the six enneads-第85节
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way of analogy； or by the syllogistic reasoning whose grounds lie elsewhere； the power which； even here； we possess of discoursing upon the Intellectual Beings is vested； as we show； in that principle which alone is capable of their contemplation。 That； we must awaken； so to speak； and thus attain the vision of the Supreme； as one； standing on some lofty height and lifting his eyes； sees what to those that have not mounted with him is invisible。 Memory； by this account； commences after the soul has left the higher spheres； it is first known in the celestial period。 A soul that has descended from the Intellectual region to the celestial and there comes to rest； may very well be understood to recognize many other souls known in its former state supposing that； as we have said； it retains recollection of much that it knew here。 This recognition would be natural if the bodies with which those souls are vested in the celestial must reproduce the former appearance； supposing the spherical form ＇of the stars inhabited by souls in the mid…realm＇ means a change of appearance； recognition would go by character； by the distinctive quality of personality： this is not fantastic； conditions changing need not mean a change of character。 If the souls have mutual conversation； this too would mean recognition。 But those whose descent from the Intellectual is complete； how is it with them？ They will recall their memories； of the same things； but with less force than those still in the celestial； since they have had other experiences to remember； and the lapse of time will have utterly obliterated much of what was formerly present to them。 But what way of remembering the Supreme is left if the souls have turned to the sense…known kosmos； and are to fall into this sphere of process？ They need not fall to the ultimate depth： their downward movement may be checked at some one moment of the way； and as long as they have not touched the lowest of the region of process ＇the point at which non…being begins＇ there is nothing to prevent them rising once more。 6。 Souls that descend； souls that change their state… these； then； may be said to have memory； which deals with what has come and gone； but what subjects of remembrance can there be for souls whose lot is to remain unchanged？ The question touches memory in the stars in general； and also in the sun and moon and ends by dealing with the soul of the All； even by audaciously busying itself with the memories of Zeus himself。 The enquiry entails the examination and identification of acts of understanding and of reasoning in these beings； if such acts take place。 Now if； immune from all lack； they neither seek nor doubt； and never learn； nothing being absent at any time from their knowledge… what reasonings； what processes of rational investigation； can take place in them； what acts of the understanding？ Even as regards human concerns they have no need for observation or method； their administration of our affairs and of earth's in general does not go so； the right ordering； which is their gift to the universe； is effected by methods very different。 In other words； they have seen God and they do not remember？ Ah； no： it is that they see God still and always； and that； as long as they see； they cannot tell themselves they have had the vision； such reminiscence is for souls that have lost it。 7。 Well but can they not tell themselves that yesterday； or last year； they moved round the earth； that they lived yesterday or at any given moment in their lives？ Their living is eternal； and eternity is an unchanging unity。 To identify a yesterday or a last year in their movement would be like isolating the movement of one of the feet； and finding a this or a that and an entire series in what is a single act。 The movement of the celestial beings is one movement： it is our measuring that presents us with many movements； and with distinct days determined by intervening nights： There all is one day； series has no place； no yesterday； no last year。 Still： the space traversed is different； there are the various sections of the Zodiac： why； then； should not the soul say 〃I have traversed that section and now I am in this other？〃 If； also； it looks down over the concerns of men； must it not see the changes that befall them； that they are not as they were； and； by that observation； that the beings and the things concerned were otherwise formerly？ And does not that mean memory？ 8。 But； we need not record in memory all we see； mere incidental concomitants need not occupy the imagination； when things vividly present to intuition； or knowledge； happen to occur in concrete form； it is not necessary… unless for purposes of a strictly practical administration… to pass over that direct acquaintance； and fasten upon the partial sense…presentation； which is already known in the larger knowledge； that of the Universe。 I will take this point by point： First： it is not essential that everything seen should be laid up in the mind； for when the object is of no importance； or of no personal concern； the sensitive faculty； stimulated by the differences in the objects present to vision； acts without accompaniment of the will； and is alone in entertaining the impression。 The soul does not take into its deeper recesses such differences as do not meet any of its needs； or serve any of its purposes。 Above all； when the soul's act is directed towards another order； it must utterly reject the memory of such things； things over and done with now； and not even taken into knowledge when they were present。 On the second point： circumstances； purely accidental； need not be present to the imaging faculty； and if they do so appear they need not be retained or even observed； and in fact the impression of any such circumstance does not entail awareness。 Thus in local movement； if there is no particular importance to us in the fact that we pass through first this and then that portion of air； or that we proceed from some particular point； we do not take notice； or even know it as we walk。 Similarly； if it were of no importance to us to accomplish any given journey； mere movement in the air being the main concern； we would not trouble to ask at what particular point of place we were； or what distance we had traversed； if we have to observe only the act of movement and not its duration； nothing to do which obliges us to think of time； the minutes are not recorded in our minds。 And finally； it is of common knowledge that； when the understanding is possessed of the entire act undertaken and has no reason to foresee any departure from the normal； it will no longer observe the detail； in a process unfailingly repeated without variation； attention to the unvarying detail is idleness。 So it is with the stars。 They pass from point to point； but they move on their own affairs and not for the sake of traversing the space they actually cover； the vision of the things that appear on the way； the journey by； nothing of this is their concern： their passing this or that is of accident not of essence； and their intention is to greater objects： moreover each of them journeys； unchangeably； the same unchanging way； and again； there is no question to them of the time they spend in any given section of the journey； even supposing time division to be possible in the case。 All this granted； nothing makes it necessary that they should have any memory of places or times traversed。 Besides this life of the ensouled stars is one identical thing ＇since they are one in the All…Soul＇ so that their very spatial movement is pivoted upon identity and resolves itself into a movement not spatial but vital； the movement of a single living being whose act is directed to itself； a being which to anything outside is at rest； but is in movement by dint of the inner life it possesses； the eternal life。 Or we may take the comparison of the movement of the heavenly bodies to a choral dance； if we think of it as a dance which comes to rest at some given period； the entire dance； accomplished from beginning to end； will be perfect while at each partial stage it was imperfect： but if the dance is a thing of eternity； it is in eternal perfection。 And if it is in eternal perfection； it has no points of time and place at which it will achieve perfection； it will； therefore； have no concern about attaining to any such points： it will； therefore； make no measurements of time or place； it will have； therefore； no memory of time and place。 If the stars live a blessed life in their vision of the life inherent in their souls； and if； by force of their souls' tendency to become one； and by the light they cast from themselves upon the entire heavens； they are like the strings of a lyre which； being struck in tune； sing a melody in some natural scale。。。 if this is the way the heavens； as one； are moved； and the component parts in their relation to the whole… the sidereal system moving as one； and each part in its own way； to the same purpose； though each； too； hold its own place… then our doctrine is all the more surely established； the life of the heavenly bodies is the more clearly an unbroken unity。 9。 But Zeus… ordering all； governor；
