servant being upon a journey weary with carrying of mony throw away saith he what is too much and carry as much as you can He bad his slaves away his mony throw Because ore-charg'd with weight they went too slow Being at Sea and understanding the owners of the Vessell were Pirats he took his Mony and counted it then let it fall into the Sea as unwillingly and sighed some affirm that he said It is better these perish for Aristippus then Aristippus for them He reproved men for looking upon goods exposed to sale and taking no care to furnish their minds Others ascribe this to Diogenes Living in Asia he was seized by Antaphernes the King's Lievtenant whereupon one saying to him And where is now your confidence When said he you fool should I be confident if not now when I shall meet with Antaphernes Those who forsook Philosophy to apply themselves to Mechanicall Sciences he compared to the Suitors of Penelope they could get the good wills of Melantho Polydora and others of the servants but could not obtain the Mistress in Marriage Not unlike is that of Aristo who said that Ulysses when he went to Hell saw all the dead and spoke to them but could not come so much as to the sight of the Queen Being demanded what Boyes ought to learn That saith he which they ought to practice when they are men To one who accused him for going from Socrates to Dionysius To Socrates saith he I went for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 education to Dionysius for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 recreation To a Curtezan who told him she was with child by him You know that no more said he then if passing through a bush you should say this thorn pricked you To one who blamed him that he took Mony of Dionysius Plato a Book he answered I want Mony Plato Books Having lost a great Farm he said to one who seemed excessively to compassionate his losse You have but one field I have three left why should not I rather grieve for you It is madnesse addes Plutarch to lament for what is lost and not rejoyce for what is left When one told him the land is lost for your sake Better saith he is it that the land be lost for me then I for the land Seeing one angry vent his passion in words Let us not saith he suit words to our anger but appease our anger with words Seeing a little Woman exceeding fair This saith he is a little evill but a great beauty They who invert these words and read a little fair one but great evill mistake the meaning of Aristippus who plaies upon that ordinary saying applying the inversion to his own luxurious humour To one who demanded his advice whether he should marry or no he said no If you take a fair a wife saith he she will be common if foul a fury He used to advise young men to carry such provision as in a shipwrack they might swim away withall As a shoo that is too big is unsit for use so is a great estate the bignesse of the shoe troubles the wearer wealth may be used upon occasion either wholly or in part CHAP. VIII His writings SOme affirme of whom is Soâ—icrates that he wrot nothing at all others that he wrot The Lybian History three Books dedicated to Dionysius Dialogues twenty five or rather twenty three for the number seemes corrupt in one Book some in the Attick dialect others in the Dorick their Titles these 1. Artabazus 2. To the shirwrackt 3. To Exiles 4. To a poor man 5. To Lais. 6. To Porus. 7. To Lais concerning a Looking-glass 8. Hermias 9. The Dream 10. To the Cup-bearer 11. Philomelus 12. To servants 13. To those who reproved him for using old wine and common women 14. To those who reproved him for feasting 15. An Epistle to Arete 16. To the Olympick exerciser 17. An Interrogation 18. Another Interrogation 19. A Chria to Dionysius 20. Another on an image 21. Another on Dionysius his Daughter 22. To one who conceived himselfe dishonoured 23. To one who endeavoured to give advice Exercitations â—ix Bookes Of pleasure mention'd by Laertius in the life of Epicure Of Physiology ont of which Laertius cites that Pythagoras was so named because he spake no less truth then Pythius Of the luxury of the Antients four Books containing examples of those who indulged to love and pleasure as the love of Empedocles to Pausanias in the first Book of Cratea to her son Periander of Aristotle to the Concubine of Hermias in the fourth of Socrates to Alcibiades Xenophon to Clinias plato to Aster Xenocrates to Polemo But these latter instances show that these Books were not write by this Aristippus Epistles four are extant under his name in the Socratick col lection put forth by Leo Allatius Socion and Panaetius reckon his treatises thus Of discipline Of vertue an Exhortation Artabazus The shipwrackt The banish'd Exercitations six Chria three To Lais. To Porus. To Socrates Of Fortune CHAP. VIII His death HAving lived long with Dionysius at last his daughter Arete sent to him to desire him that he would come to Cyrene to her to order her affairs for that she was in danger of oppression by the Magistrates Aristippus hereupon took leave of Dionysius and being on his voyage fell sick by the way and was forced to put in at Lipara an Aeolian Island where he dyed as may be gathered from this Epistle which he then sent to his Daughter Aristippus to Arete I Received your Letter by Teleus Wherein you desire me to make all possible hast to Cyrenc because your businesse with the Praefects goeth not to your minde and your Husband is unsit to manage your domestick affairs by reason of his bashsulness and being accustomed to a retirâ—â— life remote from the publick Wherefore assoon as I got leave of Dionysius I sailed towards you and being upon my journey fell sick by the way at Lipara where the friends of Sonicus provide carefully for me with such humanity as is needfull for one neer death As for your demand what respect you should give those whom I manumised who prosess they will never desert Aristippus whilst they have strength but ever serve him and you trust them in all things they have learned from me not to be salfe For your selfe I advise you to apply your selfe to the Magistrates which counsell will proâ—it you if you affect not rather to have much You will live most at ease if you contemn excess for they cannot be so unjust as to leave you in want You have two Orchards left sufficient to maintain you plentifully and that possession in Bernicia if alone left you were sufficiâ—nt to supply you fully I do not counsell you to neglect small things â— but not to be troubled for small things since vexation is not good even for great If when I am dead
Philosophy of Spâ—usipppus and Xenocrates 1. In all 19. The Sum of all these Books excepting the Epistles is 513. Laertius reckons them to be near 400. perhaps accounting the severall Books that are upon the same subject for one But of these the greatest part is lost and of many that are extant the Titles altered of the extant there are only these LOGICK CAtegories 1. Of Interpretation 1. First Analyticks 2. Second Analyticks 2. Topicks 8. Elenchs 1. PHYSICK OF natural Auscultation 8. Of Heaven 4. Of Generation and Corruption 2. Of Meteors 4. Of the World 1. Suspected Of the Soul 3 Of Sense and Sensibles 1. Of memory and Reminiscence 1. Of sleep and waking 1. Of Dream 1. Divination by dreams 1. Of the motion of living Creatures 1. Of the length and shortnesse of life 1. Of youth and age life and death 1. Of Respiration 1. Of the going of Animals 1. Of Breath 1. Of the generation of Animals 5. Of the parts of Animals 4. The Historie of Animals 10. Of Colours 1 Of Physiognomy 1. Spâ—rious 2 ETHICK EThick to Nicomachus 10. Great Ethick 2. Ethick to Eudemus 7. Of vertues 1. Oeconomick 2. Poliâ—ick 8. METAPHYSICK MEtaphysick 14. Of the abstruse part of Divine Wisdom according to the Aeâ—yptians translated out of Arabick but suspected to be spurious 14. MATHEMATICKS MAthematick 2. Mechanick 1. Of insecable lines 1. PHILOLOGICK RHetorick 3. Rhetorick to Alexander 1. Poetick 1. EXTRAORDINARY PRoblems 38. Wonders 1. Of Zenophanes Zeno and Gorgias 1. Besides these there are many other Books â—ited for his under these Titles Magick Laert. Prooem Epitome of Oratours Laert. Arisâ—p Of Beanes Laert. Pythag. Of Mixtion Aristot. de sensu cap. 3. Of Sapors Arist. de sensu cap. 4. Physical History Arist. de incess Animal cap. 2. Of Nutriment Arist. de Somno cap. 3. Selection of Contraries Arist. Metaph. lib. 3. cap. 2. Division of Contraries Arist. Metaph. lib. 10. cap. 3. Of Opposites Simplic in cap. de Opposit Comm. 8. Collection of Pythagorick Opinions Simplic in lib. 2. de Coelo Com. 4. Of Idea's Alexand. in lib. 1. Metaphyâ— Comm. 59. where he cites the fourth Book though Laertius but one as if there were no more Of Enunciation Alexand. in lib. 4. Metaphys Com. 25. 44. Of Affirmation Alexand. in lib. 4. Mâ—â—aphys Com. 62. Of Platonick assertions Plut. contra Coloâ— Eudemas Plut. Consol. ad Apollon Of Drunkennesse Plut. Symposiac 3. Athenaeus cites the tenth book hereof Animal or of Fishes Athen. Deâ—pâ— 7. Of living Creatures and of things pertaining to living Creaâ—â—res Atâ—en Of the manners of living Creatures Athen. Of Pheasants Athen. Of Consanguinity Athen. Of wonderful luxury Athen. Apologie Athen. Histories Athen. Barbarous Iurisdictions Of Audibles Porphyr Comm. in Ptol. Mâ—â—s Proclus in Timaeum Plat. The Cohabitant Pâ—oclus Proaem in Repub. Platon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Macrob. Saturnal lib. 1. Of Nature Clem. Alexandrin Strom. lib. 6. We shall not add the Peplâ—s cited by Nicephorus and the Chriae by Stobaeus under his name since it is manifest they belong not to the same Aristotle as 〈◊〉 hath evinced These Books Aristotle gave to Theophrastus when he made him his successor in the School as Strabâ— affirmeth adding that Aristotle was the first we know of that made a Library which the Aegyptian Kings learned of him to do Theophrastus bequeathed all his books to Nelius a Scepsian who carried them to Sâ—epsis and dying left them to his heirs men of no Learning who only kept them confusedly locked up And when they understood what care was taken by the Aâ—â—alick Kings in whose jurisdiction Scepsis was to make a Library in Pergamus they 〈◊〉 them in a hole under ground where they continued about 130 years by which means they received some injury by the wet and worms At last some that were descended from Aristoâ—lâ— and Theophrastus sold them to Apellico a Teâ—an who according to Athenaeus was made free of the City of Athens a person very rich who besides many other Libraries bought this of Aristotle being himselfe a lover of Peripatetick Philosophy for a great summe of mony This Apellico was more a lover of Books then of Learning so that because they had received some injury he caused them to be transcribed supplying the defects not rightly and by that means put them forth full of faults The antient Peripateticks that succeeded Theophrastus wanting Books as having but very few and those Exoterick could not treat exactly upon any part of Philosophy They that lived latter after that these books were published had much greater helps to Philosophy and the imitation of Aristotle although by reason of the infinite faults they were forced to say many things by guesse Hereunto Rome conduced not a little for soon after the death of Apellico Sylla taking Athens in the fourth year of the 173 Olympiad seised upon his Library and causing it to be carried to Rome Tyrannio a Grammarian a person studious of Aristotle obâ—ained leave of the Library-Keeper to be permitted the use of them the Book-sellers not having good writers and not comparing well the Copies it occasion'd many faults as well in those Books that were at Rome as in those transcribed and sold into Alexandria Plutarch adds that from this Tyrannio Andronicus the Rhodian had them who first made them publick setting forth those volumes which saith he we have Thus Strabo and Plutarch Athenaeus saith that Nelius sold them to Ptolemaeus Phâ—ladelphius by whom they were translated to Alexandria where how long they lay hid is uncertain which Library was afterwards burn'd by Iulius Cesar. CHAP. XVII His Commentatours NO sooner were the writings of Aristotle communicated to the world but they were entertained with generall approbation which some expressed by employing themselves in Commenting upon them whose example was â—ollowed by many in all following ages To omit Pasicrates the Rhodian brother of Eudemus who wrote as Galen affirmeth upon the book of Categories we shall name in the first place Andronicus the Rhodian who first published Aristotles writings put fâ—rth a Paraphrase or Comment upon the greatest part of them Next his Disciple Boethus a Sidonian took much pains in the exposition of Aristotle whence he is often mentioned honourably by Ammoniusâ—nd â—nd Simplicius Aristo a Coan Disciple also to Andronicus as Strabo affirms living in the time of Nicias Tyrant of Coos is reckoned by Simplicius amongst the old Commentatours upon Aristotles Categories Nicolaus Damascenus who lived in the time of Augustus by whom much loved is cited by Simplicius and Averroes as an Expositor of Aristotle Aâ—henodorus of Tarsis a Stoick who lived also under Augustus as Plutarch affirms is cited by Simplicius as having written upon Aristotle's Categories but rather by way of confutation then interpretation as did likewise Alexander Aegeus Nero's Tutor mention'd Simplicius Cornutus who lived at the same time cited by Porphyrius and Simplicius Lucius and Nicostratus a Macedoman who lived under Antonius Sotion of Alexandria and Achacius seem
