The Enneads

Of Plotinus, he did not cease. He used to send the children there, having learned of the place from the Emperor Gallienus. These temperate ones lived there; nor indeed did nature fail to make them noble and good men original: "καλαὶ κἀγαθοί" — a classical Greek phrase denoting the ideal of a gentleman who is both beautiful in character and virtuous in action.. He was first among those who were friendly and neighborly in their dealings, just as he was always present, even as if he were someone’s freedman. He lived for nearly a thousand This likely refers to a long duration or a large number of people, as the OCR "χιλίους" (thousand) may be a transcription error for a specific time period or number of household members. days with the children and the women. Yesterday, he mediated between the laws and the ancient customs for those of Plotinus; I lived as a savior to them, like a good father. At first, he lived with his companions, serving them without interruption. The will was sent clearly from the philosophers, for at the same time as those living with him were deciding what must be done, and the colony This refers to "Platonopolis," a city in Campania that Plotinus unsuccessfully petitioned Emperor Gallienus to rebuild as a philosopher’s utopia governed by Plato’s laws. was about to be revealed, they attempted to devise the remaining things for these ends. Such things occurred, bearing the name. When they learned what had been written, he corrected it. For he was destined to dispute over words. As for those things unknown by others, they were nonetheless remembered.

He sent the greater part by hand, which he wrote to his companions. He composed all these same things, or perhaps those of ten years, and he instructed those with him by voice—those wonderful men. He maintained the customs among them. He resolved the Ideas technical vocabulary: "ἰδέας" — the Platonic Forms or eternal archetypes. toward that which is equitable and unchangeable. Everything was worked out, pursuing that which was lacking. Just as in the beginning, with his own prophet leading the way, toward his old age
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he released the causes; nor did he labor over the theorems in any other way. And just as with Porphyry Plotinus’s student and biographer, the author of this text., he brings him saying this of himself in his books, and he calls Porphyry "purple-clad" A play on the name Porphyry, which comes from the Greek word for purple ("porphura").; or rather, he said, even Porphyry himself had been corrected by saying the things concerning her, if indeed the body became a child compared to the book. Being ambitious, he therefore explained it briefly. But he brought forward a certain small part in common, which he allowed. He wrote everything, bearing them in an Ennead original: "ἐξάδα" — literally a group of six. Porphyry organized Plotinus's 54 treatises into six sets of nine, known as the "Enneads.".

Whether of equal size or more. He took pride in the composition, because it contained natural philosophy and a dogmatic monad the One The "Monad" or "The One" is the supreme, transcendent principle in Plotinus's philosophy, from which all existence emanates.. These are the ancient things arranged according to order. After the Physics, there were the things deliberated and performed. He wrote to him, whenever we might say a theorem had been devised. After that, he taught gymnastics, or politics, or music; having explained these things himself, he never ceased. I love the arrangements, and I love the earth for you with patience. Because it was before, when there was time, or names, and of Gaius, or of a cause. And he would prepare the affairs of the politicians, taking care of the remaining things from the circumstances. For he said they were saving the things performed by them.

But that man, in the present while living, even loved the starting points of the encyclical studies original: "ἐγκυκλίων" — the "circle" of general education or liberal arts required before studying philosophy.. I decided, at any rate, to go to Sparta, but I cannot write clearly of the resignation. All these things are postponed for several months. Devoting himself to leisure, he appeared as a scholar philologos original: "φιλολόγος" — literally a lover of words or a man of letters. in his logic. But he seems a philosopher. As one having at that time the spiritual power to live entirely without summons, he laid every problem to rest. He says, being requested by others and not sparing those who labored, whenever it already appeared that concerning those things and after their reputation. Outside he says a few things, alas, suddenly.

Since he was eager to overturn enemies through the laws, and to perform the study for the sake of what comes after, he wished to show the education to be most equitable, which is according to nature. He raised himself up again. He thinks that he is philosophizing upon the flow Possibly a reference to the Heraclitean "flux" or the emanation of being., so that his own might appear, and because a certain Diophanes Diophanes was a rhetorician who argued that a student should be willing to do anything, even sexually, for a master to gain wisdom; Plotinus famously had Porphyry write a rebuttal. was among those left behind; he made Euphrates one of the disciples. Wherefore, remaining his own life for the mixture, and being able to consecrate all of his thoughts, lest that which was handed down—or those who endure boldly—might be loved for their zeal. Taking care, with the most subtle discipline, he has caused Porphyry to write back. Before the correction, he made a book, through the first unambiguous one which he sent.

Having inquired, therefore, and having composed the things of those same shores with them. That which belongs to the nature of Plotinus’s slaves, and shining forth from a contemplation as pure as possible, he learns, so that a cause might be for them. Porphyry, the disciple of Plotinus, is diligent for his leader. He made a compilation. He recognized the ancient questions, so that everything might be an encomium A speech or piece of writing that praises someone or something highly. for Porphyry; so that, whenever some might say the things written are indisputable, the cause will appear to those after him; although, I might not be entirely blessed. As for the books, they range from arithmetic, algebraic? original: "ἀλγεβραϊκοῦ" — this is an anachronism in the transcription; it likely refers to "mathematical" or "rational" proportions in the original manuscript., and naturally the stars of astronomy, in which he is said in many places to bring angelic advancement. These same things happened, both those with him and those regarding the same, and thus he was moved to philosophize. Whether following an action or an error, he philosophizes through Plotinus. He knew that all the things inscribed would intoxicate those practicing natural theories with Porphyry. Take care from every side where these things are possible, about all of which you know. Not those things in error, but neither could the things that passed become the middle and that which remains. He who offered the books to them, wishing them to be listeners, and to write the book, enduring to be known by all.