earth to be associated with the beings of that higher sphere。 No： the flame of this world； once it has attained a certain height； is extinguished by the currents of air opposed to it。 Moreover； as it carries an earthy element on its upward path； it is weighed downwards and cannot reach those loftier regions。 It comes to a stand somewhere below the moon… making the air at that point subtler… and its flame； if any flame can persist； is subdued and softened； and no longer retains its first intensity； but gives out only what radiance it reflects from the light above。 And it is that loftier light… falling variously upon the stars； to each in a certain proportion… that gives them their characteristic differences； as well in magnitude as in colour； just such light constitutes also the still higher heavenly bodies which； however； like clear air； are invisible because of the subtle texture and unresisting transparency of their material substance and also by their very distance。 8。 Now： given a light of this degree； remaining in the upper sphere at its appointed station； pure light in purest place； what mode of outflow from it can be conceived possible？ Such a Kind is not so constituted as to flow downwards of its own accord； and there exists in those regions no power to force it down。 Again； body in contact with soul must always be very different from body left to itself； the bodily substance of the heavens has that contact and will show that difference。 Besides； the corporeal substance nearest to the heavens would be air or fire： air has no destructive quality； fire would be powerless there since it could not enter into effective contact： in its very rush it would change before its attack could be felt； and； apart from that； it is of the lesser order； no match for what it would be opposing in those higher regions。 Again； fire acts by imparting heat： now it cannot be the source of heat to what is already hot by nature； and anything it is to destroy must as a first condition be heated by it； must be brought to a pitch of heat fatal to the nature concerned。 In sum； then； no outside body is necessary to the heavens to ensure their permanence… or to produce their circular movement； for it has never been shown that their natural path would be the straight line； on the contrary the heavens； by their nature； will either be motionless or move by circle； all other movement indicates outside compulsion。 We cannot think； therefore； that the heavenly bodies stand in need of replenishment； we must not argue from earthly frames to those of the celestial system whose sustaining soul is not the same； whose space is not the same； whose conditions are not those which make restoration necessary in this realm of composite bodies always in flux： we must recognise that the changes that take place in bodies here represent a slipping…away from the being ＇a phenomenon not incident to the celestial sphere＇ and take place at the dictate of a Principle not dwelling in the higher regions； one not powerful enough to ensure the permanence of the existences in which it is exhibited； one which in its coming into being and in its generative act is but an imitation of an antecedent Kind； and； as we have shown； cannot at every point possess the unchangeable identity of the Intellectual Realm。 SECOND TRACTATE。
THE HEAVENLY CIRCUIT。
1。 But whence that circular movement？ In imitation of the Intellectual…Principle。 And does this movement belong to the material part or to the Soul？ Can we account for it on the ground that the Soul has itself at once for centre and for the goal to which it must be ceaselessly moving； or that； being self…centred it is not of unlimited extension ＇and consequently must move ceaselessly to be omnipresent＇； and that its revolution carries the material mass with it？ If the Soul had been the moving power ＇by any such semi…physical action＇ it would be so no longer； it would have accomplished the act of moving and have brought the universe to rest； there would be an end of this endless revolution。 In fact the Soul must be in repose or at least cannot have spatial movement； how then； having itself a movement of quite another order； could it communicate spatial movement？ But perhaps the circular movement ＇of the Kosmos as soul and body＇ is not spatial or is spatial not primarily but only incidentally。 What； by this explanation； would be the essential movement of the kosmic soul？ A movement towards itself； the movement of self…awareness； of self…intellection； of the living of its life； the movement of its reaching to all things so that nothing shall lie outside of it； nothing anywhere but within its scope。 The dominant in a living thing is what compasses it entirely and makes it a unity。 If the Soul has no motion of any kind； it would not vitally compass the Kosmos nor would the Kosmos； a thing of body； keep its content alive； for the life of body is movement。 Any spatial motion there is will be limited； it will be not that of Soul untrammelled but that of a material frame ensouled； an animated organism； the movement will be partly of body； partly of Soul； the body tending to the straight line which its nature imposes； the Soul restraining it； the resultant will be the compromise movement of a thing at once carried forward and at rest。 But supposing that the circular movement is to be attributed to the body； how is it to be explained； since all body； including fire ＇which constitutes the heavens＇ has straightforward motion？ The answer is that forthright movement is maintained only pending arrival at the place for which the moving thing is destined： where a thing is ordained to be； there it seeks； of its nature； to come for its rest； its motion is its tendence to its appointed place。 Then； since the fire of the sidereal system has attained its goal； why does it not stay at rest？ Evidently because the very nature of fire is to be mobile： if it did not take the curve； its straight line would finally fling it outside the universe： the circular course； then； is imperative。 But this would imply an act of providence？ Not quite： rather its own act under providence； attaining to that realm； it must still take the circular course by its indwelling nature； for it seeks the straight path onwards but finds no further space and is driven back so that it recoils on the only course left to it： there is nothing beyond； it has reached the ultimate； it runs its course in the regions it occupies； itself its own sphere； not destined to come to rest there； existing to move。 Further； the centre of a circle ＇and therefore of the Kosmos＇ is distinctively a point of rest： if the circumference outside were not in motion； the universe would be no more than one vast centre。 And movement around the centre is all the more to be expected in the case of a living thing whose nature binds it within a body。 Such motion alone can constitute its impulse towards its centre： it cannot coincide with the centre； for then there would be no circle； since this may not be； it whirls about it； so only can it indulge its tendence。 If； on the other hand； the Kosmic circuit is due to the Soul； we are not to think of a painful driving ＇wearing it down at last＇； the soul does not use violence or in any way thwart nature； for 〃Nature〃 is no other than the custom the All…Soul has established。 Omnipresent in its entirety； incapable of division； the Soul of the universe communicates that quality of universal presence to the heavens； too； in their degree； the degree； that is； of pursuing universality and advancing towards it。 If the Soul halted anywhere； there the Kosmos； too； brought so far； would halt： but the Soul encompasses all； and so the Kosmos moves； seeking everything。 Yet never to attain？ On the contrary this very motion is its eternal attainment。 Or； better； the Soul is ceaselessly leading the Kosmos towards itself： the continuous attraction communicates a continuous movement… not to some outside space but towards the Soul and in the one sphere with it； not in the straight line ＇which would ultimately bring the moving body outside and below the Soul＇； but in the curving course in which the moving body at every stage possesses the Soul that is attracting it and bestowing itself upon it。 If the soul were stationary； that is if ＇instead of presiding over a Kosmos＇ it dwelt wholly and solely in the realm in which every member is at rest； motion would be unknown； but； since the Soul is not fixed in some one station There； the Kosmos must travel to every point in quest of it； and never outside it： in a circle； therefore。 2。 And what of lower things？ ＇Why have they not this motion？＇ ＇Their case is very different＇： the single thing here is not an all but a part and limited to a given segment of space； that other realm is all； is space； so to speak； and is subject to no hindrance or control； for in itself it is all that is。 And men？ As a self； each is a personal whole； no doubt； but as member of the universe； each is a partial thing。 But if； wherever the circling body be； it possesses the Soul； what need of the circling？ Be