to have written upon the Categories being often cited by Simplicius upon that subject Taurus the Berâ—â—â—an a Platonick Philosopher living under Antonius wrote first concerning the difference between the Doctrines of Plato and Aristotle Adrastus the Aphrodisaean wrote a Comment on Aristotle's Cagories and of his Physicks and a Book concerning the Method of his Philosophy Aspasius wrote a Comment on all Aristotle's Works taking particular care to restore the Text to which end he is often quoted by Simplicius and Boetius There is a Comment upon some books of the Ethicks extant under his name Herminus somwhat later seems to have written upon all or the greatest part of Aristotle's works cited by all the Greek Commentatours that are extant and by Boetius Alexander the Aphrodisaean who lived under Antonius and Severus wrote upon the Analyticks Topicks and Elenchs whence stiled by the latter Interpreters 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Expositor Galen who lived at the same time wrote three Books upon Aristotle of Interpretation four Books upon the first of the first Analytick four upon the second of the first six upon the first of the second Analytick five upon the second Atticus a Platonick Philosopher besides seven Books wherein he proved Plato and Aristotle to be of the same Sect contrary to the assertion of Taurus he wrote also a Dialogue upon the Categories extant seven Books upon the Categories cited by Simplicius a Comment upon the Book of Interpretation cited by Boetius Not to mention what he wrote upon Aristotle de Anima since it appears from Suidas that it was rather by way of opposition then exposition which Theodoret likewise confirmes Iamblicus of Chalcis in Coelosyria Master to Iulian the Emperour wrote in an abstruse way upon the Book of Categories Dexippus by some thought to be sonne of Iamblicus wrote a Dialogue on the Categories extant Maximus a Byzantine Disciple of Iamblicus wrote Commentaries on the Categories and other Books of Aristotle as Simplicus and Suidas affirm Plutarch the younger Son of Nestorius flourishing under Valentinian the first Gratian and Theodosius the first according to Suidas and Philoponus wrote Commentaries upon some Books of Aristotle Syrianus surnamed the great of Alexandria a Philosopher who flourished under Arcadius Honorius Theodosius the second and Valentiniâ—n the second wrote Commentaries upon Aristotle's Books of Nature of Motion of Heaven and upon the Categories cited by Simplicius and Philoponus Likewise upon the 2d. 5. and 6. Book of Metaphysicks which are extant Olympiodorus an Alexandrian who derived himself from Ammonâ—us Saccus and was contemporary to Plutarch and Syrianus wrote upon Aristotle's Meteors extant He was later then that Olympiodorus who writ upon Plato Themistius living according to Suidas under Iulian and Iovinian wrote a Paraphrase upon Aristotle's Physick 8. Books a Paraphrase on the Analyticks 2. Books upon his Books of the Soul 7. Books Of the scope and title of the Book of Categories one Book Proclus Disciple of Syrianus wrote two Books concerning Motions wherein he made an abstract of Aristotle's second Book of Motion That he wrote also upon his book of Heaven and the Elements may be conjectured from the frequent citations of Simplicius Marinus who succeeded Proclus in the School seemeth to have written somthing upon Aristotles Book of the Soul being often cited upon that subject by Philoponus Ammonius Hermaeus wrote upon Aristotle's Categories and upon his Book of Interpretation both which are extant as likewise upon his Books of the Soul cited by Philoponus Damascius a Platonick Philosopher Disciple to Ammonius besides what he wrote in confutation of Aristotle concerning Time epitomiz'd the four first and the eight Book of his Physick and the first Book of Heaven To these adde Phâ—loponus and Simplicius and Asclepius Disciples to Ammonius Iohannes Damascenus whose compendium of Aristotles Logick and Pâ—ysick are extant he lived about the year 770. Eustathius wrote upon some of the Nicomachian Ethicks and Eustratius upon his book concerning Demonstration Michael Psellus about the year 800. and Michael Ephesius upon the parva naturalia Magentinus upon the Categories and the book of Interpretation Nicephorus Blemmydes under Iohannes duca upon the Logick and Physick Georgius Plachymerius and Theodorus Metochita lived about the year 1080. and wrote Epitoms extant Of Arabick Commentatours were Avicenna and Averroes about the year 1216. The later writers it wil be unnecessary to mention there being a Catalogue of them annexed to Aristotles works of the Paris Edition ARISTOTLES EPISTLES To Philip 1 THey who undertake a Command for the good of their Subjects not preferred there unto either by Fortune or Nature trust not in their own power which they know subject to chance but grow great in Vertue whereby they order the Commonwealth wisely For there is nothing amongst men so firm and solid but the rapid motion of the Sun changeth it ere the Evening Nature if we enquire into the truth varieth all lives interweaving them like the Action of a Tragedy with misfortunes Men like flowers have a set time wherein they flourish and excell others Wherefore behave not your self towards Greece tyrannically or loosely for one argues petulance the other temerity Wise Princes ought not to be admired for their Government but Governance so that though Fortune change they shall have the same praise As for the rest do all things well preferring the health of your Soul by Philosophy that of your body by exercise To Philip 2. MOst Philosophers assert beneficence to be somthing equall to God To speak the truth the whole life of Mankind is comprised in conferring and returning Benefits So as some bestow others receive others return Hence is it just to commiserate all that are in adversity for pitty is the signe of a mild Soul sternness of a rude it being dishonest impious to neglect vertue in misfortunes For this I commend our disciple Theophrastus who saith we never repent of doing good it brings forth good fruit the prayers and praises of the obliged Wise men therefore must study to oblige many thinking that beside the praise there may some advantage accrew from hence in the change of Affaires and if not all at least some one of those to whom he hath done good may be in a capacity to requite him For this reason endeavour to be ready in doing good but give not way to your passions for that is kingly and civill this barbarous and odious As you see occasion practise and neglect not this usefull advise To Philip. 3. THE most excellent Princes whose honour toucheth the Starrs have conferred most benefits and not accommodating their sway only to the present but considering the instability of Fortune have treasured up good deeds as usefull in either condition In prosperity it procures them Honour for Honour is proper to Vertue in adversâ—ty Relief for friends are much better try'd in bad fortune then in good The sight of benevolent persons is like to that of Land to men
1. Of Enthymemes 1. Of inventions 2. Morall disputes 1. Morall descriptions 1. Of Tumult 1. Of History 1. Of the iudgment of Syllo gismes 1. Of flattery 1. Of the Sea 1. To Cassander of a Kingdome 1. Of Comedy 1. Of Meteors 1. Of Speech 1. Collection of words 1. Solutions 1. Of Musick 3. Of Meteors 1. Megacles 1. Of Laws 1. Of things contrary to Law 1. A Collection of the Doctrines of Xenocrates 1. Confabulations 1. Of an Oath 1. Rhetorical Precepts 1. Of riches 1. Of Poësy 1. Problems Politick Ethick Physick Erotick 1. Proverbs 1. Collection of Problems 1. Of Physicall Prâ—blems 1. Of Example 1. Of Proposition and Narration 1. Of Poësy another 1. Of the wise men 1. Of Advice 1. Of Soloecismes 1. Of the Art of Rhetorick 1. Of Rhetoricall Arts 71 kinds Of Hypocrisy 1. Aristotelick or Theophrastick Commentaries 6. Naturall Sentences 16. Epitome of Physicks 1. Of Gratitude 1. Ethick-Characters Of Falshood and Truth 1. Of the History of Divinity 6. Of the Gods 3. Geometricall Histories 4. Epitome of Aristotle concerning Animals 6. Epichirems 2. Thesâ—s 3. Of a Kingdom 2. Of Causes 1. Of Democritus 1. Of Calumny 1. Of Generation 1. Of the Prudence and Manners of Animals 1. Of Motion 2. Of Sight 4. To definitions 2. Of being Given 1. Of Greater and Lesser 1. Of Musick 1. Of the divine Beatitude 1. To those of the Academy 1. Protreptick 1. How a City may be best inhabited 1. Commentaries 1. Of the fiery ebullition in Sicily 1. Of Things granted 1. Of the waies of Knowing 1. Of the Lying Argument 3. Ante-Topick 1. To Aeschylus 1. Astrological History 6. Arithmeticall Histories of Encrease 1. Acicharus 1. Of Iudicial Orations 1. Epistles concerning Astycreon to Phanias and Nicanor Of Piety 1. Euias 1. Of opportunities 2. Of seasonable discourses 1. Of the Institution of Children 1. Another different 1. Of Institution or of Vertues or of Temperance 1. Protreptick 1. Of numbers 1. Definitions of syllogistick speech 1. Of Heaven 1. Politick 2. Of Nature 1. Of Fruits and Animals All which saith Laertius amount to 1182. Divisions These Books as Theophrastus had ordered in his Will were delivered to Neleus What afterwards became of them hath been related in the life of Aristotle STRATO CHAP. I. His Life STrato was successour to Theophrastus He was of Lampsacum his Father Arcesilaus or as some Arcesius mentioned in his Will He was a person of great worth eminent saith Laertius in all kinds of Philosophy but especially in that which is called Physick the most antient and solid part wherein he introduced many things new dissenting not only from Plato but from his Master Aristotle From his excellency herein he was called the Naturall Philosopher He prescribed all divine power to Nature Ethick hee touched but little He took upon him the government of the School according to Apollodorus in the third year of the 123 Olympiad and continued therein 18. years He instructed Ptolomy the son of Philadelphus who bestowed 80 Talents upon him CHAP. II. His Will and Death His Will saith Laerthus was to this effect THus I order against the time that I shall die All those things which are in my house I bequeath to Lampyrion and Arcesilaus Out of the money which I have at Athens let my Executors first defray the charges of my Funeral and the solemn rites after my enterrement doing nothing superfluously nor niggardly The Executors of these things I appoint in my Will be these Olympicus Aristides Mnesigenes Hippocrates Epicrates Gorgylus Diocles Lyco Athanes I leave the School to Lyco for the rest are either too old or otherwise employed All the rest shall do well if they confirm this choice that I have made I bequeath likewise all my Books unto him except those which are written by our own hand besides all Vtensills Carpets and Cups for Feasting Let the Executors give 500. Drachmes to Epicrates and one of the servants which Arcesilaus shall think good Let Lampyrion and Arcesilaus discharge all the debts which Daippus undertook for Hiraeus Let nothing be owing either to Lampyrion or to the heirs of Lampyrion but let him be discharged of all and the Executors bestow on him 500. Drachmes and one of the servants as Arcesilaus shall think good that having taken much paines with us he may have sufficient for food and rayment I maâ—â—mit Diophantus and Diocles and Abus I give Simmias to Arcesilaus I manumit Dromo When Arcesilaus shall come let Hiraeus with Olympicus and Epicrates and the rest of the Executors cast up the Accounts of the charges of my Funerall and other things whatsoever is over and above let Arcesilaus take it of Olympicus not pressing him upon the day of payment Let Arcesilaus discharge the Covenants which Strato made with Olympicus and Aminias which are in the hands of Philocrates Son of Tisamenus As for my Tombe let it be ordered as Arcesilaus and Olympicus and Lyco shall think good This was his Will preserved by Aristo the Chiaâ— He was of so thin and low a constitution that he felt not any pain at his death Of this name Laertius reckons eight The â—irst a Disciple of Isocrates The second this Philosopher The third a Physician Disciple of Erasistratus The Fourth an Historian who wrote the Wars of Philip and Persaeus with the Romanes The fift is wanting The sixt an Epigrammatick Poet. The seventh an antient Physician The eighth a Peripatetick who lived at Alexandâ—â—a CHAP. III. His Writings SUidas saith he wrote many Books Laertius gives this Catalogue of them Of a Kingdom 3. Of Iustice 3. Of Good 3. Of God 3. Of Principles 3. Of Lives Of Felicity Of Philosophy Of Fortitude Of Vacuum Of Heaven Of Breath Of humane Nature Of the generation of Animals Of mixtion Of Sleep Of Dreams Of Sight Of Sense Of Pleasure Of Colours Of Diseases Of Iudgements Of Faculties Of Metallick Machines Of Hunger and Offuscation Of Light and Heavy Of divine inspiration Of Time Of Aliment and augmentation Of uncertain Animals Of fabulous Animals Of Causes Solutions of Questions Proems of Places Of Accident Of More and lesse Of Unjust Of Priority and Posteriority Of Priority of Genus Of Proprium Of Future Confutations of Inventions Commentaries which are suspected Epistles beginning thus Strato to Arsinoe Health LYCO CHAP. I. His Life STrato saith Laertius was succeeded by Lyco Son of Astyanax of Troas an eloquent person and excellent for the education of Children He heard also Panthaedus the Dialectick He said that as Horses need both bridle spur so in Children there must joined both modesty and ambition Of his florid expression is alledged this instance Of a poor Maid hee said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A maid is a heavy burden to her Parent when she outruns the flowry season of her youth for want of â— dower Whence Antigonus said of him that as the fragrancy and pleasantnesse of an excellent
easily and to give readily not as you do now turaing away delaying and trembling as if you had the palsey He said Men know not how much a Wallet a measure of Lupines and security of minde is worth The Epistles of Crates are extant wherein saith Laertius he writes excellent Philosophy in style resembling Plato He wrote Tragedies likewise full of deep Philosophy He died old and was buried in Baeotia METROCLES METROCLES was Disciple of Crates Brother to Hipparchia He first heard Theophrastus the Peripatetick c. afterwards apply'd himselfe to Crates and became an eminent Philosopher He burnt as Hecaton saith his writings saying These are the dreams of wilde phantastick youth He burnt likewise the dictates of his Master Theophrastus Vulcan come hither Venus needs thy aid He said Of things some are purchased by mony as Houses some by time and diligence as Learning Riches is hurtfull if not rightly apply'd He died old he strangled himselfe Of his Disciples are remembered Theombrotus and Cloemenes Demetrius of Alexandria was Auditor of Theombrotus Timarchus of Alexandria and Echicles of Ephesus were Disciples of Cleomenes Echicles heard also Theombrotus from whom came Menedemus of whom hereafter Amongst these was also Menippus of Sinopis HIPPARCHIA HIpparchia was likewise taken with the Discourses of those Cynicks she was Sister to Metrocles they were both Maronites She fell in love with Crates as well for his discourse as manner of life from which none of her Suitors by their Wealth Nobility or Beauty could divert her but that she would bestow her self upon Crates threatning her Parents if they would not suffer her to marry him she would kill her self Hereupon her Parents went to Crates desiring him to disswade her from this resolution which he endeavoured but not prevailing went away and brought all the little furniture of his house and shew'd her this saith he is your husband that the furniture of your house consider upon it for you cannot be mine unlesse you follow the same course of life She immediately took him and went up and down with him and in publick 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and went along with him to Feasts At a Feast of Lysimachus she met Theodorus the Atheist with whom she argued thus If that which if Theodorus do be not unjustly done neither is it unjustly done if Hipparchia do the same But Theodorus if he strike himself doth not unjustly therefore Hipparchia doth not unjustly if she strike Theodorus Theodorus answer'd nothing onely pluck'd her by the Coat which she wore not like a woman but after the manner of the Cynicks whereat Hipparchia was nothing moved whereupon he said Her Webbe and Loome She left at home I did saith she Theodorus and I think have not erred in choosing to bestow that time which I should have spent in weaving on Philosophy Much more saith Laertius is ascribed to her MENIPPVS MEnippus was a Cynick a Phoenician by birth Servant by condition as Achaicus affirms Diocles saith his Father was of Pontus called Bato Menippus for acquisition of riches wentto Thebes and was made free of that City He wrote nothing