Cod. ms. 7 Royal Library 2383 5. original: "Regis" — referring to the Royal Library
A decorative divider line in red and black ink consists of alternating triangles and diamond shapes, separating the header from the main title.

Proclus the Successor on Plato’s Timaeus, Book 1

That the [work’s]

aim:

It is clear and evident to those who are completely proficient in reason that the school of Platonists holds fast to the Timaeus as the primary work on natural philosophy original: "physiologia" — the study of the physical world and its origins. This work looks toward the crafting of the universe original: "demiurgia" — the work of the divine Creator or Craftsman and depends entirely upon the relationship with the Father of all. Indeed, they say that even before Plato, Timaeus the Pythagorean—whom Pythagoras himself is said to have instructed—arranged the principles which Plato later
the matters of the [and] volumes:

undertook with more perfection, following the same aim. Those who have attempted commentaries before us argue that Plato calls the character "Timaeus" because each person is attached to original: "timaios" relates to "timas" "honors," or perhaps there is some disagreement on this point. Let us never seek to know whether the dialogue as a whole is inconsistent with itself, or whether it simply deals with natural philosophy, or whether the parts are referred back to the whole; for the work is not completed by these most beautiful boundaries of physical study alone. Some things we have received from Plato for the purpose of observing the whole, and others regarding the parts. As for the causes—whence they come—we take them from examples, though others rely on natural and demonstrative causes. That it is possible for the dialogue to grasp both [the whole and the parts] is what Plato suggests. Following the Pythagorean way, he has arranged? all of nature before us?; for I was saying that if there is no teaching set before us, then one must examine the things preceding them in this way. For there is one natural philosophy that concerns the things around us—as I was saying, what should we call them?—busying itself with matter and material causes. But there is another, perhaps most divine, which reveals such things within itself and according to a certain purpose, and for its own sake. These things, then, concern the reasoning of the causes; yet the wonderful things are not left unproven, nor left without? defending the causes of the causes...

A circular red library stamp is located at the bottom center of the page. The outer ring contains the Latin text "BIBLIOTHECA REGIA" (Royal Library). The center features a crown positioned above a decorative coat of arms or fleur-de-lis pattern.