11. A small Treatise concerning the Sphere, or Celestial Circles. This little work is an accurate and elegant introduction to astronomy; and is almost wholly taken from the Isagoge of Geminus Rhodius, on the phænomena. The best editions are the Greek and Latin one published at Paris in 1553, quarto; and that of Bainbridge, professor of astronomy at Oxford, London 1620. quarto.
12. A Paraphrase in four Books, on the Quadripartite of Ptolemy. This elegant work must, I should imagine, be an invaluable treasure to the lovers of astrology. It was first published in Greek by Melancthon; and afterwards in Greek and Latin by Leo Allatius, at Lyons Bat. 1654. octavo.
13. Four Books, on the first Book of Euclid’s Elements. For an account of this work, see the introduction, and the following sheets, in which it speaks for itself, in an English dress.
14. A Commentary on Hesiod’s Works and Days. This work contains a valuable moral explanation of this great poet’s meaning; and Fabricius justly observes, that he is often assaulted without occasion, by the petulant jeers of that vain man Joh. Tzetzes. The best edition of this work is that of Daniel Heinsius, Lugd. Bat. 1603. quarto.
15. Fabricius informs us, that in some manuscripts, as in the Vindobonensian and Barrocian, a small treatise is usually ascribed to Proclus, entitled Epistolic Characters; and is prefixed to the Epistles of Phalaris and Brutis, and published under the name of Libanius, in Greek, with the version of Casp. Stibilinus, Commelin. 1597, octavo. But it is doubtful whether Proclus is the genuine author of this work: from the title, I should suppose the contrary. And thus much for an account of those writings of Proclus which have escaped the ravages of time, and have been fortunately exposed to public inspection: it now remains that we relate such inestimable works of this philosopher, as are yet preserved in shameful concealment; or are utterly lost in the ruins of antiquity.
Concerning the Unpublished Writings of PROCLUS.
16. On the Alcibiades of Plato. See num. 6.
17. On Plato’s Politics. See num. 5.
18. On Plato’s Parmenides. A commentary, in seven books; the last of which was not completed by Proclus, but by Damascius. From occasional fragments, which have been published of this commentary, it appears to be a most divine work; and indeed it cannot be otherwise, if we consider it as the production of one of the greatest philosophers, on the most sublime and profound of all Plato’s Dialogues. It is dedicated to Asclepiodotus, a physician and philosopher, and is not only extant in Greek MS. in the library of the German emperor, according to Lambecius, lib. vii. p. 41. but also in Latin, from the unpublished version of one Antonius Hermannus Gogava, as the same Lambecius informs us, p. 41. Four books of this work are extant in Greek, in the Bodleian library at Oxford; and it is much to be lamented that Thomson did not publish these, instead of his trifling edition of the Parmenides. Fabricius likewise informs us, that Livius Galantes mentions his having found six of these books in some of the Italian libraries. They are also extant in the Medicæan library of the great Etruscan commander.
19. On the Cratylus of Plato. We have already observed, in the dissertation on the Orphic theology, p. 105. what a great treasure of ancient mythology, must be contained in this work; but there is little hope of its ever emerging from the obscurity of public libraries. It is extant in Greek, not only in the Italian libraries, but also among the manuscript books of Isaac Vossius.