serious all his books being full of mirth not unlike the writings of Meleager Hermippus saith he was named Hemerodanista the dayly Usurer for he put out mony to Merchants upon Interest and took pawns at last being cheated of all his goods he hanged himself Some say the Bokes that are ascribed to him were writ by Dionysius and Zopyrus Colophonians which being ludicrous they gave to him as a person disposed that way they are reckoned thirteen Naenia's Testaments Epistles in the persons of the Gods Two natural Philosophers Mathematicians Grammarians Of Epicure Laertius reckons six of this name the first wrote the Lydian story and epitomiz'd Xanthus The second this The third a Sophist of Caria The fourth a Graver The fifth and sixth Painters both mention'd by Apollodorus MENEDEMVS MEnedemus was Disciple of Colotes of Lampsacum hee proceeded as Hippobotus relates to so great extravagance that hee went up and down in the habit of the Furies declaring he was come from the World below to take notice of such as offended and that he was to return thither to give an account of them He went thus attir'd a dark Gown to his heels girt with a purple girdle upon his head an Arcadian hat on which were woven the twelve signes tragick buskins a long beard in his hand an ashen staffe Hithertherto of the Cynicks FINIS THE HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY The Eighth Part Containing the Stoick Philosophers LONDON Printed for Humphrey Moseley and Tho Dring An. Dom. 1656. ZENON â—â— ZENO CHAP. I. His Country Parents and first Studies THE Sect of Stoicks had its originall from the Cynicks Zeno was the Author thereof who having first been a Scholer of Crates and afterwards a hearer of other Philosophers at last instituted this new Sect. Hee was born at Cittium a Greek Sea-Town in the Isle of Cyprus with a lock'd Haven inhabited by Phoenicians whence he somtimes was termed the Phoenician His Father was called Mnaseas by some Demeas a Merchant whence was objected to Zeno the obscurity of his Birth and Country as being a stranger and of mean Parentage whereof he was so far from being ashamed that he refused to be made a Citizen of Athens as conceiving it an undervaluing of his own Country in so much as when he contributed to a Bath in Athens and his name was inscribed upon a Pillar with the Title of Philosopher he desired they would adde a Cittiean Zeno as Hecaton and Apollonius Tyrius relate enquiring of the Oracle what course he should take to lead the best kind of life was answer'd that he should converse with the dead whereupon he addicted himself to the reading of antient Authors Herein he was not a little furthered by his Father who as Demetrius saith trading frequently to Athens brought him as yet but very young many Socraticall Books which excited in him a great affection to learning Being now 17. or as Persaeus 22 years old hee took a voyage to Athens carried thither as well by his particular inclination to Philosophy as by his businesse which was to fell some Purple that he had brought out of Phoenicia He took along with him a hundred Talents and having sold his Merchandise applyed himself to Philosophy yet continued to lend his money out to Merchants upon interest so to improve his stock Some affirm his Ship was cast away in the Piraeum which news being brought him to Athens he seemed nothing at all moved but only said Thou dost well Fortune to drive me into a Gown or as Seneca Fortune commands me to study Philosophy more earnestly Others say that being troubled at the losse of his Ship hee went up to the City of Athens and sitting in a Booksellers shop read a piece of Xenophon's Commentaries where with being much pleas'd he asked the Bookseller where such
disease can pain Not like the common sort of people he But day and night bent on Philosophy The Comick Poets unwittingly intending to discommend him praise him as Philemon in his Comedy of Philosophers He Water drinks then Broth and Herbs doth eat To live his Schollers teaching without meat This some ascribe to Posidippus His vertues were so eminent that they grew at last into a Proverb More continent then Zeno the Philosopher whence Possidippus He ere ten daies were spent Zeno in Continence out-went Indeed he excelled all men in this kind of Vertue and in Gravity and by Iove addeth Laertius in Felicity likewise CHAP. VIII His Writings HE wrote many Bookes wherein faith Laertius he so discoursed as no Stoick after him their Titles are these Of Common-wealth writen whilst he was an auditor of Crates and as Plutarch saith much applauded the scope whereof was this That we should not live in severall Citties and Townes by distinct Lawes but that we should own all men as our Country-men and fellow-Cittisens that there should be one manner of life and one order as of one flock which grazeth by equall right in one pasture Of Appetite or Of human Nature Of Passions Of Office Of Law Of the Discipline of the Grecians Of sight Of the Universe Of signes Pythagorâ—cks Universalls Of words Homericall Problems 5. Of hearing Poetry The Art Solutions Confutations Memorialls The Moralls of Crates Some amongst whom is Casius a Sceptian reprehended many things in the writings of Zeno First that in the beginning of his Common-wealth he affirmeth the liberall Sciences to be of no use Again that all wicked men are enemies among themselves and slaves and strangers as well Fathers to their Children as Brethren to Brethren Again that only good men are Citisens and Friends and Kindred and Children as he affirmeth in his Book of the Common-wealth So that according to the Stoicks Parents should be enemies to their Children because they are not wise That in his Common-wealth he would have Women to be in common That no Temples Courts of Iudicature nor publick Schooles should be built in a Common-wealth That Mony is not necessary neither for exchange nor traffick That Women should go in the same habit as men CHAP. IX His Disciples ZENO saith Laertius had many Disciples the most eminent these PERSAEUS Son of Demetrius a Cittiean some affirm hee was Zeno's Scholer others that he was one of the servants which were sent by Antigonus to Zeno to transcribe his writings whence Bion seeing this inscription on his Statue PERSEAEUS OF ZENO A CITTIEAN said the Graver mistook for instead of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he should have put 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a servant Afterwards he returned to Antigonus King of Macedonia Antigonus to make a tryall of him caused a false report to be brought him that his lands were spoiled by the Enemy whereat appearing troubl'd Do you not see saith Antigonus that riches are not to be reckon'd amongst indifferent things Antigonus so much favour'd him that he preferr'd him to the government of Acrocorinthus on which Fort depended not only Corinth but all Peloponnesus in this charge he was unfortunate for the Castle was taken by the cunning of Aratus a Sicyonian Athenaeus saith whilst Perfaeus was feasting who turned out Persaeus whereupon afterwards to one that maintained onely a wise man is a Governour and I saith he was once of the same mind being so taught by Zeno but now am of another opinion the Sicyonian young man meaning Aratus hath taught me otherwise Thus Plutarch But Pausanias saith that Aratus upon taking of the Fort amongst others put Persaeus the Governour to death He said that those were esteemed Gods who had invented some things very usefull to humane life He wrote these Books Of a Kingdom The Lacedaemonian Commonwealth of marriage of impiety Thyestes Of Love Protrepticks Exercitations Chryas 4. Commentaries against Plato's Laws 7. Symposiack Dialogues ARISTO Son of Miltiades a Chian sirnamed the Siren when Zeno fell into a long sicknesse he left him and went as Diocles saith to Polemo He was also a follower of Persaeus whom he flatter'd much because of his favour with Antigonus for hee was much given to pleasure even unto his end Thus revolting from his Master Zeno he asserted That the end consists in those mean things which are betwixt virtue and vice that is in indifference not to be moved on either side nor to imagine the least difference to be in these things but that they are all alike For a wise man is like a good Player who whether he personate Agamemnon or Thersides will act either part very well Thus he took away the dignity which Zeno held to be in these mean things betwixt virtue and vice holding that there is no difference in them He took away Physick and Logick affirming that one is above us the other appertaines nothing to us Ethick onely appertaines to us he compared Dialectick reason to cobwebs which though they seem artificiall yet are of no use He introduced not on any virtues as Zeno nor one called by severall names as the Megarick Philosophers but affirmed they have a quodammodotative relation to one another Professing these teneâ—s and disputing in Cunosarges he came to be called Author of a Sect whence Milciades and Diphilus were called Aristonians He was very perswasive and wrought much upon the common people whence Timon in Sillis One of Aristo's smooth perswasive race He defended eagerly this Paradox of the Stoicks that a wise man doth not opinionate but know which Persaeus opposing caused of two like twins first one to give a depositum to him then the other to come and redemand it and by his doubting if it were the same person convinced him He inveigh'd against Arcesilaus calling him a corrupter of youth On a time seeing a Monster like a Bull but of both sexes he said Alas here is an argument for Arcesilaus against energy To an Academick who said he comprehended nothing Do you not see saith he him who sitteth next you which he denying Who struck you blinde saith he or took your light away He wrote these Treatises Protrepticks 2. of Zeno's Doctrine Scholastick Dialogues 6. of Wisdome dissertations 7. Erotick dissertations Commentaries upon vain-glory Commentaries 15. Memorialls 3. Chrias 11. against Oratours against Alexinus his oppositions to the Dialecticks 3. to Cleanthes Epistles 4. But Panaetius and Sosicrates affirm the Epistles only to be his the rest to be Aristo's the Peripatetick The Sun striking hot upon his head which was bald occasion'd his death There was another of the same name a Juliite a Peripatetick another an Athenian a Musician a fourth a Tragick Poet a fift an Alaean who writ the Rhetoricall art a sixt of Alexandria a Peripatetick ERILLUS or as Cicero Herillus was a Carthaginian when he was a boy he was loved and courted by many which Zeno by causing him
to Zeno and Philomathes suspected to be spurious 1. The third order Of coincident reasons to Athenades 1. spurious Coincident reasons as to the medium 3. spurious Of Aminius's disjunctions 1. The fourth Order Of Hypotheses to Meleager 3. Hypothetick reasons in Law to Meleager 1. Hypothetick Reasons for introduction 2. Hypothetick reasons of Theorems 2. Solution of Hedyllus's Hypotheticks 2. Solution of Alexander's Hypotheticks 3. Spurious Of expositions to Leodamas 1. The fift order Of introduction to the lying reason to Aristocreon 1. Lying reasons to the Introduction 1. Of the lying reason to Aristocreon 6. The sixt order Against those who think true and false are one 1. Against those who dissolve the lying Reason by distinction 2 Demonstration that infinites are not to be divided 1. Upon that which hath been said against the division of infinites to Pasylus 3. Solutions according to the Antients to Dioscorides 1. Of the solution of the lying reason to Aristocreon 3. Solution of Hedyllus ' s Hypotheticks to Aristocreon and Apollas The seventh Order Against those who say the lying reason hath false sumptions 1. Of the negative to Aristocreon 2. Negative Reasons to Gymnasias 1. Of the diminutive reason to Stesagoras 2. Of opinionative and quiescent reasons to Onetor 2. Of the veiled reason to Aristobulus 2. Of the occult reason to Athenades 1. The eighth Order Of the Nullity to Menecrates 8. Of reasons consisting of indefinite and definite to Pasylus 2. Of the Nullity to Epicrates 1. The ninth Order Of Sophismes to Heraclides and Pollis 2. Of insoluble dialectick reasons to Dioscorides 5. Against Arcesilaus's method to Sphaerus 1. The tenth order Against Custom to Metrodorus 6. Of the Logicall place besides these four differences there are dispersed not containing in the body of Logical Questions 39. Of the Ethick Place for direction of morall notions the First Order Description of speech to Theoporus 1. Morall Theses 1. Probable sumptions for Doctrines to Philomathes 3. Definitions of civill person to Metrodorus 2. Definitions of wicked persons to Metrodorus 2. Definitions of mean persons to Metrodorus 2. Generall Definitions to Metrodorus 7. Definitions of other arts to Metrodorus 2. The second Order Of things like to Aristocles 3. Of Definitions to Metrodorus 7. The third Order Of things not rightly objected against Definitions to Laodamas 7. Probables for Definitions to Dioscorides Of Species and Genus to Gorgippides 2. Of Divisions 1. Of Contraries to Dionysius 2. Probables for Divisions genus's and species Of Contraries 1. The fourth Order Of Etymologicks to Diocles 6 Etymologicks to Diocles 4. The fift Order Of Proverbs to Zenodotus 2. Of Poems to Philomathes 1. How Poems must be heard 2. Against Criticks to Diodorus 1. Of the morall place of common speeches according to Arts and Vertue The first Order Against Rescriptions to Timonax 1. How we think and speak singulars 1. Of notions to Laodamas 2. Of Suspition to Pythonax 2. Demonstrations that a wise man doth not opinionate 1. Of Comprehension and Science and ignorance 4. Of Speech 2. Of the use of Speech to Leptines The second Order That the Antients approved Dialectick with Demonstration to Zeno 2. Of Dialectick to Aristocreon 4. Upon the objections against Dialectick 3. Of Rhetorick to Dioscorides 4. The third Order Of habitude to Cleon 3. Of art and sloth to Aristocreon 4. Of the difference of Vertues to Diodorus What vertues are 1. Of vertues to Pollis Of the morall place concerning Good and Ill the first Order Of Honesty and pleasure to Aristocreon 10. Demonstration that Pleasure is not the chief end 4. Demonstration that pleasure is not good 4 Of those which are said******** Thus concludes the seventh Book of Laertius and who seeth not that the last of these titles is defective and moreover that the rest of the Orders concerning this place of Good and Ill whereof this is but the first are wanting Doubtlesse the end of this book is imperfect and wanteth if not the lives of any Stoicall Philosophers who succeeded Chrysippus whereof he mentions Zeno and others else where yet at least a considerable part of his Catalogue containing the rest of his Ethick writings and all his Physick many of which are elsewhere cited even by Laertius himself which as the learned Casauâ—on had observed he would not have ascribed to Laertius's neglect that Chrysippus's book of Lawes is not mentioned Of his Ethick writings besides those here named were these Of Laws Introduction to the consideration of things good or ill Of Honest. Of Consent Of things expetible in themselves Of things not expetible in themselves Of Politick Of ends Of Passions Of Ethick questions Of lives whereof Plutarch cites the 4th book That Zeno used names properly Of Iustice the first book cited by Laâ—rtius Of Life and Transaction Of Offices Demonstration of Iustice. Protrepticks Of the End Of a Common-wealth Of the office of a Iudge Of Good Of Habits To Physick belong these Physicks Of the Soul the 12th book cited by Laertius Of Providence the first book cited Of the Gods Of Fate Of Divination Of the Philosophy of the Antients In calumniation of the Senses Of Jupiter Of Nature Physicall Theses Of Substance Of Motion Physicall questions the third book cited Of Vacuity Epistles The number of all his writings according to Laertius was 705. He wrote so much that he had often occasion to treat upon the same subject and setting down whatsoever came into his minde he often corrected and enlarged it by the testimonies of others whence having in one book inserted all Euripides's Medea one having the book in his hand answer'd another that asked him what book it was It is Chrysippus's Medea And Apollodorus the Athenian in his collection of Doctrines asserting that Epicurus had written many books upon his own strength without using the testimonies of others and that he therein far exceeded Chrysippus addes these words For if a man should take out of Chrysippus's writings all that belongs to other men he would leave the paper blank Seneca gives this censure of him He is most subtle and acute penetrating into the depth of truth He speaks to the thing that is to be done and useth no more words then are necessary to the understanding thereof but addes that his acutenesse being too fine is many times blunted and retorted upon it selfe even when he seemes to have done something he only pricks not pierceth Some there are who inveigh against him as one that wrote many obscene things not sit to be spoken as in his Commentary of the antient Physiologists what he writes concerning Iupiter and Iuno is obscenely feigned delivering that in 600 Paragraphs which the most impudent person would not have committed to writing for say they he hath related the story most unhandsomly
