each o f them w a s rem ain in g in his ow n O rd er, and each w a lk ed in h is ow n C ou rse.
A n d w hen the tim e o f the N u m b e r o f M elch ised ec, the great
R e ce iv er o f the L ig h t (12), had arrived [ 3 5 ] , he k ept com in g into the m idst of th e .E o n s , and R u lers bound in th e S p h ere, and F a te , and took a w a y their pure L ig h t, for he took it from them , b y th ro w in g them into confusion.
A n d he u rged on th eir P a rtisa n (Spoudastcn), w ho is o v er them ,
to turn th e ir C irc le s q u ick ly, and took a w a y their P o w er, both the B re a th o f their M outh , and the T e a rs o f th eir E y e s , and also the S w e a t o f their B odies.
A n d M e lch ised ec, the R e ce iv e r o f L ig h t, purified those P o w ers,
that he m ight c a rry th eir L ig h t into the T re a su re o f L ig h t, and the M inisters (Leitourgoi) o f all the R u lers (of the /Eons) co llected the H y le o f the rest o f them , and th e M in isters o f all the R u lers o f the F a te , and o f the Sphere, w h ich are below th e -E ons, received it, that th e y m igh t m ake thence the S ou l o f m en, and c a ttle , and rep tiles, and b easts, and birds, and send it into the w orld o f m en.
T h e R e ce iv e rs o f the Su n , and o f the M oon,
also,— w h en th e y h a d ob served the H e a v e n s, so th a t th ey m igh t see the F igu res o f the P a th s o f the ^Eons, and the F ig u r e s o f the F a te , and the Sphere, and th a t he (M elch ised ec) h ad taken a w a y the P o w e r o f their L ig h t from them (the iE o n s),— also p rep ared th em selves to sca tter it (the L ig h t), until th e y should g iv e it to the R e c e iv e rs o f M elch ised ec.
[3
6]
(So) th e y
carried the pure L ig h t and th e ir (the .(Eons’ ) h y lic E v a cu a tio n (faecem) into the S p h e re , w h ich is b elow the ^Eons (13), th at th e y m ight m ake th en ce the Soul o f m en, rep tile s, c a ttle , b easts, and bird s, a cco rd in g to the C irc le of the R u lers o f th at S p h ere, and acco rd in g to a ll the F ig u re s o f th eir revo lu  tion, and ca st them into the W o rld o f M en, and th at the S ou ls m igh t be made in th at R egion , a cco rd in g to th e m anner, w hich I h a v e a lre a d y told you.
T h e s e th in gs, therefore, th ey w ere a cco m p lish in g co n sta n tly , before
their P o w e r b egan to lessen, and w eak en , in them , and th ey b ecam e lan gu id , and po w erless.
B u t w hen th ey b ecam e pow erless, so th a t their L ig h t
began to cease, and their K in gd o m to be resolved, and the U n iv erse to quickly con tin u e (or com plete) its evolu tion (cvehcrciur) ; then, w h en th ey knew th is b y th e circu m stan ces, and
the
N u m b er o f
(Psephou) w a s accom p lish ed , M elch ised ec, the again, th a t he m igh t en ter into th e
m idst
his
R eck o n in g
R e ce iv e r, began of
all
the
to com e
R u lers o f the
^Eons, and o f the F a te and S p h ere, and d istu rb ed them , in order to requicken their C ircles. [ 3
7]
F o rth w ith , th ey are com pressed, th a t th ey
m ay ca st out th eir P o w e r from
th em selves, from the B re a th o f their
M outh, from the T e a r s o f their E y e s , and from the S w e a t o f th eir B o d ies, and M elch ised ec, the R e ce iv er o f L ig h t, purified them (ea ? the B o d ie s !) perserverin gly, and bore their L ig h t into th e T re a su re o f L ig h t ; and all the R u lers o f the iE o n s, and the R u le rs o f th e F a te and S p h ere, surrounded the H y le o f their E v a cu a tio n (or error), th at th ey m ight d evou r it, and not allow it to g o so th a t S ou ls m ight be m ade in the W o rld .
T h e y , therefore,
d evoured th eir H y le , in order th at th e y m ight not becom e pow erless, and languid, and th eir P o w e r cea se in them , and th eir K in gd om be d is s o lv e d ;