Thrice-Greatest Hermes, Vol. 1, by G.R.S. Mead, [1906], at sacred-texts.com
Thrice-Greatest Hermes, Vol. 1, by G.R.S. Mead, [1906], at sacred-texts.com
I. 1. 2 While all who have mind, O Klea, should ask for all their blessings from the Gods—let us, by pursuing after them, pray to obtain from them those [blessings] of gnosis 3 concerning them, as far as ’tis within the reach of men; in that there’s nothing greater for a man to get, nor more majestic for a God to give, than Truth.
2. Of other things their God gives men what they require, whereas of mind and wisdom He gives a share 4 to them—since He [Himself] possesses these and uses [them].
For the Divine is neither blest through silver and through gold, nor strong through thunderings and lightnings, but [blest and strong] by gnosis and by wisdom.
3. And thus most finely of all things which he hath said about the Gods—sounding aloud:
Yea have they both a common source and one [fair] native land;
But Zeus came into being first and he knew more—
hath Homer made pronouncement of the primacy of Zeus as more majestic, in that in gnosis and in wisdom it 5 is older.
4. Nay, I believe that the good fortune of æonian life—the which the God hath gotten for his lot—is
that by reason of His gnosis the things in genesis should not entirely die; for when the knowing of existing things and being wise is taken from it, freedom from death is Time—not Life.
261:1 I have added some sub-headings as an indication of contents.
261:2 I have numbered the paragraphs for greater convenience of reference.
261:3 ἐπιστήμης.
261:4 A play on δίδωσιν and μετα-δίδωσιν.
261:5 Sc. the primacy.