Neo-Platonism. In length it does not
exceed a fifth part of the Timaeus. It is written in the Doric dialect,
and contains several words which do not occur in classical Greek. No
other indication of its date, except this uncertain one of language,
appears in it. In several places the writer has simplified the language
of Plato, in a few others he has embellished and exaggerated it. He
generally preserves the thought of the original, but does not copy the
words. On the whole this little tract faithfully reflects the meaning
and spirit of the Timaeus.

From the garden of the Timaeus, as from the other dialogues of Plato,
we may still gather a few flowers and present them at parting to
the reader. There is nothing in Plato grander and simpler than the
conversation between Solon and the Egyptian priest, in which the
youthfulness of Hellas is contrasted with the antiquity of Egypt. Here
are to be found the famous words, 'O Solon, Solon, you Hellenes are ever
young, and there is not an old man among you'--which may be compared
to the lively saying of Hegel, that 'Greek history began with the youth
Achilles and left off with the youth Alexander.' The numerous arts of
verisimilitude by which Plato insinuates into the mind of the reader
the truth of his narrative have been already referred to. Here occur
a sentence or two not wanting in Platonic irony (Greek--a word to the
wise). 'To know or tell the origin of the other divinities is beyond
us, and we must accept the traditions of the men of old time who affirm
themselves to be the offspring of the Gods--that is what they say--and
they must surely have known their own ancestors. How can we doubt the
word of the children of the Gods? Although they give no probable or
certain proofs, still, as they declare that they are speaking of what
took place in their own family, we must conform to custom and believe
them.' 'Our creators well knew that women and other animals would some
day be framed out of men, and they further knew that many animals would
require the use of nails for many purposes; wherefore they fashioned in
men at their first creation the rudiments of nails.' Or once more, let
us reflect on two serious passages in which the order of the world is
supposed to find a place in the human soul and to infuse harmony
into it. 'The soul, when touching anything that has essence, whether
dispersed in parts or undivided, is stirred through all her powers to
declare the sameness or di