First Complete Latin Philo

...it must be understood that even if man was made last, he is not for that reason lower in rank, * as charioteers and pilots testify; for the former, placed behind the four-horse teams, govern their course from the rear with reins as it shall seem fit, now loosening them for speed, now drawing them back if the impetus be greater than is right. Likewise, pilots, standing in the stern at the hindmost part of the ship, are considered superior to all the passengers without exception, forasmuch as the safety of the ship itself and its cargo is placed in their hands. In this way, the Creator set man over all things as a kind of charioteer and pilot, that he might rule and govern whatever is contained upon the earth, by taking care of plants and animals, as a kind of sub-prefect of that primary and supreme King. Moreover, after this whole world was perfected according to the perfect nature of the number six, the Father added honor to the following seventh day, which, when he had praised it, he soon deigned to call holy. For it is a festival not of one people or region, but of all in general; which alone is worthy to be called the universal festivity and the birthday of the world. Furthermore, I know not whether anyone can sufficiently praise the nature of the number seven, since it is more excellent than can be expressed by any eloquence; and yet, because certain marvelous things are proclaimed concerning it, we ought not therefore to remain silent. Rather, we must venture, if we cannot produce all things or those most proper to it, at least to bring forth those things which we are able to attain with the mind. The septenary is spoken of in two ways: one within the denary, which we measure seven times by unity alone, consisting of seven units; the other outside the denary, whose principle is entirely unity following double or triple or otherwise proportional numbers, as is the case with 64 and 729—the former increasing from unity by doubling, the latter by tripling. Both species, however, must be considered with more than passing attention. Certainly, the second possesses a most manifest privilege; for the seventh number, which is composed from unity in double or triple or otherwise proportional ratios, is always at once a cube and a square, containing both species, namely of incorporeal and corporeal essence: of the incorporeal, the plane which squares produce, but of the corporeal according to the other dimension, which cubes produce. This is most clearly evident in the numbers just mentioned. For the seventh number increasing from unity by a double ratio, namely 64, is indeed a square, eight being multiplied by eight; but it is a cube, four multiplied by four, four times. Again, the seventh number increasing from unity by a triple ratio, namely 729, is indeed a square, 27 being multiplied by itself; but it is a cube, nine multiplied nine, nine times; and always beginning from the seventh as previously from unity, and increasing by the same proportion until the seventh, you will find it altogether to grow into a cube and a square at once. Therefore, starting from 64 and composed by a double ratio, it will make the seventh number 4096, at once a square and a cube, having the square side of 64 itself, but the cubic number of 16. We must now pass also to the other species of the septenary which is contained within the denary, which displays a nature no less wonderful than the former. Seven itself is composed of one and two and four, having two most harmonious ratios, namely the double and the quadruple: the former producing the harmony of the diapason, and the latter, the quadruple, producing the harmony of the disdiapason. The septenary also contains other divisions, consisting of certain pairings. For it is first divided into unity and...