The Commentary of Hierocles upon the Golden Verses of Pythagoras

he was explaining PLATO, he said,

“ that the discourses of Socrates
“ were like dice, that always stand
“ upright, which way soever they
“ fall.”

He wrote, besides his COMMENTARY, which has come down to us entire, seven books upon Providence and Fate, and dedicated them to the philosopher Olympiodorus, who, by his embassies, did the Romans great services, under the emperors Honorius and Theodosius the younger. But these books are now lost, and we only know them by the extracts in Photius. A list of the rest of his writings may be seen in his life wrote by Mr. Dacier, collected from the writers of that and the following age, but in a dry inelegant manner.

HIEROCLES appears, in his philosophical COMMENTARY, to have had a clear and deep understanding, a sound reason, an exquisite judgment, much penetration and wisdom, and a passionate love for truth;