key-hole I shewed them how desperately ill I was and bespoke them to come on the morrow to the funerall of Pherecydes There was another of this name of the same Island an Astrologer there are more mentioned by Suidas FINIS THE HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY The Second Part. Containing the Ionick Philosophers LONDON Printed for Humphrey Moseley and are to be sold at his Shop at the Princes Armes in St. Pauls Church-yard and by Thomas Dring at the George in Fleetstreet neere Cliffords Inne 1655. ANAXIMANDER CHAP. I. Of his life PHilosophy had a twofold beginning one from Anaximander another from Pythagoras Anaximander was Disciple to Thales whence that Philosophy was called Ionick Thales being an Jonian for he was of Miletus Pythagoras was Disciple to Pherecydes that king of Philosophy called from the place where he taught Italick Thales was succeeded by Anaximander Anaximander by Anaximenes Anaximenes by Anaxagoras Anaxagoras by Arceolans in whom as Plutarch Laertius and others affirm it ended Socrates the scholer of Archelans introducing Morality Anaximander a Milesian â—ountryman companion and Kinsman of Thales was his Disciple also and successor in the propagation of his Doctrine son of Praxiades corruptly called by some Praxidamus born the third year of the 42 Olympiad He flourished most in the time of Polycrates Tyrant of Samos He demonstrated the compendium of Geometry being next Homer the first Master of that science hee first set forth a Geographick table of which Laertius is to be understood who affirms he designed the circumference of the Sea and land In the 50. Olympiad he found out the obliquity of the Zodiack that is saith Pliny he opened the gates of things He invented the Gnomon set up the first in an open place at Lacedaemon He found out the Aequinoctiall Solstices and Horologies He framed Horoscopes to denote the Tropicks and Aequinoxes whence Salmasius conceives the use of his diall was onely to delineate the Tropick and Aequinoctiall points that they did not serve to distinguish the hours or twelve parts of the day he proveth because the very name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in that sence or the division of the day into twelve equall parts was not known a long time after He advised the Lacedaemonians to quit their City and houses and to lie armed in the open field foretelling an Earthquake which threw down the whole City and tore away piece of the Mountain Taygetus As he sung the boyes used to deride him whereupon hee said we must learn to sing better for the boyes Of his Auditors are remembred Anaximenes and Parmenides Of his writings these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Of Nature This treatise perhaps Laertius meanes who saith he digested his opinions into Commentaries which Book fell into the hands of Apollodorus the Athenian 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Of the Sphear with other things He was according to Apollodorus 64 years old the second yeare of the 58. Olympiad and died soon after CHAP. 2. Of his Opinions Sect. 1. That Infinity is the principle of all things THales saith Cicero who held that all things consist of water could not perswade his Countryman and Companion Anaximander thereto for he asserted That infinity is that whereof all things were made or according to Plutarch Laertius and Iustine Martyr that it is the principle and element of things for these two he confounded as was observ'd of his Master Thales but not declared what this infinity is whether Air Water Earth or any other body for which condemned by Plutarch That it is one infinite in magnitude not number whence Aristotle reprehends him for imagining contrarieties can proceed from the same principle That it is for that reason infinite that it may not fail That the parts thereof are changed the whole is immutable Symplicius saith moveable That out of it all things proceed and resolve into it That there are infinite worlds generated which corrupt into that whereof they were generated Sect. 2. Of the Heavens HIs opinion according to Cicero was that the Gods are native having a beginning rising and setting by long intervalls and that there are innumerable worlds This Plutarch and Stobaeus apply to the Heavens and Stars But how can we addes Cicero understand a God that is not eternall That Heaven consists of cold and heat mixed That the starrs are globous instances consisting of air full of fire respiring flames at some certain part moved by the circles and sphears wherein they inhere which assertion Aristotle borrowed from hence That the Sun is seated highest the moon next then the sixed starres and Planets That the circle of the Sun is 28. times Theodoret saith 27. greater then the earth having a hollow circle about it like a Chariot wheel full of fire in one part whereof there is a mouth at which the fire is seen as out of the hole of a â—lute which is the Sun equall in bignesse with the Earth That the cause of the Sunn's Eclipse is the stopping that hole in the midst out of which the fire issues That the circle of the Moon is 29. times greater then the Earth like a Chariot wheel having a hollow or be in the midst full of fire like the Sun and oblique breathing fire out at one part as out of a tunnel That the Eclipse of the Moon happens according to her conversions when the mouth out of which the â—ire issueth is stopped That the Mooon hath a light of her own but very thin that she shineth in the light she borroweth from the Sun which two assertions are so far from being inconsistent that it is the common opinion â— both are true Sect. 3. Of Meteors THat wind is a fluxion of the air when the most subtle and liquid parts thereof are either stirr'd or resolved by the Sun That Thunders lightnings presters and whirlewinds are caused by the wind enclosed in a thick cloud which by reason of its lightnesse breaketh forth violently the rupture of the cloud maketh a crack and the divulsion by reason of the blacknesse causeth a slashing light Seneca more expressely He ascribed all to wind Thunder saith he is the sound of a breaking cloud why unequall because the breakings are unequall Why doth it thunder in a clear day Because even then the wind breaks through the thick and dry air Why sometimes doth it thunder and not lighten Because the thinner and weaker spirit is able to make a flame but not a sound What is lightning The agitation of the air severing it self and rushing down disclosing a faint fire What is Thunder The motion of a piercing thick spirit All things are so ordered that some influence descend from the Aether upon inferiour things so fire sounds forced upon cold clouds When it breaks them
Apollodorus who answer'd he would sooner take up the cup of poyson from the hand of Socrates then pledge him upon that condition Upon the death of Socrates Plato whose excessive grief upon that occasion is observed by Plutarch with others of his Disciples fearing the Tyranny of those persons who put their Master to death â—ed to Euclid at Megara who friendly entertained them till the storm was blown over Apuleius saith that before he came to Socrates he was initiated in the Sect of Heraclitus But more likely is that which is affirmed by Laertius that after Socrates's death he applyed himselfe to Craâ—ylus a follower of Heraclitus and to Hermogenes He conceived saith Saint Augustine that his own invention and Socrates ' s instructions came short of the true aime of Philosophy He considered with himselfe what course he should take to benefit himselfe most for this purpose he determined to travell to any place where report told him he might drink of the spring of Learning even to the farthest parts of the Earth saith Cicero First to Italy where he addicted himselfe to the discipline of Pythagoras which though he saw replenished with curious and high reason yet he chiefly affected to imitate the continence and chastity thereof though the Pythagoreans themselves affirme he had all his naturall Philosophy from thence Perceiving the knowledge of the Pythagoreans to be assisted with other disciplines he went to Cyrene to learn Geometry of Theodorus the Mathematician thence to Aegypt which was then under the Empire of Artaxerxes Mnemon under pretence of selling Oyle but the scope of his journey was to fetch Astrology from thence To learn Arithmetick and Celestiall Speculations of the Barbarians saith Cicero and to be instructed in the rites of the Prophets He travelled over the Country inâ—orming himselfe all the way by their Priests of the multiplicious proportions of Geometry and the observation of Celestiall motions At what time the young Students at Athens â—ere enquiring for Plato to instruct them he was busied in surveying the inexplicable banks of Nilus the vast extent of a barbarous Country and the winding compasse of their trenches a Disciple to the Aegyptian old men Having taken a full survey of all the Country he at last setled himselfe in the Province of Sais Learning of the Wise men there what they held concerning the Vniverse whether it had a beginning and whether it is moved at present wholly or in part according to Reason From these Pausanias affirmes he learn'd the Immortality of the Soul which that they held as likewise the transmigration thereof into severall bodies is affirmed by Herodotus Some say that Euripides followed him to Aegypt and falling sick was cured by the Priests with Sea-water whereupon he said The Sea doth wash away all ills of Man But this agrees not with the time of his death which was before that of Socrates viz. in the 93d Olympiad From Aegypt Plato returned to Tarentum in Italy at what time L. Camillus and P. Claudius were Consuls at Rome as Cicero affirmeth What Fasti he used I know not for in those which are now with us received as authentick there are no such Consuls during the whole life of Plato And indeed in those times Rome was for the most part govern'd by Tribunes Here he conversed with Eurytus of Tarentum the Elder Archytas the Elder at whose discourse concerning Pleasure he was present and with the rest of the Pythagoreans Echecrates Timaeus Acrio corruptly in Valerius Maximus Ario and Coetus Locrians Thus to the learning of Socrates he added that of Pythagoras and informed himselfe in those things which Socrates neglected He would have gone also to the Indians and to the Magi but that the Warres which at that time were in Asia hindred him CHAP. IV. What Authors he follow'd EUgubinus affirmes that Plato borrow'd the mystick part of his Philosophy from Hermes Trismegistus particularly that concerning the Divine Goodnesse which I suppose he rather asserts from his own conjecture in regard Plaâ—o had been long in Aegypt then from any good Authority He was induced thereunto by those Books which are now commonly but falsely vented under the name of Hermes Trismegistus whereas the learned Casaubon in his Exercitations upon Baronius hath sufficiently taught us the forgery of those Books which seem by some Impostor to have been compiled out of the works of Plato and the Divine Scripture That Plato received some light from Moses is affirmed with much greater Authorities of severall Nations and Religions Of Iewes by Aristobulus Plato saith he followed our Law in many things his various allegations evince him a curious observer thereof for the Volumes of Moses were translated before Alexander's time And Iosephus Plato chiefly followed our Law-giver Of Philosophers by Numenius what is Plato saith he but Moses speaking Greek Of Fathers by Iustine Martyr Clement Alexandrinus Eusebius Theodoret Saint Augustine c. When Plato went to Sicily he bought the Books of Philolaus a Pythagorean which were three of Nâ—turall Philosophy the first that ever were published out of that School Some say he had them of Dionysius's friends for four Alexandrian Minae Others that Dionysius had them of a young Man one of Philolaus's Disciples and gave them to Plato Others that he sent to Dion at Syracuse to buy them for him which he did for 100 Minae Agellius saith ten thousand Denaries For having received of Dionysius above eighty Talents he was very full of mony Out of these he is said as Agellius and Laertius affirm to have taken a great part of his Timaeus for which derided by Timon in Sillis thus You Plato with the same affections caught With a great Summ a little Treatise bought Where all the knowledge which you own was taught Alcimus in his four Books to Amintas affirmes that Plato borrow'd much from the writings of Epicharmus the Comick Poet in the first Book he hath these words In Sensibles saith Plato neither magnitude nor quality is permanent but in continuall fluxion and mutation as if we should substract number from them which are neither equall nor certain nor quantitative nor qualitative these are they where generation is alwaies their essence never To Insensibles nothing can be added nothing taken away This is the nature of Eternall Beings the like and same ever Thus Plato cited by Alcimus Indeed he teacheth this in many places particularly in Timaeo where he at large explaineth what is that which never is and never had beginning and that which hath beginning but no being He concludes the first comprehensible by the Intellect with Reason the other by sence and opinion But the citation of Alcimus seems to refer to Plato's Theaetetus the subject of which Dialogue is Science there he examines some Definitions of Science by the Antients amongst the rest the
