Porphyrius to ende with Plato and his tyme. Sotion as appeareth went furder though Porphyrius was of later dayes The time betwene not being sufficiently set forth for the worthinesse diuersitie of the Philosophers and vertue of the Drators Philostratus of Lemnus dyd briefly runne ouer the lyues of the best with singular grace But none dyd wryte eractly of them among whome was Ammonius of Egipt the maister of diuine Plutarche and Plurarche himselfe that was the beuty and armony of all Philosophy Also Euphrares of Egipt Dion of Bithynâ—a who had the surname of Golden mouth and Appolonius Tranaeus not a Philosophex only but a meane thing betwene the Gods and men who being a louer of Pythagoras doctrine dyd teach it most diuiuely and effectually of whome Philostratus of Lemnius did write exquisitly intituling his bookes The lyfe of Appolonius where he should rather haue termed it The coÌ„ming of a God to men In the which time Carneades was famous among the brutish sect that was called Cynickes If any regard is to be had of that sort of the which was Musonius Demetrius and Menippus with some other but these were most notable And albeit that no man as far as I know haue so set forth their lyues as they maye be knowen plainly and perfectly yet their writings may sufficiently expresse their lyues being so full of learning and knowledge searching morall vertues and naturall causes as they may expell ignorance out of the minde of their Scholers as a certaine darknes Diuine Plutarche noting his owne lyfe and his Maisters in his Bookes here and there sayth that Ammonius dyed at Athens And although the chiefe of his workes be called Lyues Compared of most worthy men according to their actes and deedes Yet he sprinkleth his owne life and his Maisters in euery seuerall booke So as if a man wyll looke narowly vpon them and search howe euery thing fell out and circumspectly examine each parte he may collect a great processe of their lyues Lucian of Samoseta a man made to moue laughter dyd write the lyfe â–ª of Demonactes a Philosopher of his tyme 〈◊〉 An that booke vsing persyt diligence which he dyd nâ—â—â— wether My meaning is to bring matter to memorie not ignoraunt that some things paraduenture be hydden from vs and some be not bestowing all my care and study in this poinct that I myght forme a continuall and exact description of the lyues of most excellent men in Philosophie and cloquence And if I do not obtaine my desire I shall haue the lucke that carnest feruent Louers hath For they beholding their Lady and leeing her bewty euidently looke downe their eyes being daselied not able to fasten their syght But if they see her trim face her braue collour and gaye eareringes they gather hart and they fixe their eye and spende the tyme vpon that shew abyding and continuing rather in delyght of Ornamentes to bewty then of â—ewty it selfe Likewise I hauing directed myne earnest endeuour to this kinde of wryting what I could heare or learne of men of mine age would not let them passe with sylence for any contrarie affection but to my power honoring the entry and doore of the trueth that I might delyuer it to them that shall come after that either wyll heare or can folow that which is best Thorough common calamities the time hath had a cutting and a breaking off At the first there was great plenty of learned men but after Platoes tyme great want is shewed to bee of all euen to the reignes of Claudius and Nero. As for those vnhappy that had but a yeares space as Galba Vitellius and Otho they are not to be wrytten of But Vespasian and Titus them that raigned after them that we shoulde not seeme of purpose to prosecute that but rather to speake ouerly at once that the best sort of Philosophers continued to Seuerus tyme and had their Historie happely ioygned with the Emperours that excellent vertue might be accompanied with fauorable fortune Let no man finde faulte if we so describe the time as we might be the better able to make coniecture and take a conuenient be ginning to proceede in the processe that we haue â—nterprised Plotinus PLotinus was a Philosopher of Egipt and because I name the Countrie I wil adde also the Citty where he was borne which they call Lycopolis Although diuine Porphyrius did not wright it affirming he was his Scholler and spent either all or the moste part of his life with him The Alters of Plotinus be yet warme and his bookes in the hands of the learned more then Plato and the common forte though they reade not his precepts yet they forme their liues according to the same Porphyrius did expresse euery part of his life so as no man can say more Yea it seemeth he did interpret many of his bookes But the life of Porphyrius no man that I know hath hithertoo written Therefore as much as I can gather by tokens according to my knowledge thus much haue I learned of him Porphyrius TYrus was the Countrey of Porphyrius the theife City of the auncient Phenitians His parentes were of good estate He being brought vp in learning proceeded and continued till he was Longinus Scholler and in short time was an ornament to his Maister Longinus was at that time a liuely library and a florishing studye to whom authoritie was giuen to iudge of the former learned meÌ„ as before him diuerse others and Dionisius of Caria most notable of all Porphyrius was fyrst named Malcus after the Sirian tongue which signifying a Prince Longinus called him Prophirius turning the name of a Kinge into the purple colour that kinges did weare With him he was trayned with singuler learning not inferiour to him neither in humanity nor eloquence yet he passed not of that but gaue his whole study to Philosophie Longinus was accompted with the moste extellent men of his time and his bookes were so plentifull as they brought an admiration to him If other men did reprooue any of the auncients his sentence was not approoued tyll Longinus confirmed it Porphirius being thus instructed and in great expectation of all men had a great desire to see Rome that was Ladye of the worlde that he might winne that Cittie to the study of Sapience beyng come and entred into societie with the great Plotinus he refused all other and gaue himselfe wholy to him of whose doctrine being greedy with out sarietie as himselfe saide he spent the time in hearing of those deuine lessous that issewed from that flowing Fountaine At length being ouercome with the vehemencie of those speeches it greeued him he had a body and was mortall he sayled into Cicilia by the rocke Carybdis where they say Vilisses passed but he could abide to see no Cittie nor here mens voyces So dyd he leaue delight and disâ—â—se and went to
