This in the Protreptics is the 11th Symbol, and is explained by
Iamblichus as follows: “This Symbol exhorts to fortitude; for whoever
takes up a burden, signifies that he undertakes an action of labor and
energy; but he who lays one down, of rest and remission. So that the
Symbol has the following meaning; Do not become either to yourself or
another the cause of an indolent and effeminate mode of conduct; for
every useful thing is acquired by labor. But the Pythagoreans celebrate
this Symbol as Herculean, thus denominating it from the labors of
Hercules. For during his association with men, he frequently returned
from fire and every thing dreadful, indignantly rejecting indolence. For
rectitude of conduct is produced from acting and operating, but not from
sluggishness.”
P. 61. _Do not draw near to a woman for the sake of begetting children,
if she has gold._
In the Protreptics of Iamblichus (Symbol 35.) this is expressed as
follows: “Draw not near to that which has gold, in order to produce
children.” On which Iamblichus observes: “The Symbol does not here speak
of a woman, but of that sect and philosophy which has much of the
corporeal in it, and a gravitating tendency downwards. For gold is the
heaviest of all things in the earth, and pursues a tendency to the
middle, which is the peculiarity of corporeal weight. But the term to
_draw near_, not only signifies to be connected with, but always to
approach towards, and to be seated near another.”