way of Question but Aristotle ascribes it to Alexamenus a Styrian or Teian and it appears by the Dialogues of Plato that Socrates also used that form of arguing Laertius informes us that Zeno Eleâ—tes was the first composer of Dialogues yet in my opinion saith he Plaâ—o hath so much refined the form thereof that he deserves to be preferr'd before all others as well for invention as reformation More properly may be attributed to him the invention of Analyticall Method which reduceth the thing sought unto its principle the best of Methods He taught it to Leodamas and by it found out many things in Geometry Analysis as defined by the Scholiast upon Euclid is a sumption of the thing sought by the consequents as if it were already known to find out the truth Examples thereof we find in the five first propositions of the 13 tâ— Book of Euclid besides severall others that occurre in Apollonius Pergaeus and Pappus Alexandrinus Amongst his Geometricall Inventions also must be remembred the duplication of a Cube the occasion and manner whereof is related by Plutarch and Philoponus The Delians afflicted with the Pestilence consulted the Oracle of Apollo he answer'd the Plague would cease if they doubled theirâ— Altar which was of a Cubick figure Pluâ—arch saith that hereupon the Overseers of the Altar made all the four sides double to what they were before so instead of doubling the Altar they made it octuple to what it was Philoponus saith they caused another Cube of the same bignesse with the former to be set upon it whereby they changed the figure of the Altar which was no longer a Cube but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a quadrilaterall Pillar The first way it was Cubicall but not double the second way double but not Cubicall The Plague not ceasing they consulted the Oracle again Apollo answer'd they had not fulfilled his Command which was to build a Cubicall Altar as big again as the former Hereupon they went to Plato as most skilfull in Geometry to learn of him the Oracle's meaning and how they should find out the way of doubling a Cube retaining the Cubick figure Plato answered that the God mocked the Grecians for their neglect of Philosophy and Learning insulting over their ignorance that he commanded them seriously to addict themselves to Geometry that this could not be done any other way then by finding out two mean proportionalls between two right lines in a Duple proportion Plato's particular method herein is delivered Eutocius in his comment upon the first proposition of the second Book of Archimedes de Sphaera Cylindro He added that Eudoxus the Gnidian or Helico the Cizycene would do it for them That the God needed not this duplication of his Altar but commanded all the Grceians that avoyding war and the miseries wherewith it is attended they should apply themselves to the Muses and having setled the turbulent commotions of their minds converse harmlessly and beneficially with one another Philoponus addes that Plato expounded this Problem to his Disciples who writ much upon this subject though nothing thereof be extant Of the Antients labour'd in this Problem besides Plato Archytas the Tarentine Menaechmus Eratosthenes Philo of Byzantium Hero Apollonius Pergaeus Nicomedes Diocles and Sporus Valerius Maximus saith that Plato remitted the Overseers of the sacred Altar to Euclid the Geometrician as submitting to his Science and Profession but this is an Errour because Euclid the Geometrician was much later then Plato and the other Euclid Plato's contemporary nothing eminent in Mathematicks as hath been before me observed by Sir Henry Savile That Plato invented many other things in the Mathematicks more then appears from those writings of his that are extant and was most eminent therein may be argued from the three Books of Theon Smyrnaeus the first Arithmetick the second Harmonicks the last not yet publish'd Astronomy Those Books contained many things singular and choice not to be met elsewhere The design is acknowledg'd by the Author to be as an introduction necessary to the understanding of Plato's writings There are also divers words of which he is esteemed to be the first Author as Antipodes a word by him first introduced into Philosophy to signifie those people whose feet are diametrically opposite 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Element untill his time was confounded with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Principle by all Philosophers from Thales Plato distinguish'd them thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 principle is that which hath nothing before it whereof it might be generated 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Elements are compounded The word Poem also though since very triviall was not used by any before him He first used this term 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 oblong number in Theaeteto thereby signifying the product of a greater number multiplyed by a lesser He also first introduced the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Superficies for which before was used 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Plane Thus Laertius though Proclus implies that neither Plato nor Aristotle use the word but for it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Divine Plato saith he calls Geometry the Contemplatrix of Planes opposing it to Stereometry as if Plane and Superficies wâ—re the same So likewise doth Aristotle But Euclid and those who succeed him make Superficies the genus plane a species thereof 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Divine Providence a word since much used by Christians was first the expression of Plato He first of Philosophers wrote against Lysias Son of Cephaluo in Phaedro He first considered the force and efficacy of Grammar He first wrote against all that were before him whence it is wondred at that he never mentions Democritus CHAP. VIII His Distinctions OF his Distinctions Aristotle made this Collection in some piece not extant cited by Laertius Good is threefold in the Soul as Justice Prudence Fortitude Temperance and the like In the Body as Beauty good habit strength Externall as friends prosperity of our Country Wealth Friendship is threefold Naturall which Parents bear to their Children and kindred to one another which kind is also amongst beasts Sociable begotten by conversation without any relation of kindred such was that betwixt Pylades and Orestes Hospitable towards Guests or wherewith we affect strangers even upon letters of recommendation Some adde a fourth kind amatory Government is of five kinds Democraticall a Democracy is that wherein the people rules and hath power to make Magistrates and Laws Aristocraticall an Aristocracy is that wherein neither rich nor poor nor Nobles govern but the best persons of the whole City Oligarchicall an Oligarchy is when Governours are elected by the votes of Magistrates for they are fewer then the poore Regall Elective by Law as that of the Carthaginians for it is civill Successive in a Family as that of the Lacedaemonians and Macedonians who confine themseves to a certain race Tyrannicall Tyranny is that wherein men are brought
reâ—ulgent Burning-glasses One Light flowing from God beautifies the Angelick the Rational Nature and the Sensible World the Souls next Hand-maid The Imaginative to the Breast The Breast and Heart here taken for the Soul because her nearest Lodging the Fountain of Life and Heat reform'd but not exprest Reform'd by the Imagination form the deformity of Matter yet not reduc'd to perfect Immateriality without which true Beauty is not Exprest SPVSIPPVS SPEVSIPPVS CHAP. I. His Life SPEUSIPPUS was an Athenian born at Myrrhinus which belonged to the Pandionian Tribe his Father named Eurymedon his Mother Poâ—one Sister to Plato He was brought up in the domestick documents of his Uncle Plato who as he used to say reformed Speusippus's life after the pattern of his own Plato had foure Kins-women Daughters of his Neeces the eldest of these he married to Speusippus with a small portion thirty Minae which Dionysius had sent him To this summe Chio glad of the occasion added a Talent which Speusippus earnestly refused untill at last he was overcome by the just importunities of the other to receive it alledging that he gave it not as mony but as kindnesse that such gifts were to be entertained for they encreased honour the rest were dishonourable that he ought to accept of the good-will though he despised the mony The rest of those Virgins were Married richly to Athenians only Speusippus who best deserved was poor With these arguments Speusippus was induced to accept of Chio's gift whereat Chio much congratulated his own good fortune as having laid hold of an occasion such as perhaps saith he I shall not meet again in all my life When Dion came to Athens Speusippus was continually in company with him more then any other friend there by Plato's advice to soften and divert Dion's humour with a facile companion such as he knew Speusippus to be and that withall he knew discreetly how to observe time and place in his mirth whence Timon in Sillis calls him a good Ieaster The last time that Plato upon the importunity of Dionysius went to Sicily Speusippus accompany'd him Whilest they lived at Syracuse Speusippus kept more company with the Citizens then Plato did and insinuating more into their mindes at first they were afraid to speak freely to him mistrusting him to be one of Dionysius's spies But within a while they began to conâ—ide in him and all agreed in this to pray Dion to come to them and not to take care for ships men or horses but to hire a ship for his own passage for the Sicilians desired no more then that he would lend them his name and person against the Tyrant Speusippus at his return to Athens perswaded Dion to warre against Dionysius and deliver Sicily from the bondage of Tyranny assuring him the Country would receive him gladly Dion upon this information received such encouragement that he began secretly to levie men The Philosophers much advanced his designe When he went to Sicily he bestowed a Country-house which he had purchased since his comming to Athens upon Speusippus CHAP. II. His profession of Philosophy PLato dying in the first year of the 108th Olympiad Theophilus being Archon Speusippus succeeded him in the School of the Academy whom he followed also in his Doctrine He first as Theodorus affirmes looked into the community and mutuall assistance of Mathematicall Disciplines as Plato did into that of the Philosophicall He first according to Cenaeus declared those things which Isocrates conceived not to be divulged the same perhaps which Cicero calls the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Isocrates He affirmed that the minde was not the same either with Good or One but of a peculiar nature proper to it selfe He set up in the School which Plato had built the Images of the Graces He exacted mony of his Disciples contrary to the custome of Plato The two Women who were Plato's Auditors Lasthenia the Mantinean and Axiothea the Phliasian heard Speusippus likewise Having continued Master of the School eight years he at last by reason of his infirm disposition much debilitated by the Palsie sent to Xenocrates desiring him to come and take from him the government of the School which Xenocrates did CHAP. III. His wrrtings HE wrote many things chiefly in Philosophy Commentaries and Dialogues of which were Aristippus the Cyrenaick Of Riches 1. Of Pleasure 1. Of Iustice 1. Of Philosophy 1. Of Friendship 1. Of the Gods 1. The Philosopher 1. To Cephalus 1. Cephalus 1. Clinomachus or Lysias 1. The Cittizen 1. Of the Soul 1. To Gryllus 1. Aristippus 1. The confutation of Arts 1. Commentary Dialogues Artificiall 1. Dialogues of likenesse in things 10. Divisions and arguments to things like Of the genus's and species of Examples To Amartyrus Encomium of Plato Epistles to Dion Dionysius Philip. Of Law The Mathematician Mandrobulus Lysias Deâ—â—nâ—tions of all these writings the only extant Orders of Commentaries Verses Phavorinus in the second of his Commentaries saith that Aristotle paid three Talents for his Books CHAP. IV. His Death HE was as Timotheus saith very infirme of body insomuch that he was fain to be carried up and down the Academy in a kinde of a running chair Riding in this manner he one day met Diogenes whom saluting he said Joy be with you But not with you answered Diogenes who can endure to live being in that condition At length he dyed willingly through griefe as Laertius affirmes who elsewhere citing Plutarch in the lives of Lysander and Scylla saith he dyed of the Phthiriasis but there is no such thing extant in Plutarch Though he followed Plato in his opinions yet he did not imitate his temper for he was austeer cholerick and had not so great command over his pleasures In anger he threw a Dog into a Well and indulging to pleasure he went to the marriage of Cassander in Macedonia He was also so great a Lover of mony that some Poems which he had written not very good he sung publickly for gain for which vices Dionysius writing to him thus derides him And we may learn Philosophy from our Arcadian she-Scholler Plato took no mony of his Schollers you exact it whether they are willing or not Athenaeus cites the same Epistle after he had reproached him for avarice and voluptuousnesse he objects his collections of mony from many persons his love to Lasthenia the Sardian Curtezan after all this adding Why do you accuse us of avarice who your selfe omit not any sordid way of gain Did not you after Hermias's debt was satisfied make collections in his name amongst his friends to your own use To a rich man in love with a deformed person What need you her saith he for ten Talents you may have a handsomer To him Simonides wrot Histories wherein he related the actions of Dion and Bion. There was another Speusippus a Physitian of Alexandria XENOCRATES CHAP. I. His Country