Philometer leaue to burne wood in vaine as though he knew what Sorcery he went about He thinking he heard God speake honoured Maximus and left his practise despising the purpose he had taken in hande From henceforth Sosipatra loued him purely and so dyd he her And chauncing that they being all with her except Philometer who was at his pastime they fell into a disputation of the soule of the which diuerse argumentes were made When Sosipatra spake she confuted the former opinions with euident demonstrations Then she entreated of the soule generally What part was punishable what immortall like one that had bene rapt with a diuine furie And as she had sayde sodenly she held her peace lyke one in a traunce And staying a lytle she cryed Alack my cosyn Philometer ryding in his Chariot is ouerthrowen in a very slippery and vnequall place He was in daunger of breaking his legges but his seruants were diligent saued him yet is he hurt in his haÌ„ds and his shoulders but without daunger he is set vp againe and calleth on the Gods. This she sayd and it was so All men thought Sosipatra was in euery place and knew euery thing as Philosophers affyrmeth of the Gods. She dyed leauing three chyldren Of two of their names I shall not neede to wryte The thyrd named Antoninus was worthy of his Parentes and lay about Canobus one of the mouthes of the flood Nilus and applyed the trade of that place to be as his mother had pronosticated of him Young men that desyred to purge their soules with Philosophy resorted to him The Temple being full of persons and he occupied about the holy things as a man that serued God yet no God tolde them that after his death there should be no more Temple All the goodly holy things of Serapis should be defaced turned to confusion and deformity And that the rude darknesse which had bene thought a Fable should haue great power vpon earth All the which sayings tyme dyd confirme and the effect shewed the violence of the prophesie to be true Of this sort some haue bene left for I wyll not wryte the morning moouinges of Hesiodus as certaine influences of Stars and dyd enter into another kinde of Philosophers and there remained To whom that study was a profyt being alwayes at the barre as Socrates in Athens at the Porch royall and by that meanes contemned mony and lost rytches The plaine Roabe of Philosophy was to remember Sosipatra and often speake of Eustathius Men might see so many Chests of Books â—ull and stâ—ffâ—d as might ouerlade Camels all the which they had learned and not written of the auncient Philosophers but Testaments Copies and notes of their actions all things which are woont to be praysed by this lyfe full of error frailty and misery And of them the prediction of Sosipatra was not vaine Whose names I mynd not to recyte for this Booke is to speake of good men and not of euyl Yet one of her Chyldren Antoninus by name of whom I spake before remaining at Alexandria was so delighted with Canobus that he gaue himself wholy to the Ceremonies of secrete sanctity and the worshipping of the Goddes neglecting his body and the pleasures of the same embrasing Philosophy that was hyd to the people Of whom we might wryte at large But he touching matter of Religion vttred nothing straunge to the common sence of men paraduenture suspecting and fearing the proceedings of the Emperour tending to other matter His conscience patience and stability euery man reuerenced and they that came to traffyke at Alexandria came to him by Sea. Alexandria was a populous Citty for the Temple of Scrapis an holy habitation vnto the which they flowed by multitudes from all places of the world and when they had done their deuotion they repayred as fast to Antoninus taking recreation by water to go to a man of worthinesse They that were admitted to his company propounded some question and were freely and fully instructed with the Sapience of Plato They that propounded problemes of diuine matter spake to a picture for nothing was aunswered them But with stable and vnmouing eyes he looked vp to heauen not easily to be brought to such disputations It was seene not long after that there was a diuine knowledge in him For he was no sooner dead but the deuotion of Alexandria and the Temple of Serapis was destroyed And not only the Religion but the houses and all things was fordoone As in Poeticall Fables of the force of Gyants And the Temples at Canopus suffred the lyke For Theodosius being Emperour and Theophilus his Lieftenant as Eurimedon Who among the cruell Gyants Was one of all the chiefest Tyrants And Venereus ciuill gouernour hauing the charge of the Romaine army in Egipt wreaked their teâ—ne vpon stones and workers of stones destroyed the Temple of Serapis and spoyled holy things making warre without warning and getting victory without resystance Thus they warred against pyctures and paintings not onely beating them down but ransaking them making it a discipline of warre to hyde euery stolne thing Only the pauement of the Temples remayned which they could not carry away for heapâ—s of stones Thus these valiant warriours kept their hands without bloud but not without