–Υπάρχοντα δὲ αύτὸν, ἀχώρητον καί ἀόρατον, ἐν ἡσυχία καί ἠρεμια πολλῆ γεγονέναι ἐν ἀπείροις αίῶσι χρόνων. Συγυπάρχειν δὲ αύτῳ καί Εννοιαν, ἣν δὲ καί Χάριν, καί Σιγὴν ὀνομάζουσι καί ἐννοηθῆναί ποτε ἀφ' ἑαυτού προβαλέσθαι τὸν βυθὸν τούτον ἀρχὴν τῶν πάντων, καί καθάπερ σπερμα τὴν προβολὴν ταύτην (ἣν προβαλέθαι ἐνενοήθη) καθέσ θαι, ὡς ἐν μήτρα, τῆ συνυπαρχούση, ἑαυτῳ Σιγῆ. Ταύτην δὲ, ύποδηξαμένην τὸ σπερμα τούτο, καί ἐγκύμονα γενομένην, ἀποκυῆσαι Νούν, ὀμοιόν τε καί ίσον τῳ προβαλόντι, καί μόνον χωρούντα τὸ μέγεθος τού Πατρός. Τὸν δὲ νούν τούτον καί μονογενῆ καλούσι, καί ἀρχὴν τῶν πάντων.[1] (Dicunt enim esse quendam in sublimitatibus illis, quæ nec oculis cerni, nec nominari possunt, perfectum Æonem præexistentem, quem et proarchen, et propatorem, et Bythum vocant. Eum autem, quum incomprehensibilis et invisibilis, sempiternus idem et ingenitus esset, infinitis temporum seculis in summa, quiete ac tranquillitate fuisse. Unâ etiam cum eo Cogitationem exstitisse, quam et Gratiam et Silentium (Sigen) nuncupant. Hunc porro Bythum in animum aliquando induxisse, rerum omnium initium proferre, atque hanc, quam in animum induxerat, productionem, in Sigen (silentium) quæ unâ cum eo erat, non secus atque in vulvam demisisse. Hanc vero, suscepto hoc semine, prœgnantem effectam pepe-
- ↑ For they say that in those unseen heights which have no name there is a pre-existing, perfect Æon; this they also call fore-rule, fore father and the depth.—They say, that being incomprehensible and invisible, eternal and unborn, he has existed during endless Æons in the deepest calmness and tranquillity; and that coexisting with him was Thought, which they also call Grace and Silence. This Depth once bethought him to put forth from himself the beginning of all things and to lay that offshoot—which he had resolved to put forth—like a sperm into the coexisting Silence, as it were into a womb. Now this Silence, being thus impregnated and having conceived, gave birth to Intellect, a being which was like and equal to its Creator, and alone able to comprehend the greatness of its father. This Intellect also they call the Only-begotten and the Beginning of all things." [Tr.'s add.]