some Athenian Prisoners Antipater invited him to sit down to supper whereto he answer'd in the words of Ulysses in Homer O Circe what man is there that is good Before his friends are freed can think of food Antipater was so pleased with the ingenious application of these Verses that he caused the Prisoners immediately to be set at liberty His clemency saith Aelian extended not only to men but often to irrationall creatures as once when a Sparrow pursued by a Hawk flew to his bosome he took it much pleased and hid it till the enemy were out of sight and when he thought it was out of fear and danger opening his bosome he let it go saying that he had not betrayed a supplyant Bion deriding him he refused to make any answer in his own defence for a Tragedy saith he being mocked by a Comedy needs not a reply To one who though he had neither learn'd Musick Geometry nor Astronomy yet desired to be his Disciple Away saith he you have not the handles of Philosophy Some affirm he said I teach not to card wool Antipater comming to Athens met and saluted him which salute he returned not untill he had made an end of the discourse he was about He was nothing proud he assigned a particular businesse to every part of the day a great part thereof to meditation one part to silence Whensoever he pierc'd a vessell of Wine it was sower'd before he spent it and the broaths that were made for him were often thrown away the next day whence proverbially was used the Cheese of Xenocrates of things that last well and are not easily consumed Holding his peace at some detractive discourse they asked him why he spoke not Because saith he I have sometimes repented of speaking but never of holding my peace Yet this man saith Laertius because he could not pay the sine imposed upon Aliens the Athenians sold Demetrius Phaleveus bought him contenting both parties the Athenians with their Tribute Xenocrates with his liberty CHAP. IV. His Writings HE left many Writings Verses Exhortations and Orations their Titles these Of Nature 6 Bookes Of Wisdome 6. Of Riches 1. Arias 1. Of Indefinite 1. Of a Child 1. Of Continence 1. Of Profitable 1. Of Free 1. Of Death 1. which some conceive to be the same with that which is extant amongst the spurious Platonick Dialogues under the title of Axiochus Of Voluntary 1. Of Friendship 2. Of equity 1. Of Contrary 2. Of Beatitude 2. Of writing 1. Of Memory 1. Of False 1. Callicles 1. Of Prudence 2. Oeconomick 1. Of Temperance 1. Of the power of Law 1. Of a Common-wealth 1. Of Sanctiâ—y 1. That vertue may be taught 1. Oâ— Eâ—s 1. Of Fate 1. Of passions 1. Of Lives 1. Of concord 1. Of Disciples 2. Of Iustice 1. Of Vertue 2. Of species 1. Of Pleasure 2. Of Life 1. Of Fortitude 1. Of One 1. Of Idaeas 1. Of Art 1. Of Gods 2. Of the Soul 2. Of Science 1. Politick 1. Of Scientificks 1. Of Philosophy 1. Of Parmenides opinions 1. Archidemus or of Iustice 1. Of Good 1. Of things which pertain to Intellect 8. Solutions concerning Speech 1. Physicall auscultation 6. A summary 1. Of Genus's and Species 1. Pythagorean assertions 1. Solutions 2. Divisions 8. Positions 3. Of Dialectick 14 15 16. Of Disciplines concerning distinctions 9. Concerning Raâ—iocination 9. Concerning Intelligence 4. Of Disciplines 6. Concerning Intelligence 2. Of Geometry 5. Commentaries 1. Contraries 1. Of Numbers 1. Theory of Arithmetick 1. Of Intervalls 1. Astrologick 6. Elements to Alexander concerning a Kingdom 4. To Arybas To Hephaestion Of Geometry 2. Verses 345. CHAP. V. His Death HE died in the 82 year of his age by a fall in the night into a Basin wherein he was drown'd probably in the first yeare of the 116. Olympiad for in that year Polemo his Successour took upon him the School Laertius saith there were six more of this name but mentions only five One very antient skilfull in Tacticks another of the same City and Family with this Philosopher Author of the Oration upon the death of Arsinoe the fourth saith he a Philosopher who writ in Elegiack verse but not happily perhaps the same who Suidas saith was nothing inferiour to this Xenocrates for Continence the fist a Statuary the â—ixt a writer of Songs as Aristoxenus affirm POLEMO POLEMO was an Athenian of OEa a Towne belonging to the Oenian Tribe his Father Philostratus who according to Antigonus Carystius was a Citizen of great account and kept a Chariot and horses Polemo in his youth was very intemperate and dissolute he frequently took a sum of money and hid it in a private corner of some street to supply his extravagances upon occasion Even in the Academy were found three oboli which he had hid under a Pillar upon the same account This wildnesse caused discontent betwixt him and his wife who thinking her self not wel used by him accused him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Neither did he delight saith Valerius Maximus in Luxury onely but even in the infamy thereof On a time coming from a Feast not after the setting but rising of the Sun and seeing the door of Xenocrates the Philosopher open full of Wine smelling sweet of unguents crown'd with Garlands richly attir'd hee rush'd into his School which was filled with a croud of learned persons Nor contented with so rude an intrusion he â—ate down also intending to make sport at his excellent â—loquence and prudent precepts Hereupon all were offended as the affront deserved onely Xenocrates continuing the same Countenance and gesture fell from the discourse in which he was and began to speak of modesty and temperance with the gravity of whose discourse Polemo being reduced to repentance first took his Garland off from his head and flung it on the ground soon after he withdrew his arme within his Cloake Next hee laid aside the cheerfulnesse of that look which he had formerly when he affected feasting lastly he wholly devested himselfe of Luxury and being thus cured by the wholsom Medicine of one discourse he from an infamous Prodigall became a most excellent Philosopher being from that time forward so addicted to study that he surpass'd all the rest and succeeded Xenocrates in the government of the School which he began in the first year of the 116. Olympiad After he began to study Philosophy he had such a constant behaviour that he retain'd alwaies the same Countenance and kept the same tone in all his speech whereby Crantor was taken with him A mad dog having bit him by the Knee he alone of all the Company seem'd to be unconcern'd in it and a tumult happening thereupon in the City he asked without any disturbance what was the matter In the Theatres also he was nothing moved When Nicostratus the Poet sirnamed Clytemnestra recited somthing to him and Crates Crates was much taken therwith but hee
and pleasures they were carried on as it were with a kind of madnesse to Philosophy This pleased all the Romans who gladly beheld their Sonns instructed in Greek learning by such excellent men Onely Cato at the first noise of Admiration of the Greek Learning was troubled fearing the young men should apply themselves that way and so preferre the glory of eloquence before Action and Military discipline The fame of Philosophers encreasing in the City and C. Acilius whom Agellius and Macrobius call Caecilius an eminent person having at his own request been the Interpreter of their first Oration to the Senate Cato who was then very old under a fair pretence moved that these Philosophers might be sent out of the City and coming into the Senate-house blamed the Magistrates that they had so long suffered such Ambassadors to continue amongst them without any answer who were able to perswade them to any thing wherefore he first desired that something might be determined concerning their Embassie that they might be sent back again to their own Schools and instruct the Sons of Graecians and that the Romane youth might as they did before apply themselves to the observance of their own Laws and Magistrates This he did not out of anger to Carneades as some thought but out of an ambitious aemulation of the Greek humanity and Literature CHAP. IV. His Vertues and Apophthegmes HE was a person infinitely industrious lesse conversant in Physick then Ethick and so studious that he neglected to cut his hair and nailes Valerius Maximus saith hee was so studious that when he lay down at meales his thoughts were so fixt that he forgot to put his hand to the Table and that Melissa who lived with him as a wife was fain to put him in mind thereof and help him He was so eâ—inent for Philosophy that the Oratours themselves would many times break up their schools and come and hear him He had a great and loud-voice whereupon the Gymnasiarch sent to him not to speak so loud whereto he answering send me the measure by which I should speak the other wisely and appositely repli'd you have a measure your Hearers He was sharply invective and in argument almost invincible He avoided feasting out of the reason we mentioned his great studiousnesse One named Mentor a Bythinian as Phavorinus saith who had endeavoured to seduce a Mistris that he kept coming into the school he presently jeasted at him in turning these words of Homer Hither comes one oppress'd with hoary years Like Mentor in his voice and looks appears Who from the School I charge you turn away The other rising up reply'd He thus proclaim'd the rest did streight obey Being to dispute with Chrysippus he purg'd himself by white Hellebore to sharpen his wit lest any corrupt humours in his stomach might oppresse the vigour and constancy of his mind He compared Dialectick to the fish Polypus which when its claws grow long bites them off so Logicians growing subtle confute their own assertions He advised men in their greatest prosperity to be mindfull of a change for that which is unexpected is most grievous He said the Sons of rich men and Kings learn nothing well but Riding for their Masters flatter them they who contest with them willingly yield to them but a horse considers not whether a private man or a Prince a poor man or a rich bee on his back but if he cannot rule him he throws his Rider He seemed to be extreamly averse from death whence he often said the same Nature which hath put us together will dissolve us and hearing that Antipater dyed by drinking poison he was a litle animated by his constancy in death and said then give me too they asking what VVine saith he In the midst of the night he was struck blind and knew not of it but waking bid his servant bring a light the servant did so telling him he had brought one then said he read you CHAP. V. His Death and Writings HE lived according to Laertius 85. years or according to Cicecero 90. The words of Apollodorus that he died in the fourth year of the 162d Olympiad which falleth upon the 626th year from the building of Rome may easily be evinced to be false by the greatest part of the Circumstances of his life particularly from this that Antonius in Cicero saith when hee went ProConsull into Asia he found Carneades the Academick at Athens who opposed all in dispute according to the manner of his Sect. The year of Antonius's Pro-Consulship was the 652. year from the building of Rome But this account as we said before is to be applyed to the time of his birth from which the 85th falleth upon the first year of the 184th Olympiad the 90th upon the 2d of the 185th Laertius saith at his death there was a great Eclipse of the Moon which some interpreted to proceed from a Sympathy with his losse Upon this Eclipse I conceive Petavius grounded his computation of Carneades's death when he saith it was upon the first year of the 163. Olympiad May 2. â—er 2. hora. 5. 46. at Athens But there being a mistake of the year there is consequently a greater in the account of the feria and hour Carneades as Cicero saith wrote four Books of Suspension of Assent He wrote likewise Epistles to Ariarathes King of Cappadocia the only monument left behind him extant in Laertius's time Whatsoever else went under his name Laerâ—ius saith was written by his Disciples of whom hee had many the most eminent Clitomachus There are remembred two more of this name one a Philosopher Disciple to Anaxagoras mentioned by Suidas the other an Epigrammatick Poet mentioned by Laertius CLITOMACHVS CLITOMACHUS was a Carthaginian son of Diognetus He was first called Asdrubal as Plutarch and Laertius affirm and profess'd Philosophy in his own Country and native Language Being forty years old he went to Athens and heard Carneades who being much taken with his industry instructed and exercised him in Philosophy With Carneades Cicero saith he lived untill he was old and succeeded him in the School and chiefly illustrated his Doctrines by his writings the number of which bookes being above foure hundred were a sufficient testimony of his industry and that he had no lesse of wit then Carneades of eloquence He was well vers'd in three Sects the Academick Peripatetick and Stoick Of his books are remembered by Cicero one of Consolation to his captive Country-men Carthage being then subdued by the Romans another to Caius Lucilius the Poet wherein he explained and defended the Academick suspension of Assent having written before of the same things to L. Censorinus who was Consul with M. Manilius the summe of which discourse was this The Academicks hold there are such dissimilitudes of things that some seem probable others on the contrary But this is not ground enough to say that some things may be
a Book which he sent to Balbus He wrote also another against his Master Philo entituled Sosus Cicero being at Athens heard him and was much taken with the eloquence and volubility of his discourse declaring him to be the most polite and acute of all Philosophers in his time but not with the new Doctrine which he introduced Thus far there is a continued series of the Academick Philosophers FINIS THE HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY The Sixt Part Containing the Peripatetick Philosophers LONDON Printed for Humphrey Moseley and Tho Dring An. Dom. 1656. ARISTOTELES ARISTOTELES CHAP. I. His Country Parents and time of his Birth UPon the death of Plato his Disciples separated themselves into two Sects The first continued in the same school where he taught the Academy the other possess'd the Lyceum The first was known by the generall name of Academicks or Peripateticks of the Academy the the other by the generall name of Peripateticks or more particularly Peripateticks of the Lyceum Of the first we have discoursed already we come now to the other of which Aristotle was the Head Aristotle was born at Stagira a City of Thrace according to Herodotus Thucydides Pausanias and Suidas by others placed in Macedonia to take from him the imputation of a Barbarian It was seated upon Strymon a River which parts those two Countries having a Haven called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and a little Island of the same name belonging to it This place to which Aristotle ow'd his birth he afterwards requited with extraordinary Gratitude His Father was named Nicomachus descended from Nicomachus Son of Machaon whose skill in Medicine is celebrated by Homer Son of Aesâ—ulapius from whom Aristotle's Father derived not only his Pedigree but his art also for he was a Physician Suidas saith he wrote six Books of Medicine and one of Physick Galen alledgeth a Plaister of one Nicomachus either this or the elder This Nicomachus whom some affirm to have been grandson to Hippâ—crates the Physician lived in the time of Amyntas King of Macedonia Father of Philip a Prince as Iustine witnesseth eminent for all Royall Vertues To him Nicomachus was not only Physician but friend and favourite Tzetzes forgot these relations of Aristotle as Nunnesius observes when he affirmed that he was called an Aesculapian figuratively in respect of his skill in Medicine though it be true also that hee did professe that Art His Mother Laertius and Suidas name Phaestias Dionysius Halicarnassaeus and Ammonius Phaestis Ammonius saith she also was descended from Aesculapius alledging in testimony thereof this Epigram His Mother Phaesis Sire Nicomachus Descended both from Aesculapius But Dionysius Halicarnassaeus saith she was daughter a Chalcidian one