Gold. Glorying they had ouercome Gods and boasting in committing of sacriledge impâ—ety They brought into these holy places them that they call Monks in shape men but in lyfe beasts Openly committing and doing wicked euylles not to be spoken And it is a poynct of their holynesse to destroy holy places Euery man now had tyrannicall power that would weare a blacke garment and be seene abroade in vnseemely array To such an opinion of vertue were men brought of the which we speake in the most part of our Historie They did place Monks at Canobus that mortall slaues should be honoured in steede of immortall Gods and mens mynds be entangled with vngodly matter Some of their heads that were punished for their great offences were saltyd shewed as Gods to be honoured although as theeues they had bene punished Men thought them selues the better when they erred in going to the Sepulchres They were called Martyrs Deacons and Legates of the prayers that were made to God being vyle slaues and branded for their faultes carying the scarres of their whyppings as markes of their lewdnesse Yet the earth bringeth forth such Gods. This dyd confyrme the great diuinatioÌ„ of Antoninus saying that Temples should be made Sepulchres The great Iamblicus as we wrote in his lyfe wheÌ„ one had raysed Apollo and euery man afrayde that saw him he came among them and sayde maruayle no more good friendes for this is the Image of a Sword player So diuerse is it to see a thing with the minde and with the deceyptfull eyes of the body Iamblicus told the present euyll But Antoninus the things that were to come Which thing onely was
Lelibaeuin one of the three Forelands of Cicilia towarde Affrica There he lay in paine and passions refusing all meate and forsaking all men The great Plotinus was not deceyued herein but eyther by following his steppes or seeking for him found him out where he was layde and by good words so comforted him as he called againe the life that was going from the body and made it able to retaine the same So as he recouered and was safe and after wrote the talke that was between them But the secretes of Philosophie being hydden as Poetry in Fables Porphyrius finding the remedy to make them manifest with praise of his experience dyd write a Treatise of them and gaue lyght vnto them Then he returned to Rome and renewed his study shewing proofe of it publiquely The glory of Porphyrius redounded to Plorinus by whome both the Senate and the people knew he was enstructed Plotinus seemed harde darke for the diuine and obscure subtiltie of his wordes and workes But Porphyrius as a Cheane of Mercury ful of variety of learning sent amoÌ„g men declared euery thing firmly and plainly For he sayth in a place which paradventure he wrote when he was young that he had reuelation of more diuine knowledge then the common sort And in the same booke he wryteth howe a man should apply his diligence vpon such matter He saith further that he droue a deuil out of a Bathe whome the inhabitaunts called Causanthan His chiefe Scholefelowes as himselfe writeth were Origenes Amelius and Aquilinus and that they wrote some Bookes but their style was barren though their precepts were good aptly set forth in words Yet Porphyrius prayseth them for their grauitie he receyuing all the thanks and onely celebrating and setting forth his Maister being endued with al kind of knowledge A man may doubt and maruayle wherin he dyd most excell Whether in the Arte of Rethorike or exact knowledge of the groundes of Grammer in the science of numbring or in Geometry or Musicke For Philosophie neyther left he any thing vnknowen neyther coulde he well expresse what he knew For natural and diuine knowledge I leaue them to Religion and Misteries Such a generall knowledge had he in all manner of vertue that a man may doubt whether the pleasantnes of his Orations or the pithinesse of his precepts or the vehemencie of his speaches deserueth more prayse It seemeth he was maried to Marcella for there is a Booke directed to Marcella his wife whome he sayth he maryed being mother to liue Children not to haue Chyldren by her but to teach her Chyldren which she had by a friend of his It seemeth also he lyued tyll he was olde wherby he left some workes contrary to his former wrytings Of the which I can not iudge the cause but that in tyme he thought otherwyse They say he dyed at Rome at which tyme Paulus and Andromacus of Syria were rectors of Rethorike in Athens And it is very lyke it was about the tyme of Galienus Claudius Tacitus Aurelianus and Probus In whose dayes Dexippus lyued that wrote a story of that tyme a man fulfylled with all learning and good vertues Jamblicus NExt these Iamblicus was the Philosopher of most fame He was of good byrth from wealthy and fortunate Parents His Countrey was Calcide which is a Citie of the hollow part of Syria He was familiar with Anatolius who after Porphyrius was most esteemed and passed him farre and atteyned to the heyght of Philosophy After him he ioygned with Porphyrius to whome he was not inferior but in purity and pyth of style For he dyd not vse his speach with sweetnes delyght nor had any clearenes nor ioyed in neate phrases Yet was he not vtterly obscure nor faulty in his style but as Plato sayth of Xenocrates he dyd not sacrifice to the graces of Mercurie Therfore he doth not deteyne his Auditor nor allure him to reade but rather affray him and turneth him from it For his keeping of Iustice he was so fauord of the Gods as multitudes resorted vnto him from euery place to be partakers of his doctrine of whome who was the best it is harde to tell For there was Sopater of Syria who was most eloquent in worde and wryting Aedesius and Eustathius of Cappadocia Theodorus and Euphrasius of Grecia which excelled in vertue and many other not much inferiour in eloquence It is a wonder how he could please all He was sree to euery of