Taylor - Eleusianian and Bacchic Mysteries.pdf - Platonic Philosophy

Bacchic Mysteries. 51is it not obvious, from the preceding explanation, that by Avernus, in this place, andthe dark gates of Pluto, we must understanda corporeal or external nature, the descentinto which is, indeed, at all times obviousand easy, but to recall our steps, and ascendinto the upper regions, or, in other words,toseparate the soul from the body by thepurifying discipline, is indeed a mighty work,and a laborious task ? For a few only, the favorites of heaven, that is, born with the truephilosophic genius,* and whom ardent virtuehas elevated to a disposition and capacity fordivine contemplation, have been enabled toBut whenaccomplish the arduous design.he says that all the middle regions arecovered with woods, this likewise plainly intimates a material nature ;the word silva, asis well known, being used by ancient writersto signify matter, and implies nothing morethan that the passage leadingto the barathadvancedto heaven, the sons of the gods, have effected it.Woods cover all the intervening space, and Cocytus, gliding withhis black, winding flood, surrounds it."*I.e., a disposition to investigate for the purpose of elicitingtruth, and reducing it to practice.