of the Colony which was sent from Chalcis to Stagira Her Picture Aristotle in piety to her memory caused to be made by Protogenes an eminent Painter of that time which Picture Pliny reckons amongst the choicest pieces of that Master Aristotle as Suidas affirms had a Brother named Arimnestus and Sister Arimneste His Brother died before him without issue as appears by his will Aristotle was born according to the testimonies of Apollodorus Dionysius Halicarnassaeus and others in the first year of the 99 tâ— Olimpiad at what time Diotrephes was Archon at Athens 44. years after the Birth of Plato as Athenaeus accounts more justly then Ammonius and Suidas who reckon but 42. before the birth of Demosthenes three years Agellius affirms he was born the seventh year after the recovery of the City of Rome from the Gaules by Camillus but because as Plutarch saith it is hard to find out on what year the City was taken it will be hard also to find upon what year it was recovered The recovery was seven months after its taking but in the following year for it was taken in Iuly recover'd in February If therefore as Valerius Flaccus Agellius and Cassius Hemina account the taking of the City was in the 363d year from the building thereof it was recover'd in the 364th Thus Aristotle was born in the first year of the 99th Olympiad the 370th from the building of Rome But if a Livy affirms the taking of Rome was in the 365th year from the building thereof and its recovery in the 366th Aristotle according to that account must have been born in the third year of the 99th Olympiad in the 372d year from the building of the City Again if the City were taken in the 364th year after the building thereof and recover'd in the 365th year as Varro Pliny Dionysius Halicarnassaeus account whom Scaliger followeth Aristotle must have been born in the second year of the 99th Olympiad the 371. from the building of the City reckoning alwaies ten months for a year and not casting them off as Pliny and others seem to do and beginning immediately the next year which months being reckoned the account will agree with ours hitherto Nunnesius CHAP. II. His first Education and Studies N Icomachus and Phaestis the Parents of Aristotle being both dead he was brought up by Proxenus an Atarnean during which time being yet very young he learned the Liberall Sciences as appeareth saith Ammonius from those writings of his which partly concern Poetry partly the Poets themselves as likewise from his Homericall questions and severall Books of the Art of Rhetorick In gratitude for this care taken by Proxenus in his education Aristotle afterwards not only bred up in like manner Nicaâ—or the Son of Proxenus in all kinds of Learning but adopted him his Son and with his Estate bequeathed his Daughter to him He likewise caused the Statues of Proxenus and his wife to be made and set up in honour of them as is manifest by his Will Athenaeus citing an Epistle of Epicure and Aelian relate that having consumed the inheritance left by his Father in prodigality and luxury he betook himself to the Warres wherein having ill successe he profess'd Medicine and by chance coming into Plato's School and hearing their disputes being of a wit far beyond the rest he addicted himself to Philosophy and became famous therin But this agrees not wel with the circumstances of his story as related by Authors of greater credit and lesse prejudice CHAP. III. How he heard Plato HAving attained the age of 17. years he went in obedience to the Pythian Oracle which advised him to addict himself to Philosophy to Athens Laertius saith out of Apollodorus that he was then but seventeen years old in which year Nausigenes was Archon Dionysius Halicarâ—assaeus saith it was the year following at what time Polyzelus was Archon perhaps it was upon Nausigenes's going out of his Office whom Polyzelus succeeded But Eumenus is much mistaken who saith he was thirty years old when hee came first to Plato perhaps as Nunnesius conjectures because he had read in Plato that Dialectick ought not to be studied till
Theologie though there be not any invention of his extant yet he perfectly went through all the parts thereof For he was not only acquainted as some falsely imagine with terrestriall things and those which belong to this World but even with those things which are above this World as may appear from the eight book of his Physick where he saith that the first cause is not subject to motion neither in it selâ—e nor by accident in which words he declareth that God is not a body nor any way passible And in his 12th book of Wisdome or Metaphysicks he discourseth accurately of God and Intelligences in a rationall clear way not inâ—olv'd in Fables or Pythagoricall Symbols but founding his assertion upon reason and demonstration as much as the subject and human reason alloweth Patricius labours much to prove that whatsoever he had in this kind excellent he borrow'd from Hermes Trismegistus But as we have already said Mr. Casaubon hath fully evinâ—'d that Book to have been imposed upon the World by some later writer What is added by the antient Latine Interpreter concerning Aristotle's sentence of that visuall Hexagonall Pyramid which a learned person hath observed to be chosen as a midle way betwixt the sentence of those who made the optick penicill a pyramid of a quadratick base and those who made it of a Conick figure is very obsâ—ure and hardly admits of an Interpretation worthy so great an Author CHAP. VIII His correspondence with Alexander WHilst Aristotle taught Philosophy at Athens his Disciple Alexander was employed in an Expedition to Asia against Darius King of Persia incited thereunto by the principles of Honour which were infused into him by Aristotle particularly from the Presidents of Achilles Ajax and other Heroes celebrated by Homer whose Iliads Aristotle had so câ—refully recommâ—nded unto him He began this expedition in the third year of the 11th Olympiad at which time Ctesicles was Archon at Athens immediately after the departure of Aristotle who it is probable came only for this reason from him as preferring a quiet and studious life before the troubles of War The first thing that Alexander did was to visit the Tombe of Achilles in the Sigaeum at the sight whereof he broke forth into these words O fortunate young man that hadst a Homer to celebrate thy praise â— for had it not been for his Iliads addes Cicero in the same Tombe where Achilles's his body lay his name also would have been buried He took with him the Iliads of Homer corrected by Aristotle and made it his constant companion insomuch that hee put it every night with his dagger under his pillow And in a Victory over Darius having taken a Casket of Unguents of extraordinary value amongst the spoiles of Darius beset with Pearles and precious stones as Pliny describes it his friends telling him how many uses it might be put to because Unguents did not become a Souldier Yes saith he it shall serve to keep the Books of Homer that the most precious work may be kept in the richest case hence was this correct copy called as Plutarch saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Whilst he was in Asia engaged in the Warrs against Darius in the midst of his continuall Victories and businesse hearing that Aristotle had published his Acroatick books of naturall Philosophy he sent this Letter to him Alexander to Aristotle Health YOu have not done well in publishing your Acroatick discourses for wherein shall we excell others if this Learning wheriâ— we have been instituted be made common to all As for me I had rather excell others in knowledge then in power Farewell To which Aristotle returned this answer Aristotle to Alexander health YOu wrote to me concerning my Acroatick Discourses that they ought not to have been communicated but kept secret Know that they are made publick and not publick for none but they who have heard us can understand them Farewel Thus notwithstanding Alexander were busied in the Warres yet he forgot not his Master Aristotle but kept a friendly correspondence with him So constant was he in his love to Learning and particularly so much enflam'd as Pliny saith with a curious desire of understanding the natures of living Creatures that he sent thousands of men throughout all Asia and Greece to procure all kinds of living Creatures birds beasts and fishes at an excessive charge Athenaeus saith 800. Talents which according to Budaeus's account is 840000 crowns these men he sent with what they took to Aristotle that he might not be ignorant of any thing that any Nation afforded by which information he composed as Pliny affirmeth 50. excellent Volumes of Liâ—ing Creatures of which ten are only left unlesse we put into the same number those Books of his which have some near relation to this subject as Of the going of living Creatures 1. Of the parts of living Creatures and their causes 4. Of the Generation of living Creatures 5. If this were done by Alexander as Pliny and Athenaeus attest though Aelian ascribe it to Philip it must necessarily have been whilst he was in his Asiatick expedition For Aristotle as hath been already proved staid but a very short time with him after the death of his Father Aristotle made the same use of this correspondence with Alexander as he had done of the Interest he before had with Philip the advantage not only of particular person but of whole Cities This City of Stagira the place of his Birth did acknowledge which at the suit of Aristotle Alexander caused to be reedified and repeopled and restored to its former state having before by Philip been laid levell with the ground For though Plutarch relate this as done in the time of Philip Laertius Ammonius Dion Chrysostome Aelian and others hold that it was done by Alexander to which Valerius Maximus addes that it was not long before Aristotles death In memory of which Benefit the people of Stagira used to celebrate a yearly Festivall which they called the Aristotelean Feast naming the month in which it fell Stagirites Erestus likewise the Country of Theopâ—rastus which Alexander determined to punish very severely by the mediation of Aristotle was pardoned That he benefited many particular persons is evident saith Ammonius from his Epistles to the King yet extant wherein he recommends severall persons to him Hence it is manifest that the Author of his life is mistaken when he affirmes that in Alexanders Asiatick expedition Aristotle accompanyed him to the Brachmanes where he writ that noble piece of the Lawes and institutions of 255 Cities That likewise he travelled over all Persia with Alexander where during the War Alexander died and Aristotle returned into his own Country This relation agrees not with the other circumstances of Aristotles life Alexander died in the fourth year of the hundred and thirteenth Olympiad two years before Aristotle's departure from Athens But as it is apparent that this mistake
with Hellebor or by starving so to punish those surâ—eits which we have incurred for a short pleasure He said Whosoever seareth others is a slave though he know it not himselfe He said No covetous man can be a good man or a King or a freeman Being demanded what a feast is he answered The occasion of surfeits He said We ought to aim at such pleasures as follow labour not at those which go before labour He said Common Executioners are better then Tyrants those pâ—t only guilty men to death Tyrants the innocent He said We ought to wish our enemies all good things but Fortitude for that they possesse would fall into the hands of the Victor not the Owner Him that contradicteth he said he said we must not again contradict but instruct for a mad-man is not cured by anothers growing mad also He said A man should alwaies have in readinesse his wits or a rope Seeing the Thebans much exalted with their successe at the Luctrian sight he said They were like boyes that triumph when they have beaten the. Masters To some that commended a Piper But saith he he is an ill man for else he would never have been so good a Piper CHAP. IV. His Writings OF his Bookes saith Laertius there are ten Tomes The first containeth these Of speech or of Characters Ajax of the speech of Ajax Ulysses or of Ulysses An apology for Orestes Of Lawyers Isographe or Desias or Isocrates Against Isocrates ' s 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The second Tome Of the Nature of Animals Of Procreation of children or of Marriage Brotick Of Sophists Physiognomick Of Iustice and Fortitude Protreptick 1 2 3 Of Theognis The third Tome Of Good Of Fortitude Of Law or of Policy Of Law or of Fair and Iust. Of Freedom and Servitude Of Faith Of a Guardian or of Trusting Of Victory Oeconomick The fourth Tome Cyrus Hercules the Greater or of Strength The fift Tome Cyrus or of a Kingdom Aspasia The sixt Tome Truth Of Dissertation Anti-logick Sathon of Contradiction 3. Of Dialectick The seventh Tome Of Discipline or of names 5. Of dying Of Life and Death Of things after death Of the use of names or Eristick Of Interrogation and answer Of Opinion and Science 4. Of Nature 2. Interrogation concerning Nature 2. Opinions or the Eristick Problems concerning Learning The eighth Tome Of Musick Of Interpreters Of Homer Of Injustice and impiety Of Chalcas Of the spie Of Pleasure The ninth Tome Of the Odysseis Of Minerva's wand or of Telemachus Helena and Penelope Of Proteus The Cyclops or of Ulysses Of the use of Wine or of Drunkenesse or of the Cyclops Of Circe Of Amphiaraus Of Ulysses and Penelope Of the Dog The tenth Tome Hercules or Midas Hercules or of Prudence or of strength The Master or Lover The Masters or spies Menexenus or of Ruling Alcibiades Archelaus or of a Kingdom These saith Laertius were his writings the great number whereof Timon derides calling him an ingenious Trifler There is also among the Socratick Epistles one under his name to this effect Antisthenes to Aristippus IT is not the part of a Philosopher to live with Tyrants and to wast time at Sicilian Feasts but rather to be content with a little in his own Country but you esteem it the greatest excellence of a Vertuous person to be able to acquire much wealth and to have powerfull friends Riches are not good neither if they were in themselves good are they such being thus obtained nor can a multitude of unlearned persons especially Tyrants be true friends Wherefore I would coâ—nsell you to leave Syracuse and Sicily but if as some report you are in love with Pleasure and aim at such things as beseem not wise persons go to Anticyra and cure your self by drinking Hellebore for that is much better for you then the Wine of Dionysius this causeth madnesse that asswageth it So that as health and discretion differ from sicknesse and â—olly so much shall you be better then you are in these things which you now enjoy Farewell The Answer to this Epistle see in the life of Aristippus CHAP. V. His Death HE died saith Laertius of sicknesse As he lay on his death-bed Diogenes came to him and asked him if he wanted a friend Another time he came to him with a dagger Antisthenes crying out who will free me from this pain he shewed him the dagger saying This shall Antisthenes reply'd I say from my pain not from my life for he bore