them He dyd lytle for him selfe without his Disciples and fellowes and that for a respect to god He accompanied much with his friendes His dyet was symple and alter the olde manner He cheered his guests and fylled them with his sweete talkes They that were not wery nor full of his discourses were his common guests They that durst best speake would come foorth and saye O most diuine Maister why art thou so alone Why doest thou not imparte thy rare Sapience to vs A talke is tolde vs by thy seruaunts that when thou art at thy prayers thou art taken vp ten cubytes hygh and that thy body and garment is turned into colour of fayre golde And when thy prayers are done thy body returneth to his old estate as it was before thou dyddest pray and commeth to the grouÌ„d againe and than thou lâ—ttest vs haue thy company At these wordes Iamblicus laughâ—d not being very prone to laughter and sayd He was no foole that hath deceyued you thus But from henceforth I wyl do nothing without you Thus he shewed himselfe and it came to the wryters knowledge by Chrysanthius his Scholemaister that was of Sardis and he was very samiliar Scholler with Aedesius and Aedesius one of the chefe with Iamblicus and of them that vsed the aboue written wordes to him Furthermore he shewed great demonstration of his diuine knowledge after this sorte The Sunne dyd shew vpon the extreme partes of the Orizon when he entreth into the sygne of the Dogge at which tyme a Sacrifice was woont to be made in one of the Suburbs And when all was well fynished they returned into the Cittie going leysurely for they had a talke of God agreeing with the Sacrifice Than the voyce fayled and he fyxing his eyes on the ground for a tyme looked vpon his friends and cryed to them Let vs go another way for a dead body is caryed not farre of When he had thus sayde he tooke another way as he thought more pure Some followed him thynking it a shame to leaue their Maister But the more part and youthfull sort among whome was Aedesius thought it a superstitious poynt and lyke Houndes that hunted after their game went on their way They had not gone farre but they met with the buriers of the dead Corps dyd not leaue it so but asked them if they went that way they sayde they must needes for there was none other This dyd the
more testify his diuine knowledge as there was no vse of syght but a secrete knowledge by odour They would haue tryed it in a greater matter but Iamblicus tolde them it was not in his power but at tyme of opportunity Not long after it seemed good to them to go to Gadara the season seruing to the Bathe of Syria in goodnes next the Romaines Bathe of Baia with the which no hote Bathe can compare They vse to go to Gadara yearely And so being in the Bathe they with him reasoning of the same Iamblicus smiling sayd Although I am forbiddē by God to opē this vnto you yet for your sakes I wyll vtter it He wylled his cōpanions to learne of the dwellers what the auncient name was of the two litle Baths that were of most price They did as he required them and vnderstood that the one was called Loue and the other Loues Contrary without any further knowledge of the originall He by and by styrring the water for he sate in the mouthe of the Bathe where the water runneth out hauing spoken few words he raysed a Childe from the bottom of the Fowntaine The Childe was whyte and of meane stature his heare yelow his shoulders very whyte and altogether like one that washed and had beene washed His companions being amased let vs go sayde he to the other Bathe He arose and went afore as in a muse And doing there as he did before hee raysed the other Loue like to the fyrst in all respectes sauing his heares were black and red hanging ouer his shoulders He embrased bothe the Boyes and they cloue to him as to a gentill naturall father whom he restored to their former places Whē he was washed he went his waye his frends maruailing much from that time left asking of questions And being drawne with the euident signes as with a brydle that cannot breake gaue him credite in all thinges There is other matter more strainge and monstrous told of him of the which I will put none to wrighting Thinking it to men to be hurtful and to God hatefull to commit to syrme and stable history vaine and strainge tromperie yea I wright thys fearefully only following such men as not beleuing others were compelled to these by plaine sence None of his friends wrote these that I doo know Aedesius telling it modestlye neyther he wrighting it nor any other being bolde to doo it In Iamblicus his time liued Alypius most persite in the arte of Logicke whose body was most small and little bigger then a Pigmey The body apparant might be thought a soule and a spirite the corruptible part not growing great was distributed into diuine matter For as the great Plato sayth Diuine bodyes haue a contrarie being to them that be mixed with mindes so may a man say that he was transformed into a soule of the which he was possessed as of a god Alypius had many followers but his manner of teaching was onely by familier spech No mā brought a booke Therfore they gladly made recourse to Iamblicus as to draw and drinke of a flowing Fowntaine not containing it self within the brinke The same of them bothe encreasing it hapned that they met together as two Starres being beset with an audience as in a great Schole and Iamblicus staying to be asked rather thē to aske Alypius beyond al expectation leauing Philosophicall matter in the mydest of the audience sayd vnto him Tell me O Philosopher whether a ritch man be vniust or the heire of an vniust person for in these there is no meane He not liking the subtiltie of the question sayd O rare man it is not the trade of our teaching what is superfluous in outward things but if a man doe followe inwardlye with vertues meete for a Philosopher And thus said he departed and all the audience