Guthrie: Vida de Plotino XIII

XIII. PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF PLOTINOS S DELIVERY.

In his lectures his delivery was very good; he knew how to make immediate apposite replies. Nevertheless, his language was not correct. For instance, he used to say “anamnemisketai” for “anamimnesketai”; and he made similar blunders in writing. But when he would speak, his intelligence seemed to shine in his face, and to illuminate it with its rays. He grew especially hand some in discussions; a light dew of perspiration ap peared on his forehead, gentleness radiated in his countenance, he answered kindly, but satisfactorily. For three days I had to question him, to learn from him his opinions about the union of the body with the soul; he spent all that time in explaining to me what I wanted to know.* A cerain Thaumasius, who had entered into the- school, said that he wanted to take down the arguments of the discussion in writing, and hear Plotinos himself speak; but that he would not stand Porphyry s answering and questioning. “Never theless,” answered Plotinos, “if Porphyry does not, by his questions, bring up the difficulties that we should solve (notice, in the course of the Enneads, the con tinual objections), we would have nothing to write.”