AndProclus\'sprayer，ontheotherhand，wastheoutcomeoftheNeoplatonists\'metaphysic，theendofalltheirsearchaftertheOne，theIndivisible，theAbsolute，thiscrytoallmannerofinnumerablephantoms，ghostsofideas，ghostsoftraditions，neitherthingsnorpersons，butthoughts，togivethephilosophereachsomethingorother，accordingtothenatureofeach。Notthatheveryclearlydefineswhateachistogivehim；butstillhefeelshimselfinwantofallmannerofthings，anditisaswelltohaveasmanyfriendsatcourtaspossible——
NoeticGods，NoericGods，rulers，angels，daemons，heroes——toenablehimtodowhat？TounderstandPlato\'smostmysticalandfar-seeingspeculations。TheEternalNous，theIntellectualTeacherhasvanishedfurtherandfurtheroff；furtheroffstillsomedimvisionofasupremeGoodness。InfinitespacesabovethatloomsthroughthemistoftheabyssaPrimaevalOne。Buteventhathasapredicate，foritisone；itisnotpureessence。Musttherenotbesomethingbeyondthatagain，whichisnotevenone，butisnameless，inconceivable，absolute？Whatanabyss!Howshallthehumanmindfindanythingwhereontorest，inthevastnowherebetweenitandtheobjectofitssearch？ThesearchaftertheOneissuesinawailtotheinnumerable；andkindgods，angels，andheroes，nothumanindeed，butstillconceivableenoughtosatisfyatleasttheimagination，stepintofillthevoid，astheyhavedonesince，andmaydoagain；andso，asMr。Carlylehasit，\"thebottomlesspitgotroofedover，\"asitmaybeagainerelong。
Arewethentosay，thatNeoplatonismwasafailure？ThatAlexandria，duringfourcenturiesofprofoundandearnestthought，addednothing？
HeavenforbidthatweshouldsaysoofaphilosophywhichhasexercisedonEuropeanthought，atthecrisisofitsnoblestlifeandaction，aninfluenceasgreatasdidtheAristoteliansystemduringtheMiddleAges。Wemustneverforget，thatduringthetwocenturieswhichcommencewiththefallofConstantinople，andendwithourcivilwars，notmerelyalmostallgreatthinkers，butcourtiers，statesmen，warriors，poets，weremoreorlessNeoplatonists。TheGreekgrammarians，whomigratedintoItaly，broughtwiththemtheworksofPlotinus，Iamblichus，andProclus；andtheirgorgeousreverieswerewelcomedeagerlybytheEuropeanmind，justrevellinginthefreethoughtofyouthfulmanhood。AndyettheAlexandrianimpotenceforanypracticalandsocialpurposeswastobemanifested，asutterlyasitwasinAlexandriaorinAthensofold。
FicinusandPicusofMirandolaworkednodeliverance，eitherforItalianmoralsorpolity，atatimewhensuchdeliverancewasneededbitterlyenough。Neoplatonismwaspettedbyluxuriousandheathenpopes，asanelegantplayofthecultivatedfancy，whichcoulddotheirrealpower，theirpracticalsystem，neithergoodnorharm。Andonecannothelpfeeling，whilereadingthemagnificentorationonSupra-sensualLove，whichCastiglione，inhisadmirablebook\"TheCourtier，\"putsintothemouthoftheprofligateBembo，hownearmysticismmaylienotmerelytodilettantismortoPharisaism，buttosensualityitself。ButinEngland，duringElizabeth\'sreign，thepracticalweaknessofNeoplatonismwascompensatedbythenoblepracticallifewhichmenwerecompelledtoliveinthosegreattimes；bythestrongholdwhichtheyhadoftheideasoffamilyandnationallife，oflawandpersonalfaith。