with him as he wente merueling at the subtility of the question he procured talke with him priuately at sundry times and so loued him for his witte and learning as when he departed he wrote his life For he that wrote this treatise had that booke which was very obscurely written and ouerlaide with deepe clowdes not so much for the hardnes of speeche as sor that it contained tedious matter of Alypius doctrine whereof there is no memorie how the disputations were vsed That booke spake of a going to Rome of the which there was no cause shewed nor no great qualitie of the minde but that many had the man in admyration but what he sayde or dyd there is no mention This singuler man Iamblicus seemeth to haue that fault that Painters haue who when they painte them of florishing yeares and wil set foorth the picture with somewhat of them selues they do marre the forme they would expresse and swarue from the plat and be auty of their example So he propounding to praise the trueth falleth into the sharpenes of punishmentes and misfortunes exercised in his time but the causes and occasions he neyther dyd particularly expresse nor went about it and did confounde the patterne of his whole life Hardly this he left to be perceyued of them that can with great cunning gather that he did wonder at the man and allowed his constancie in aduersitie and the finenesse deapth of his Oration He was of Alexandria And thus much of Alipius who dyed in his Country when he was old and after him Iamblicus leauing many Fountaines and foundations of Philosophie He that wrote this was of their company and other of their rehearsed Schollers were dispersed thoroughout the whole Romaine Empire and Aedesius abode at Pergamo in Asia Aedesius Aedesius of Cappadotia tooke Iamblicus office and taught his Schollers He came of a good house but of no great substance Therefore his Father sent him to Athens to learne some Art of profyte being returned and his father thinking to haue gotten gaine by him and perceyuing he had spent his time in Philosophy he put him out of his house as vnprofitable and pursued him saying What doth Philosophie profit thee Very much father saide he turning and kneeling downe which when his father saw he called him home againe and marueiled at his constancie and minding to be ruled by him sent him againe to his study which he had discontinued Hee sent him afore and followed with reioycing as a father rather of a Diuine creature then a mortall man He going before all other that then were famous or of whom he had bin Auditor and hauing gottē knowledge of Philosophy went to the singular Iamblicus no long way from Cappadocia to Sytia Whom when he did see and hard him speake he did depend vpon him and coulde not be satisfyed with his words so as in the end Aedesius was not much inferiour to Iamblicus except in Diuination of the which I can write nothing for that Aedesius kept it secret for the time Constantine being Emperour and in euery place destroying goodly Temples and erecting
as the chiefe poynt of learning all geuen to draw what he coulde out of the olde Comedie and to expresse it and as it were made of nature from the beginning to that pleasantnes delighting of eares A man may finde in his Orations exceeding learning and knowledge full of sweete speeche so as he would not haue passed the trees of Eupolidis Desphosia and Damasia if he had knowen the names of them by the which men call them now a dayes Yet he found a straunge and auncient style that was hydden as a gyft taken from the olde time brought it abroade cleansing it and making it fayre framing an whole argument to it with apt sentences as seruaunts and handmayds to a new growen maistres and of olde made young Diuine Iulianus maruayled at it And all men maruayled at his grace in speeche Many bookes there be of his which maye be vnderstanded of them that haue wytte and seeke them He was sufficient for ciuile causes and busynes and besyde his Orations to be bolde to performe other things touching sights in Theatres The Princes that followed gaue him great offices For they wylled him to haue the great maistership of the Court and so saluted him He refused it saying A Philosopher is aboue it And this is no smal praise that being inferiour in glory he would be superiour in study Thinking the other to be a common and ordinary office He dyed very olde leauing to all men great admiration of him Acacius CAesarea of Palaestina brought forth Acacius who was of Libanius time Full of Scolasticall contention and spirit as euer was man His speeche was lyke the olde manner with clapping of handes Rysing with Libanius he got a prayse and helde it A booke written of Libanius of the aptnesse of nature was dedicate to Acacius in the which he confesseth to be ouercome of him by reason of his syngular hptnesse He wytnesseth to him selfe of the placing and quicke setting of wordes as a man ignoraunt And that Homer was not alwayes carefull of meter but of good sound and sweetnes And that Phidias dyd not alwayes bring with him a fynger or a foote to set foorth the Goddesses The eare being alwayes woont to rule the cause eyther vnknown or harde to be knowen As in fayre goodly bodies all men do not lyke one thing And he that is moued knoweth not why he is moued Acacius thus remaining for the best hauing great glory and passing Lybanius died in his youth Whom men for his learning honoured as he had bene a very olde man. Nymphidianus NYmphidianus was of Smyrna Maximus the Philosopher was his brother and Claudianus also who was a good Philosopher lykewise Yet was not trayned at Athens He was borne to Eloquence and worthy the name of an Orator Iulianus made him his Secretarie chiefly for the Greeke tongue Yet he was better in declamations and disputations in the beginning and proceeding not lyke himselfe He dyed being an olde man and after the death of his brother Maximus Zenon AT