Commentary on Plato's Timaeus

On the Division of Poetic Diction

It is worth [discussing] here the division of dictions in poetry poietike original: "ποιητική". In this context, Proclus refers to the art of making or composing verses, specifically how language represents reality.. For he says this: "Let the matter of thought dianoia original: "διάνοια"; this refers to the intellectual content or underlying intent of a speaker, distinguished here from the external style. be laid down in the writings on rhetoric." For is it a proper share? What then? Is this a distinct art? Or is it a part of metaphysics? For might they not have a difference no less than this? And this is to seek again what kind of poetry it is. And if someone says that it [poetry] pleases by its passions. For this? poetic art again? a spectator? of each? virtue arete, and for the young?... according to something? technical technikon... so that? it belongs? to the poet? this? and the? imitations mimesesi original: "μιμήσεσι". Mimesis is the central Platonic concept of "imitation" or "representation"—the way art mirrors reality or higher truths.... such as? the wisest?... metaphors?... as many?... of the poet?... is according to the? poetics... of the?... of the hero?... such as?... of the dramatic [poet] and?... indistinctly?... and having a cleansing? Likely a reference to catharsis, the emotional purification attributed to drama.... and poetic?... of the?... many things are demonstrated?... poetic character?... gives after?... and he himself yet?... not the boundaries?... security?... through? many things it is not?... of the poetics?... rare words glossai original: "γλῶσσαι". In ancient criticism, 'glosses' were archaic, foreign, or obscure words used by poets to give their work a sense of grandeur.... to be of them?... equivalent?... of them?... poetic virtue... and the night?... not at all?... for something?... just as?... the?... imitation mimesin... the?... to be poets?... for either?... certain things?... or the?... the same?... images eikonas... to become?...

G But he who uses all the forms of the genus, it is difficult as we said. For because the account of each thing will not imitate mimisetai. ---
For consider if it imitates something, either in relation to the reason logos or the image eidolon original: "εἴδωλον"; a phantom or a mere appearance, often contrasted with the true reality of the Form., it is not even the truth up to which behold? indivisible?... we have of? virtue from the type of the?... poetics?... especially?... to demonstrate?... these things in this way?... form idean... on the one hand according to the?... that [thing] of this?... such as?... might not imitate?... the?... of imitation?... those not?... is?... imitation... not by the reason? logo in this way the first?... poetics?... and this is to see in the things that accompany?... but if something?... the seeing?... is of imitation?... to speak?... instead of?... truth... by reason?... by speaking?... he will make?... forms of it?... the?... to speak?... according to something?... because of the?... by reason it appears?... to differ?... proper to the? explanation of causes aitiologia... as?... differences of the forms?... of the? poetics... in accounts?... with very many names?... and this?... is?... just as?... it is demonstrated?... they might have?... in them?... not worthy?... of cause?... of the?... of imitation?... fittingly?... to show forth imitations?... not also toward?... such a thing?...

Since it has been demonstrated... but it is not of every account?... but specific parts according to the? style hyphos original: "ὕφος"; literally "weaving," used here to describe the texture or style of the prose or poetry.... of the poetic?... thus is the? diction lexis which [is]?... poets... wherefore?... many things?... concerning?... the accounts imitate in?... the?... imitations... but if not the?... to be?... to imitate?... through?... for not?... they make all things?... is?... these things?... dictions... them?... imitations... in?... of the account?... forms of the making of the world kosmopoiesis original: "κόσμου ποιήσεως". A key term for Proclus, referring to the Divine Creator's "poetry" in crafting the universe.... to imitate?... of it?... it is possible to speak?... the same?... remaining?... in imitation?... but it is said?... as many?... forms of imitation?... of thought?... he makes?... for if he imitates?... through?... imitation... of the account?... because of the?... the same things to imitate?... world kosmon... through?... of the form the?... poetics... virtue... of the poet?... the things?... the same?... in?... forms... the [things] the images?... to imitate?... of phantoms? eidolon... the same account of? rhetoric... the images?... according to the?... is of the?... accounts... of them?... he will imitate?... he makes?... of accounts?... essence ousias... to demonstrate?... according to the?... rare word glossa... and it has?... many things?... he will imitate?... according to?... to differ?... for the account?... poetics... in imitation?... of phantoms it has?... he imitates?... toward the?... of the?... poetics...

o What then is the use of rare words glossai? These provide many things to the account, even novelty, and rather... they beautify the poetry...
of the poetics on the one hand, but often to find poetic [expression]?... of the verbal?... thought... of accounts?... upon the poetic?... for if?... it has?... in the?... poets... of poets?... but upon this on the one hand?... account...

i The natural philosophers physikoi original: "φυσικοί". Philosophers who study the nature (physis) of the physical world, such as the pre-Socratics or Timaeus himself. often find such... poetic...