Chapter XXXVII.--Other Turgid and Ridiculous Theories About the Origin of the Aeons and Creation, Stated and Condemned.

Now listen to some other buffooneries ¹ of a master who is a great swell among them, ² and who has pronounced his dicta with an even priestly authority. They run thus: There comes, says he, before all things Pro-arche, the inconceivable, and indescribable, and nameless, which I for my own part call Monotes (Solitude). With this was associated another power, to which also I give the name of Henotes (Unity). Now, inasmuch as Monotes and Henotes--that is to say, Solitude and Union--were only one being, they produced, and yet not in the way of production, ³ the intellectual, innascible, invisible beginning of all things, which human language ⁴ has called Monad (Solitude). ⁵ This has inherent in itself a consubstantial force, which it calls Unity ⁶ These powers, accordingly, Solitude or Solitariness, and Unity, or Union, propagated all the other emanations of Aeons. ⁷ Wonderful distinction, to be sure! Whatever change Union and Unity may undergo, Solitariness and Solitude is profoundly supreme. Whatever designation you give the power, it is one and the same.