For 'Isis' is a Greek word, and so is 'Typhon,' her enemy, for he is 'puffed up' by want of knowledge and falsehood, and tears to pieces, and puts out of sight, the sacred word which the goddess again gathers up and puts together, and gives into the charge of those initiated into the religion whilst by means of a perpetually sober life, by abstinence from many kinds of food and from venery, she checks intemperance and love of pleasure, accustoming people to endure her service with bowels not enervated by luxury, but hardy and vigorous the object of all which is the knowledge of the First, the Supreme, and the Intelligible whom the goddess exhorts von to seek after, for he is both by her side, and united with her. On this account a desire for religious knowledge is an aiming at Truth, particularly that relating to the gods-a pursuit containing both in the acquisition and in the search a reception, as it were, of things sacred-an occupation more pious than any observation of abstinence, or religious service: but particularly well-pleasing to this goddess who is the special object of thy devotion for she is both wise, and a lover of wisdom as her name appears to denote that, more than any other, knowing and knowledge belong to her. And I am of opinion that the happiness of the eternal life which is the attribute of God consists in his not being ignorant ofДЇuture events, in virtue of his knowledge, for if the knowing and understanding of events were taken away, then immortality becomes not life but duration. He has represented the sovereignty of Jupiter as more majestic on account of his knowledge and wisdom, being at the same time the more ancient of the two. 'Both have one source, and both one country bore,Д«ut Jove was first born, and his knowledge more.' For the Godhead is not blessed by reason of his silver and gold, nor yet almighty through his thunders and lightnings, but on account of knowledge and intelligence, and this is the finest thing of all that Homer hath said, when he pronounced concerning the gods:. For all other things which people require, the Deity who gives them doth not possess, nor use for his own purposes. But more especially now that we are in quest of the knowledge of themselves (so far as such knowledge is attainable by man), do we pray to obtain the same from them with their own consent: inasmuch as there is nothing more important for a man to receive, or more noble for a god to grant, than Truth.

I.ДЄll good things, O Clea, it behoves persons that have sense to solicit from the gods. Plutarch's Morals: Theosophical Essays, tr.

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