this tyme many Phisitions florished among the which was Zenon of Cyprus ataining to great knowledge And he was in y tyme of Iulian the Oratour And after him in Proaeresius tyme the successour of Zeno who excelled both in teaching and practising of Phisicke His Disciples that were famous some followed the one part and some the other and some both qualities of him And were accept for their following both in practising and teaching Magnus HE was borne at Antiochia beyond Euphratis which now they cal Nisibis He was Zenos scholer And might prouoke Aristotle to dispute of bodyes elect by nature and of them selues susteyned In teaching hee made the Phisitians to holde their peace but in curing he seemed not so good As they saye they of the olde tyme asked Archidamus if he were stronger then Pericles he aunswered When I haue geuen Pericles a fall he wyll proue he gaue me a fall Euen so Magnus would prooue that they that were healed of other Phisitians were styll syeke And when they that were whole and recouered would geue thanks to their Doctours he would diswade them with obiections and arguments Alexandria was appointed his Schoolehouse to whome men went both by water and lande Eyther onely to woonder at him or to take some profite by him Wherin they were not deceyued Some learning to speake and some to doo according to their study Oribasius PErgamo brought forth Oribasius Who straight came to glory by that meane as they doo that be borne at Athens If they proue good Oratours the place maketh them the more notable as a Muse of Athens and domesticall ornament He being wel borne both wayes was famous from a Chylde endued with all science that auayleth to vertue As he grewe in age he was Auditor to great Zenon and companion with Magnus Whome he left behinde him in mouing of affections wherin he was excellent He came to the height of Phisicke following his countrey God or was possible for a man to do Being young and notable Iulianus aspyring to the kingdome tooke him for his science He excelled so in other vertues that he aduanced Iulianus to the state The which is more plainly shewed in his lyfe But as the Prouerbe sayth There is no Larke without a Creaste So Oribasius was not without enuie For notwithstanding his excellencie the officers of Iulianus spoyled him of his substaunce and minded to haue done the lyke with his lyfe but they restrayned from the mischiefe Otherwise committing as euyll for they appointed him to be kylled of the Barbarians as the Athenians do them that be excellent in vertue Yet such in Athens suffred as the law was and no more But Emperours added somewhat more to banishment being deliuered to most cruell Barbarians making them Lordes of their sentence Oribasius being brought to the place of his enimies dyd shew great prayse of vertue not limited by space nor bounded by termes but declaring constancie and stedfastnesse according to her nature working alike whersoeuer she becommeth Euen as they say numbers and such science doth He got forthwith a great name of the Barbarians and their Kinges He was taken with the best And hauing regarde to the Romaine kingdome he was honoured among them as a god Heaâ—ing some of long diseases delyuering some from the gate of death This sayd calamity was occasion of all his felicitie Wherfore the Emperour doubting to striue with such a mans vertue in all places suffred him to returne In his iournâ—y he had for all his rytches himselfe shewing the rytches of vertue He had a wyse noble and wealthy and fowre chyldren which be a lyue and himselfe was lyuing when this was written and so may he long be He recouered his former substance restored by the Emperours publique decree which he had vniustly lost by the former sentence And in this case was he To be conuersant with
Oribasius he must be a gentle Philosopher that he may knowe what to esteeme aboue al other Such an armony and grace was shed and ioyned with al men in his samiliar acquaintance Ionicus IOnicus was of Sardis whose father was a singular Phisitian being Zenos Disciple He came to the lyght of knowledge In somuch as Oribasius had him in admiration He was most skylfull in the symples and compositions of Phisicke and best in particular practiâ—â— He had perfit knowledge in mans body and a thorough searcher of nature There was no medicine nor iudgement that was vnknowen to him no not pâ—â—isters that the most cunning laye to sores to â—bate the superfluitie and auoyde the encombraunce The best deuisor and practised man to close the corrupted partes and not to let other cut them All the actes and names he knew insomuch as they that had greatest name in Phisicke woondred at his dilligence and plainly confessed that being holpen by him they knew indeede what the auncients had wrytten and brought it into vse as names hyd with the wrytings Besyde this hee had great knowledge in other thinges of learning and Sapience And in diuination that appertayned to foresee the cure of men by arte of Phisicke and of the other that dependeth of Philosophy and endeth there for them that maye be holpen by secrete wayes He had also great knowledge in Rhetorique and other sciences And was not ignoraunt oâ— Poetrie He dyed a lytle before this was written hauing two chyldren woorthy of prayse and fame At this tyme one Theon of Galatia was of great fame Nowe let vs returne to Philosophers from whome we haue digressed Chrysanthius CHrysanthius was the cause that this Treatise was wrytten teaching the wryter from a Chylde and susteyning him to the ende as a lawe of beneuolence towarde him Yet for all that nothing shall be spoken partially of him for he loued trueth aboue all thinges and fyrst taught it chiefly We wyll not augment the benefyte receyued cut rather speake most moderatly of him for so it was agreed betweene vs Chrysanthius was of the Senate and for Nobilitie accoumpted with the best One Inocentius was his