Theos-Talk Archives (February 2005 Message tt00317)

Dallas,
Thanks for your reply and comments. Well, I was surprised myself when I 
read the date, although I had read it back in the late 1970's, so close to when 
the Theosophical Society was first formed also in New York.

>>HPB in S D I calls him p. 425 the "most intuitional Greek translator."<<

Again the words are echoed. Here Alexander Wilder makes a statement of the 
special capacity that he felt distinguishes Thomas Taylor from other 
Platonists of his time:

"Mr. Taylor's peculiar style has been the subject of repeated criticism ; and 
his translations are not accepted by classical scholars. Yet they have met 
with favor at the hands of men capable of profound and recondite thinking; and 
it must be conceded that he was endowed with a superior qualification,---that 
of an intuitive perception of the interior meaning of the subjects which he 
considered. Others may have known more Greek, but he knew more Plato. He devoted 
his time and means for the elucidation and disseminating of the doctrines of 
the divine philosopher; and hs rendered into English not onlyhis writings, but 
also the works of other authors, who affected the teachings of the great 
master, that have escaped destruction at the hand of Moslem and Christian bigots. 
For this labor we cannot be too grateful."

ref. "Eleusinian and Bachhic Mysteries" Thomas Taylor
Introduction XVIII-XIX Alexander Wilder

I am in my humble opinion unqualified to write on Thomas Taylor, however I 
have seen and see today Members of This Forum who are qualified and would do 
bang-up job of it.
I must say Dallas I am guilty of having a misconception possibly, when I 
first began to read Madame Blavatsky's writtings as well as other Theosophical 
works she lauded Plato and the Mysteries throughout so manifoldly I had to go 
find and purchase the "Q" works she cited on which she based her primary 
expositions. I always though all other people interested in Theosophy did a similar 
action and took it for granted as a given. I also thought that Thomas Taylor 
was historically part of the programmed Teaching in Theosophical Classes where 
given. But then I have scant exposure being only the New Acropolis in LA, 
Martin Leiderman in his classes placed high value upon Plato and thomas Taylor. 

John 


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]