since in the interval it will be false to say this, when already another thing has been produced. The same reasoning also happens to what will be, nor because that was produced, will this be, as the middle must be generated at the same time; of things that have been that which has been, of the future the future, of what are produced that which is produced, of things which are that which is, but of what was generated, and of that which will be, the middle cannot possibly be produced at one and the same time. Moreover neither can the interval be indefinite, nor definite, since it will be false to assert it in the interval; but we must consider what is connected with it, so that after the having been generated, to be generated may exist in things. Or is it evident that what is generated is not connected with what was generated? for the past does not cohere with what was generated, since they are terms and individuals. As then neither points are mutually connected, those things which have been produced are not so, for both are indivisible; nor for the same reason does that which is, cohere with that which has been generated, for that which is generated is divisible, but that which has been is indivisible. As a line then is to a point, so is that which is to that which was generated, for infinite things which have been, are inherent in that which is; we must however enunciate these matters more clearly in the universal discussions about motion.
Concerning then the manner in which, when there is a successive generation, the middle cause subsists, let so much be assumed, for in these also it is necessary that the middle and the first should be immediate, thus A was generated because C was so, but C was after, A before. The principle indeed is
