On the Mysteries

...to those that are wrapped in souls, so one might not absurdly say that he also had immigrated into his soul, by which he was held and possessed as if by a God. This Alypius had many followers, but his instruction stood within the terms of conversation and private disputation, and no one produced a book. Therefore, they flowed to Iamblichus with great eagerness, as if from a perennial fountain overflowing and not containing itself within its channel, intending to fill themselves and drink their fill. As the fame of both grew, it happened that they met each other by chance, like stars, and were surrounded by such a dense theater and assembly of listeners that they represented the role of a great Muse. So, while Iamblichus hesitated, expecting the other to be the one to pose the question first, Alypius, beyond all expectation, putting aside philosophical questions, seeing himself surrounded by a crown of men, turned to Iamblichus and said, "Tell me, Philosopher, is it true or not: is a rich man either unjust, or the heir of the unjust? For there is no middle ground here." Iamblichus, hating the sting of the question, said, "That mode of disputation is alien to our reasoning, most excellent man, if one excels beyond others in external things; but it is another matter if he overflows and abounds in the resources of virtues, with which it is proper for a philosopher to be adorned." Having spoken these words, he departed, and the whole assembly dissolved as he rose. After his departure, collecting himself and admiring the sharpness of the question, he frequently came to his meetings and private conversations, pursuing the man with admiration and praise beyond measure for the subtlety of his judgment and the sagacity of his intellect. He completed the biography of his life historically, for he who writes these things came upon that book, obscured on purpose by much darkness and covered as if by a deep cloud, not so much because of the obscurity of the words, but because it contains the long disputation of Alypius practicing his teaching, while of the things debated, insofar as they rest on reason, no memory exists.

The same book spoke of incredible journeys toward Rome, for which there was no underlying cause, nor did a magnitude of spirit correspond to them. Yet it shows...

original: "χρῆ· ὅτως ὥν τις εἴποι..." (The Greek text mirrors the Latin, describing the encounter between Alypius and Iamblichus. The passage highlights their intellectual confrontation regarding the nature of wealth and justice.)

The book also mentioned journeys toward Rome, for which there was no cause, nor did it correspond to the greatness of his soul. But...