Grandfather a man of great rytches and estimation being appointed by the Emperours to make Lawes There be bookes of his extant written both in Greeke and Latine Which testifieth his deepe and stayed iudgement and contayne knowledge of these thinges for such as be desyrous of them Chrysanthius being left young of his Father and geuen to Philosophy by his diuine nature went to Pergamo to the great Aedesius And growing in yeares had such a desyre and thyrst of Philosophy as chancing on such a Teacher as dyd geue him inough to aslake his thyrst he lost no lesson nor gaue place to any in dilligence For he was of a sounde and strong body acquaynted with labour He got full knowledge in Aristotle and Plato and gaue all his minde to Philosophy And hauing vnderstanded all the sormes of the same he was of inclination to obtayne eloquence and in good way of exercise and doctrine He ouercame euery enterprise that he tooke in hande and had boidnes to make declaration of his proofe apt to speake and to be sylent also And when he spake to get the maistry he would vse high prayse and pompe After this he went to the study of knowledge of the Goddes and followed the Sapience that Pythagoras taught and other that followed him Besyde olde Architas and Tyaneus Apolonius and them that honoured Apolonius surely diuine men yet mortall After this study Chrysanthius going the strayght way taking the fyrst occasion by these principles and guides he prospered and attayned to such a perfection of the minde which Plato calleth a purgation as he gotte the full of all that science to the vttermost and was perfyte in all foresyght Men sayde he dyd better see than speake of things to come as one that euer had bene present with the Goddes After he had bestowed a good tyme this waye and coferred with Maximus very much he left his society For being contentious and obstinate of nature striuing against the tokens that God sent he searched and wrestled for others But Chrysanthius by induction when he had seene the fyrst stayde with the sygnifications that were geuen and eyther had the victory or if he were wroong supplyed it by polecie And when Iulianus the Emperour sent for them both by one calling appoynting souldiours for their honour bringing a perswasion from Thessalie ioygned with a neâ—â—ssitie that it seemed he dyd communicate with God and manifestly wrought with him as a priuate and dayly workman of the lower sort to iudge the tokens of God forbydding his going But Maximus continued fast in the Ceremonies and deuoutly vsing the Sacrifyces with cryes he would aske of God other tokens to differ the destiny And where he had styll contrary tokens and therby caused Chrysanthius to trye it againe yet at length the wyll of the Goddes was manifested by sygnes and their determination many times shewed by Sacrifice although the thing that appeared was not by him approued So as Maximus tooke that iourney which was cause of all calamitie Euen so Chrysanthius taryed at home At the fyrst the Emperour consydered the cause and coniectured why Chrysanthius would not come because he sawe difficulty in the matter Notwithstanding Iulianus wrote againe for him and not onely exhorted him but also moued his wyle to perswade him to come Chrysanthius againe resorted to diuine knowledge And the Goddes shewed him continually all one tokens The which comming oft to passe and the Emperour hauing great opinion of him gaue him the chiefe Byshoprike of that countrey And he knowing certainly what woulde followe was not grieuous in his dignitie nor oppressed the younger as all in this age were woont to do hotly and feruently neyther was he very extreme to the Christians So great lenitie was in his behauiour that in all Lydia it was scarcely knowen that there was any alteration of Religion Wherof followed when the chaunge came that no new thing seemed to be done Nothing sodenly appeared to be altred but al things stayed quietly and vniformly and without motion And where all other were tossed as with the Sea he onely was in quietnesse some of the sodaine throwen downe other rysing againe from their former myseries He was in admiration for that he dyd not onely foresee thinges to come but also vsed well the things he knewe This was his behauiour alwayes So as it might be seene that Socrates was reuiued againe or that from his youth he had immitated and followed him and was transformed into him A plaine and symple manner of grace appeared in his speeche yet the sweetnesse of his wordes dyd moue his audience He was gentle to all in conuersation Insomuch that they that went srom him were thought ambitious And as gentle and mylde versies do easily and readily enter and passe into euery mans
Ilarius of Bithynia Of Euphranor an excellent painter Pli. 35. 11. Ilarius kylled Iuliane the Orator Apsines Epagatus Proaeresius Hephestion Epiphanius DiophaÌ„tus Tuscianus It seemeth he meaneth the whyppings of the Lacedemonians Prouince or charge Nothing more violeÌ„t then necesâ—â—â—ie Proaeresius of Cesarea of Capadocia The Authour speaketh of him selfe Piâ—aeo the Port of Athens Aschines Plot. 5. of his Lawes Vlpâ—anus of Autioche Gerion 3. bodies Ambitious pouertie of Proaeresius Hephestion Death of Iuliane the Oratour Sopolis Parnasius Hephestion Iliad a. Tuscianus of Lydia Themis the goddesse of true petitions The woonderfull memorie of Proaeresius Beritos in Phaenitia now â—aruto Anatolius surnamed Azutrion Great maister of the Court. Himerius of Bythinia Milesius of Smyrna Constance Proaeresius more then a man. Celeus Father to Triptolemus to whome Ceres shewed the way of â—ylâ—he Eusebius of Alexandria Musonius IeraphaÌ„tus a teacher of holy things To the Gâ—ecians that followed Gentillitic Epiphanius of quicke iudgement DiophaÌ„tus against Proaeresius â–ª Callimach a Poete of Cyrene Marathon where Milciades slew 10000. Persians Salamis where Themistocles ouerthrew the