Proclus, Theologia Platonica; Michael Psellos

The one defined by the progressions in the Platonic manner; and thus bringing in the hypotheses of the theologians; and in the contemplation concerning incorporeals in the Platonic writings, the celebrated divine ordering, which is ordered in the middle and leads back the whole genera of the gods and the entire contemplation concerning them. And because this is of such great extent, as has been agreed, we shall also propose a concise summary, transferring those things handed down through symbols to the clear teaching concerning them; and those through images, referring them back to the more ancient of causes. Those recorded more assertively, we shall examine with the reasonings of the cause; and as for those depicted through secret mysteries, let us be manifest in revealing the manner of the truth within them, making it known to the listeners.

And as for those things hidden through obscured enigmas, we shall draw clarity from elsewhere—not from external hypotheses, but from the most genuine writings of Plato. And from those things, in turn, lying scattered among the listeners and speaking in harmony with the realities, from which the whole intelligible and divine genus of Platonic theology will appear; and the truth of its readings will be united throughout the whole. And because of this, having brought forth the entire beauty of this theology and the mystic unfolding of these contemplations, the manner, then, shall be such for me according to my aim.

In turn, let the listener of the proposed doctrines be assumed to be adorned with the moral virtues, and to have disciplined by the reason of virtue all the motions of the soul suited to foolishness, and to be adapted to the form of wisdom. For Socrates says it is not lawful for the non-pure to touch the pure; for every bad man is altogether impure, but the opposite is pure. Furthermore, let him be exercised, having been trained in logical methods; and having handled many things concerning analyses and many concerning the divisions opposite to these—riddles and concepts—he shall establish a habit, even he who has achieved mastery of these methods.