By Water & Blood

Book 5, Chapter 7

[PORPHYRY] 

'NE'ER mid the immortal gods an idle threat 
Or unaccomplish'd doom to seers inspir'd 
Spake Hecate; but from the almighty mind 
Of Zeus descends in brightest truth array'd. 
Lo! by my side walks Wisdom with firm step, 
Leaning on oracles that ne'er can fail.
In bonds secure me: for my power divine 
Can give a soul to worlds beyond the sky.'

Perhaps then on this account the soul is of threefold form and parts: and one part of it is irascible, and another concupiscent, by which latter it is invited to amorous indulgence. These are not my ideas, do not suppose it, but what you have heard from the writer before mentioned; from whom again the following is taken:

'But what utterly perplexes me is, how, being invoked as superiors, they receive orders as inferiors; and while requiring their worshipper to be just, they submit when bidden themselves to do injustice; and, while they would not listen to one who invokes them, if defiled by sensual pleasure, do not hesitate themselves to lead any whom they meet into lawless indulgence.'

This also you may find in the same author's Epistle to Anebo the Egyptian. ^[13] And in the aforesaid treatise Of the Philosophy to be derived from Oracles, in addition to what has been quoted, he speaks as follows:

'Moreover, some of them have plainly shown what office is assigned to each, as the Didymaean Apollo does in what follows: (the inquiry was, whether a man is bound to take an oath which one has tendered to him):

"Rhea, great mother of the blessed gods, 
Loves flutes and rattling drums and female rout.
 The din of war is bright-helm'd Pallas' joy. 
Latona's daughter o'er the rocky steep 
With spotted hounds pursues the savage beast. 
Great Juno sends the soft rain's welcome sound; 
Rich crops of full-ear'd grain are Deo's care: 
And Pharian Isis by Nile's fruitful stream 
With wildered steps her fair Osiris seeks."'