongly irra#iate# 2ith the light of i#eas 2hich prece#es the splen#ours of the 'eautiful itself, like the 'rightness 2hich is seen on the su$$it of $ountains pre0ious to the rising of the sun1 Nor ought it to see$ strange, if it shoul# 'e so$e ti$e 'efore e0en the li'eral soul can recogni?e the 'eautiful progeny of intellect as its kin#re# an# allies: for, fro$ its union 2ith 'o#y, it has #runk #eep of the cup of o'li0ion, an# all its energetic po2ers are stupefie# 'y the into/icating #raught: so that the intelligi'le 2orl#, on its first appearance, is utterly unkno2n 'y us, an# our recollection of its inha'itants entirely lost: an# 2e 'eco$e fa$iliar to Alysses on his first entrance into *thaca, of 2ho$ (o$er says, % Fet ha# his $in#, thro= te#ious a'sence lost The #ear re$e$'rance of his nati0e coast1% C)#ysey, Book /iii, 0er !!BE -or, %No2 all the lan# another prospect 'ore Another port appeare#, another shore, An# long continue# 2ays, an# 2in#ing floo#s An# unkno2n $ountains cro2ne# 2ith unkno2n 2oo#s8 % until the go##ess of 2is#o$ purges our eyes fro$ the $ists of sense an# says to each of us, as she #i# to Alysses, % No2 lift thy longing eyes, 2hile * restore The pleasing prospect of thy nati0e shore1% -or then 2ill %111111the prospect clear, The $ists #isperse, an# all the coast appear1%

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Theosophical Siftings

An Essay on the Beautiful

Vol 7, No 15

,et us then, hu$'ly supplicate the irra#iations of 2is#o$, an# follo2 Plotinus as our #i0ine gui#e to the 'eatific 0ision of the Beautiful itself: for in this alone can 2e fin# perfect repose, an# repair those #estructi0e clefts [Page '] an# chinks of the soul 2hich its #eparture fro$ the light of goo#, an# its lapse into a corporeal nature, ha0e intro#uce#1 But 'efore * conclu#e, * think it necessary to caution the rea#er not to $i/ any $o#ern enthusiastic opinions 2ith the #octrines containe# in the follo2ing #iscourse: for there is not a greater #ifference 'et2een su'stance an# sha#e than 'et2een ancient an# $o#ern enthusias$1 The o'4ect of the for$er 2as the highest goo# an# the supre$e 'eauty: 'ut that of the latter is nothing $ore than a phanto$ raise# 'y 'e2il#ere# i$aginations, floating on the unsta'le ocean of opinion, the sport of the 2a0es of pre4u#ice an# 'lo2n a'out 'y the 'reath of factious party1 ,ike su'stance an# sha#e, in#ee# they possess a si$ilitu#e in out2ar# appearance, 'ut in reality they are perfect contraries: for the one fills the $in# 2ith soli# an# #ura'le goo#, 'ut the other 2ith e$pty #elusions: 2hich like the e0er running 2aters of the <anaG#es, gli#e a2ay as fast as they enter, an# lea0e nothing 'ehin# 'ut the ruinous passages through 2hich they flo2e#1 * only a##, that the ensuing treatise is #esigne# as a speci$en 6if it shoul# $eet 2ith encourage$ent7 of $y inten#e# $o#e of pu'lishing all the 2orks of Plotinus1 The un#ertaking is, * a$ sensi'le, ar#uous in the e/tre$e: an# the #isciples of 2is#o$ are unfortunately fe2: 'ut, as * #esire no other re2ar# of $y la'our, than to ha0e the e/pense of printing #efraye#, an# to see Truth propagate# in $y nati0e tongue: * hope those fe2 2ill ena'le $e to o'tain the co$pletion of $y #esires1 -or then, to a#opt the 2or#s of Alysses, HThat 0ie2 0ouchsafD#, let instant #eath surprise With e0er3#uring sha#e these happy eyes I C)#yssey, Book 0ii, 0er BJBE

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