Nauy of Xerxes Sopolis an Antiquarie â—imerius Iulianus Emperour Parnasius This part is called Coelesyria Antioche Libanius in Iulianus tyme of whose praise he wrote a booke DiophaÌ„tus Syrophoenitia the coast of Phoenitia Eupolis a wryter of the old CoÌ„medy Phidias maker of the Picture of Pallas of Iuorie xxvâ— câ—bits hye Nymphidian us Maximus Claudianus Brethren Secretarie to Iulianus Phisitians florishing Nisibis where Alexander ouerthrew Darius It seemeth he signifieth that he was corpulent and so had the name of Magnus Archidamus Pericles Magnus most skylful in arguing Oribasius of Pergamo the more esteemed for his conÌ„trey Muse of Athens Oribasius Phisitian to Iulianus That lawe was called Ostrasismus Ionicus perâ—â—te in the Sunples Theon ChrysaÌ„thiuâ— Scholemaster to this wryter Inocentius a Lawyer graÌ„dfather to Chrysan Parentinus Architas Philosopher Apolonius was of Alexandria borne at Tyana in Cappadocia Conditions of Maximus Iustus ruler of Asia Hilarius Hellespontius Plato in Phaedro resembleth two partes of the mind to Horses and the thyrd to the Carteâ—s ⧠To the gentle Reader Hadrianus Iunius I Ohannes Sambucus of Hungarie a diligent obseruer and lykewise searcher of antiquitie neyther sparing expence nor labour in that behalfe and one that is woont to impart and coÌ„municate his delyght and care with other men More then two yeares since dyd sende me a copy of Eunapius of Sardis very gently and was the first that mooued me to translate him into Latine which labour I dyd not refuse because I hoped the booke that was so wel written by the Clark should haue caused the lesse labour to the interpretour The which being written out by the benefite of the Lybrarie of Cardinall Farnesius as he pretended who as they say hath a study replenished with olde Bookes was so mangled and hacked and so full of infinite and monstruous faultes that I well perceyued I had neede of Paeon an eâ—cellent Phisition Chiron a Centaure Paons hande to heale Chirons woundes wherby I was almost vtterly discouraged from the labour of traÌ„slatioÌ„ And my many other businesse beside might easily haue put me from my purpose except I had pulled vp a good hart to continew and determined to wrythe a clubbe of diffyculty from mine owne hande Wherfore I determined to gesse lyke a Diuinour to drawe my coniecture into partes and to supply yet with great precisenesse But sometime I had rather passe it ouer lightly then to thrust in other mens noates that is to say mine own But If I might get the Florentine Copie which by the onely lyfe of porphyrius printed there I iudge more corrected full I would trust my second trauaile should be better Certainly asmuch as laye in me I haue brought to passe that by this labour I haue committed into the handes of the studious an eloquent wryter neuer heretofore seene abroade Both speaking in his owne â—â—ngue and Latine also as faithfully as I coulde translate him Being deliuered of the promise I made to Sambucus though somewhat later than we both desyred Farewell ⧠A Table of all the notable names and principall matters contayned in this worke A ABlabius Fol. 9 Ablabius ball of fortune 10 Acacius of Caesarea dyed a yong man. 35 Aedesius séeth a vision 10 Aedesius 56 Aedesius a soothsayer 10 Aedesius gentle 6. 8. 22 Aedesius dilygent 5. 78 Aedesius sonne to Chrysanthiâ—â—â—s dyeth at xx yéeres of age 42 Aegiptians geuen to Poetry 32 Aeschines a practiser 27 Affections the Horsses of the minde 40 Affrica 19 Alarichus 19 Alexander the great 1 Alexandria praysed 15 Alypius 6. of lytle stature 7 Alypius death and Iamblicus 7 Amelius scholefellow with Porphyrius 4 Ammonius of Egipt scholemaister to Plutarche 1. 2 Amphiclea Proaeresius wife 32 Anatolius 5 Anatolius Azutrion borne at Berytos 30 Kynsman to Proaeresius 26 Made greatmaister 30 Geuen to Paganisme 30 His integrityâ— 30 A taunter Fol. 30. 31 Andromacus Fol. 5 Anteros 6 Antiochia Nisibis 36 Antiochia besieged 11 Antiochia builded of Seleueus 34 Antoninus Sosipatras sonne 15 Antoninus prayse 15. 16 Antoninus prouidence 16 Apamea of Bithynia 42 Appolonius Tyaneus taken for a God. 2. 38 Apsines professour of Artes. 24. 25 Aquilinus scholefellowe to Porphyrius 4 Archidamus 36 Archytas of Tarent 38 Aristides 29. 33 Aristophanes 8 Athenienses euyll to good 8 Athens factious 24 B Baiae 6 Bathe to the which Straungers were brought at Athens 26 Beronicianus 43 Berytos a Cittie of learning 30 Byactes 1 Byzance 9 C Canobus mouth of Nilus 15. 16 Causanthas a spyrits 4 Callymachus 33 Cayster a flood 12 Carneades 2 Celeus 3â— Cercopes 8 Ceres beneficiall 32 Chalcis of Syria 5 Charybdis 4 Christians destroy Temples 16 Chrysathius Acdesius scholer 5 Chrysanthius Eunapius maister 5. 38 Chrysanthius 8. 17. 38 Chrysanthius of good house 38 Of strong body 40 Scholer of Acdesius 38 Twise called of Iulian 19. â—0 A Soothsayer 19. 20 Made Bishop in Lydia 20. 39 Not cruell to Christians 39 Follower of Socrates 39 No boaster of learning 40 Abstayning from flesh 40 Fleeing great mens company 40 Vnmoued in his sons death 42 Stryketh a vaine in age 42 Dyeth 43 Claudianus 17 Brother to Nymphidianus 17. 36 Claudius Nero 2 Clearchus 21 Scholefellow of Porphyrius 4 Constantinople populous 6 Constantinople florishing 34 Constantinople serued Athens of grayne â— Constantinus destroyeth Temples 8. 9. 10. 17 Constantius 10. 17 Constans â—â— Cyniches â— Cybels Priests â—4 D Daunger by Chariots â—â—â—â— Demetrius â— Demonax â— Dexippuâ— 5 Dion of Bithynia 1 Dionysius 3 Diophantus 24. 28. 33 Maketh funerall Oration of Proaeresius â—â— Dipsas worketh continual thirst 13 Diuination two wayes 38 Diuination of Sofipatra 13. 14. 15 E Epagatus 24 Epigonus 43 Epiphanius 24. 28. â—3 Professour of Rhetorike 33 Soft in spéeche 33 Dyeth of a blooddy flyre 33 Eros 6. Euemerius 19 Eumolpus lawe 8 Eunapius Chrysanthius scoler 8 Endued with best learning 8 His history of Iulianus