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often reminds me of Dr。 Johnson； especially as Dr。 Johnson is described by
Mr。 Carlyle。 Just as the good doctor was a sound Churchman in the
beginning of the age of new ideas； so Plotinus was a sound pagan in the
beginning of the triumph of Christianity。
Like Johnson； Plotinus was lazy and energetic and short…sighted。 He
wrote a very large number of treatises； but he never took the trouble to
read through them when once they were written； because his eyes were
weak。 He was superstitious； like Dr。 Johnson； yet he had lucid intervals
of common sense； when he laughed at the superstitions of his disciples。
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Like Dr。 Johnson； he was always begirt by disciples； men and women；
Bozzys and Thrales。 He was so full of honour and charity； that his house
was crowded with persons in need of help and friendly care。 Though he
lived so much in the clouds and among philosophical abstractions； he was
an excellent man of business。 Though a philosopher he was pious； and
was courageous； dreading the plague no more than the good doctor
dreaded the tempest that fell on him when he was voyaging to Coll。
You will admit that the parallel is pretty close for an historical parallel；
despite the differences between the ascetic of Wolf…town and the sage of
Bolt Court； hard by Fleet Street！
To return to the education of Plotinus。 He was twenty…eight when he
went up to the University of Alexandria。 For eleven years he diligently
attended the lectures of Ammonius。 Then he went on the Emperor
Gordian's expedition to the East； hoping to learn the philosophy of the
Hindus。 The Upanishads would have puzzled Plotinus； had he reached
India； but he never did。 Gordian's army was defeated in Mesopotamia；
no 〃blessed word〃 to Gordian； and Plotinus hardly escaped with his life。
He must have felt like Stendhal on the retreat from Moscow。
From Syria his friend and disciple Amelius led him to Rome； and here；
as novelists say； 〃a curious thing happened。〃 There was in Rome an
Egyptian priest； who offered to raise up the Demon； or Guardian Angel； of
Plotinus in visible form。 But there was only one pure spot in all Rome；
so said the priest； and this spot was the Temple of Isis。 Here the seance
was held； and no demon appeared； but a regular God of one of the first
circles。 So terrified was an onlooker that he crushed to death the living
birds which he held in his hands for some ritual or magical purpose。
It was a curious scene； a cosmopolitan confusion of Egypt； Rome； Isis；
table…turning； the late Mr。 Home； religion； and mummery； while Christian
hymns of the early Church were being sung； perhaps in the garrets around；
outside the Temple of Isis。 The discovery that he had a god for his
guardian angel gave Plotinus plenty of confidence in dealing with rival
philosophers。 For example； Alexandrinus Olympius； another mystic；
tried magical arts against Plotinus。 But Alexandrinus； suddenly doubling
up during lecture with unaffected agony； cried； 〃Great virtue hath the soul
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of Plotinus； for my spells have returned against myself。〃 As for Plotinus；
he remarked among his disciples； 〃Now the body of Alexandrinus is
collapsing like an empty purse。〃
How diverting it would be； Lady Violet； if our modern
controversialists had those accomplishments； and if Mr。 Max Muller could；
literally； 〃double up〃 Professor Whitney； or if any one could cause
Peppmuller to collapse with his queer Homeric theory！ Plotinus had many
such arts。 A piece of jewellery was stolen from one of his protegees； a
lady； and he detected the thief； a servant； by a glance。 After being
flogged within an inch of his life； the servant （perhaps to save the
remaining inch） confessed all。
Once when Porphyry was at a distance； and was meditating suicide；
Plotinus appeared at his side； saying； 〃This that thou schemest cometh not
of the pure intellect； but of black humours；〃 and so sent Porphyry for
change of air to Sicily。 This was thoroughly good advice； but during the
absence of the disciple the master died。
Porphyry did not see the great snake that glided into the wall when
Plotinus expired； he only heard of the circumstance。 Plotinus's last
words were： 〃I am striving to release that which is divine within us； and
to merge it in the universally divine。〃 It is a strange mixture of
philosophy and savage survival。 The Zulus still believe that the souls of
the dead reappear； like the soul of Plotinus； in the form of serpents。
Plotinus wrote against the paganizing Christians； or Gnostics。 Like
all great men； he was accused of plagiarism。 A defence of great men
accused of literary theft would be as valuable as Naude's work of a like
name about magic。 On his death the Delphic Oracle； in very second…rate
hexameters； declared that Plotinus had become a demon。
Such was the life of Plotinus； a man of sense and virtue； and so modest
that he would not allow his portrait to be painted。 His character drew
good men round him； his repute for supernatural virtues brought 〃fools
into a circle。〃 What he meant by his belief that four times he had；
〃whether in the body or out of the body；〃 been united with the Spirit of the
world； who knows？ What does Tennyson mean when he writes：
〃So word by word； and line by line； The dead man touch'd me from
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the past； And all at once it seem'd at last His living soul was flashed on
mine。
And mine in his was wound and whirl'd About empyreal heights of
thought； And came on that which is； and caught The deep pulsations of the
world。〃
Mystery！ We cannot fathom it； we know not the paths of the souls
of Pascal and Gordon； of Plotinus and St。 Paul。 They are wise with a
wisdom not of this world； or with a foolishness yet more wise。
In his practical philosophy Plotinus was an optimist； or at least he was
at war with pessimism。
〃They that love God bear lightly the ways of the worldbear lightly
whatsoever befalls them of necessity in the general movement of things。〃
He believed in a rest that remains for the people of God； 〃where they
speak not one with the other； but； as we understand many things by the
eyes only； so does soul read soul in heaven； where the spiritual body is
pure； and nothing is hidden； and nothing feigned。〃 The arguments by
which these opinions are buttressed may be called metaphysical； and may
be called worthless； the conviction； and the beauty of the language in
which it is stated； remain immortal possessio