a beginning and an end, and posits infinitely many things between them.

For his statement is made at a definite time, and his giving it to him takes place at a definite time. Yet he stipulates that he will give him the dinar at a time separated from the time when he spoke by infinitely many intervals, during which he gives him infinitely many dinars. That is impossible.

It is thus clear that this analogy does not resemble the case it is meant to illustrate.

As for their claim that something which exists after infinitely many things have existed cannot exist, this is not true in every respect.

For things that occur one before another do so in two ways: either cyclically or linearly.

Those that occur cyclically must be infinite, unless something is posited that brings them to an end.

For example, if there is a sunrise, there has previously been a sunset; and if there is a sunset, there has previously been a sunrise. Thus, if there is a sunrise, there has previously been a sunrise.

Likewise, if there are clouds, there has been vapor rising from the earth; and if there has been vapor