his sicknesse somwhat impatiently through love of life Theopompus commends him above all the Disciples of Socrates as being of such acute and sweet discourse that he could lead any man to what he would There were three more of this name one a Heraclitean Philosopher the second of Ephesus the third of Rhodes a Historian DIOGENES CHAP. I. His Country Parents Time Banishment DIOGENES was of Sinopis a City of Pontus his Father named Icesius or as others Icetes by profession a mony-changer He was born as appears by computation from his death which was in the 90 t year of his age in the first year of the 114 t Olympiad Hegesias being Archon about the third year of the 91st Olympiad Suidas saith he was first called Cleon. Diocles saith his Father trading publickly in exchange of mony was surprised coining false mony and thereupon fled But Eubulides saith Diogenes himselfe did it and fled together with his Father even Diogenes in his Podalus acknowledgeth as much Some affirme that being made overseer he was perswaded by the work-men to go to Delphi or Delus the Country of Apollo to enquire of the Oracle if he should do that whereto he was advised 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is of ambiguous signification implying to alter the course of life and to coine false mony The Oracle assented Diogenes not understanding it in the Civill sense betook himselfe to coyning and being taken in the act was banished or as others say fled for fear Some affirme he adulterated the mony he received from his Father for which the Father was cast in prison and there dyed the Son fled and coming to Delphi enquired of the Oracle by what means he should become eminent whereupon he received that answer When he left his Country one of his servants followed him named Manes who not enduring his conversation ran away from him some perswaded Diogenes to enquire after him who answer'd Were it not a shame since Manes doth not need Diogenes that Diogenes should need Manes The fellow wandring up and down came at last to Delphi where he was torn in pieces by doggs DIOGENES CHAP. II. How he lived at Athens COming to Athens saith Laertius he apply'd himselfe to Antisthenes following the Cynicall Philosophy instituted by him Antisthenes having invited many to hear him and but few coming at last in anger would not suffer any to come to him and therefore bad Diogenes be
him why he drew water he answer'd Do I only draw water Do I not also dig and water the ground and all for the sake of Philosophy For Zeno brought him up to this and bad him bring him an obolus gained by his labour Upon a time he brought in his gains before all his Disciples saying Cleanthes If he would could maintain another Cleanthes but they who have wherewithall to maintain themselves would be supply'd by others yet study philosophy nothing the more diligently Hence Cleanthes was called a second Hercules He was very laborious but dull and slow He used to write the dictates of Zeno in shells and the shoulder-blades of Oxen for want of money to buy paper He was his auditor 19. years For these reasons though Zeno had many other eminent Disciples yet he succeeded him in the School CHAP. II. His Apophthegmes HIs Fellow-Disciples derided him he took it patiently and being called Asse answered he onely could bear Zeno's burthen Another time being reproached as timerous therefore saith he I sin little Preferring his own Poverty before the plenty of the rich whilst they saith he Play at Ball I manure a hard barren soil He often chid himself being all alone which Aristo overhearing whom saith he do you chide he smiling answered a grey-headed old fellow without wit To one that said Arcesilaus abrogated the offices of life peace saith he dispraise him not for though he take away offices in discourse he commends them in his actions To whom Arcesilaus saying I cannot endure flattery I do indeed flatter replies Cleanthes when I say you speak one thing and do another To one that asked what he should teach his Son he answer'd in the words of Electra Peace peace a little step A Lacedemonian saying that labour was good hee laughed answering My son thou of a gen'rous race art come Disputing with a young man he asked him whether hee did feel the other answers he did he replyed why then do I not feel that you feel Sosythius the Poet saying in the publick Theatre when Cleanthes was present Those whom Cleanthes madnesse leads away hee sate still not changing his countenance whereupon the Auditors applauding him turned out Sosythius who afterwards coming to Cleanthes told him he was sorry that he had reproached him Cleanthes answer'd it were unsit I should behold unconcerned Bacchus and Hercules derided by the Poets and be angry ' at a little word against my self He compared the Peripateticks to Lutes that make good Musick but hear it not themselves Holding according to Zeno that the mind may be discerned in the countenance some merry young men brought an effeminate youth to him rustically cloathed desiring his opinion of that mans disposition He bad him depart which the other going to do sneezed Cleanthes presently cryed out I have found out the man he is effeminate To one that was all alone talking to himself you discourse saith he with a man that is not ill To one that was reproach'd him with his age I would be gone saith he but when I consider that I am in health fit to write and study I raber choose to stay Cleanthes bad those who came to hear him to fancy pleasure painted in a Tablet richly habited and adorned sitting upon a Throne the Vertues standing about her as her handmaids doing nothing else but wait on her commands and whispering in her ear if it can be phancied of a picture to bid her take heed of doing any thing imprudently that may offend the minds of men or any thing that may occasion grief He said whosoever sweareth at the same time sweareth truly or forsweareth himself if he intend to do that which hee sweareth though he do it not he sweareth truly if he intend it not he is forsworn One observing him silent said to him why do you hold your peace it is pleasant to talk to friends It is indeed answer'd Cleanthes but the more pleasant it is the more we ought to allow them the freedom of it Hee said that unlearned men differed from Beasts in their figure Being demanded why amongst the Antients when there were fewest Philosophers there were more eminent then at this time he answer'd because then they minded the thing it self now only in words To one that asked him how a man might be rich he answered by being poor in desire CHAP. III. His Writings HEE left behind him saith Laertius these excellent Books Of time Of Zeno's Philosophy Explications of Heraclitus 3. Of Sense 4. Of Art To Democritus To Aristarchus To Erillus Of Appetite 2. Archaeology Of God Of Gyants Of Hymenealls Of a Poet. Of Office 3. Of right consultation Of Gratitude Protreptick Of Vertues Of Ingenuity Of Gorgippus Of Envy Of Love Of Liberty The Art of Love Of Honour Of Glory The Politiekâ— Of Counsell Of Laws Of Iudging Of the reason of living Of speech 3. Of the End Of honest things Of Actions Of Science Of a Kingdom Of Friendship Of a Symposium That the vertue of man and woman is the same That a wise man may use Sophismes Of Chria's Dissertations 2. Of Pleasure Of Properties Of Inexplicables Of Dialectick Of Tropes Of Categoremes Besides these are mention'd Of Atoms Of Brasse Of Sumptions Fabulous Traditions The Art of Rhetorick CHAP. IV. His Death HE lived according to Laertius 80. years according to Lucian 99. The occasion of his death this being troubled with a forenesse of his gumms Stobaeus saith an Ulcer under his Tongue he was enjoyned by the Physitians to fast two daies which he did and was wel then they told him he might eat again but he would not saying he was now gone a great way on his journey would you have me â—aith he having past over the greatest part of my life return back again and begin it anew Having fasted two daies more hee died Simplicius saith he saw an exquisite statue of Cleanthes in Assus an example of the magnificence of the Romance Senate dedicated to his honour CHRYSIPPVS CHAP. I. His Life CHrysippus was of Soli a City of Cilicia afterwards called Pompeiopolis his Father was of Tarsis named Apollonius or as Suidas Apollonides who came and lived at Soli which perhaps gave Laertius and from him Suidas occasion to doubt whether Chrysippus himself were not of Tarsis He first exercised in the Hippodrome Hecaton saith that having wasted his Patrimony in the Kings service hee applyed himself to Philosophy Coming to Athens he heard as some affirm Zeno or rather as Diocles and others Cleanthes from whom whilst he was yet alive he dissented He was an eminent Philosopher ingenious and acute in every thing so that in most opinions he differ'd from Zeno and Cleanthes to whom he would only say tell me the Doctrines and let me alone for proofes If at any time he crossed Cleanthes in dispute he was afterwards sorry for it often saying Of happinesse in all I am
and though he prais'd it as naturall yet it becommeth Curtezans rather then Gods Moreover what he saith of those that writ of Tables is false not to be found neither in Polemo nor Hipsicrates nor Antigonus but forged by himselfe In his book of a Commonwealth he allowes marriage with a mother and a daughter and repeats the same in the beginning of his book Concerning things expetible in themselves In his third book of Iustice extending to a thousand Paragraphs he advised to feed upon the very dead In his second book of Life and Transaction he affirmeth a wise man ought to take care to provide himselfe food but to what end must he provide himselfe food for Livelyhood Life is an indifferent For Pleasure Pleasure also is indifferent For Vertue that is selfe sufficient for Beatitude Such kinds of acquisition of wealth are very ridiculous If they proceed from a King there is a necessitie of complying with him if from a friend that friendship is veniall if from wisdome that wisdome is mercenary For these things saith Laertius some have inveigh'd against him CHAP. IV. His death HE died according to Apollodorus in the 143d Olympiad so supply Laertius in whom the centenary number is wanting by Suidas having lived 73 years The manner of his death is differently related Hermippus affirmes that being in the Odaeum a kinde of publick Theatre at Athens his Disciples called him away to Sacrifice and thereupon taking a draught of wine he was immediately seiz'd by a Vertigo of which at the end of five daies he died Others report he died of excessive laughter Seeing an Asseeafigs he bad his woman offer it some wine and thereat fell into such extremity of laughter that it killed him As to his person he was very little saith Laertius as appeareth by his Statue in the Ceramick which is almost hid by the horse that stands next it whence Carneades called him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hid by a horse The posture of this Statue Cicero saith was sitting and stretching forth his hand Pausanias saith it was set up in the Gymnasium called Ptolomaean from the Founder not far from the Forum Laertius reckons foure more of this name The first a Physician to whom Erasistratus acknowledgeth himselfe beholding for many things The Second his sonne Physician to Ptolomy who upon the calumnies of some that maligned him was publickly punished and beaten with rods The third Disciple to Erasistratus The fourth a writer of Georgicks ZENO ZENO was of Tarsis or according to others of Siodn his Father named Dioscorides He was Disciple to Chrysippus and his successor in the School He wrote few bookes but left behinde him many Disciples DIOGENES DIOGENES was born at Seleucia he was sirnamed the Babylonian from the vicinity of that place He was Disciple of Chrysippus and is stiled by Cicero an eminent and serious Stoick Seneca relates that discoursing earnestly concerning anger a foolish young man standing by spat in his face which he took meekly and discreetly saying I am not angry but am in doubt whether I ought to be so or not He was one of the three that was sent from Athens on Embassy to Rome of which already in the life of Carâ—eades who learn'd Dialectick of him Cicero saith he lived to a great age Amongst other things he wrote a treatise of Divinaâ—ion ANTIPATER ANTIPATER was of Sidon Disciple to Diogenes the Babylonianâ— Cicero calls him a most acute person Senecae one of the great authors of the Stoicall Sect. He declined to dispute with Carneades but filled his bookes with confutations of him whence he was called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the clamorous penman He disputed much against those who asserted nothing Besides other things he writ two books of Divination Cicero at the latter end of his second book of Offices saith he then was lately dead at Athens PANAETIUS PANAETIUS was of Rhodes his Ancestours eminent for Martiall affairs and exercises He was Disciple to Antipater intimate friend to â— Scipio Africanus whom he accompanyed in his journey to Alexandria Cicero calls him almost Prince of the Stoicks a person extreamly inigenous and grave worthy the familiarity of Scipio and Laelius He was a great admirer of Plato whom every where he calleth divine most wise most holy the Homer of Philosophers But his opinion of the immortality of the Soul he approved not arguing thus Whatsoever is generated dieth but soules are generated as is manifest from the likenesse of those that are begotten to their Parents not only in body but disposition His other argument was There is nothing that is grieved or pained but is subject to be sick whatsoever is subject to sicknesse is likewise subject to death souls are subject to griefe therefore they are subject to death He alone rejected Astrologicall predictions and receded from the Stoicks as to Divination yet would not positivly affirm there was no such art but only that he doubted it He wrote three books of Offices much commended by Cicero Lipsius conjectures he died old because Cicero affirmeth out of Posidonius that he lived thirty years after he had written his Bookes of offices POSIDONIUS POSIDONIUS was born at Apamea in Syria He lived at Rhodes and there managed civill affairs and taught Philosophy Pompey in his return from Syria went to Rhodes purposely to hear him and coming to his dore forbad the Lictor to knock as was the custome but he saith Pliny to whom the East and West had submitted himselfe submitted his Fases at this Gate But understanding that he was very sick of a great pain in his joynts he resolved only to give him a visit At his first coming and salutation he told him with much respect that he was extreamly sorry he could not hear him Posidonius answer'd You may for no corporeall pain shall make me frustrate the coming of so great a person And thereupon he discoursed seriously and copiously upon this subject as he lay in his bed That nothing is good but what is honest And as often as his pain took him he would say Pain it is to no purpose though thou art troublesome I will never acknowledge thou art ill He made a Sphear wherein were all the conversions of the Sun Moon and Planets exactly as they moved in the Heavens every day and night Of his writings are cited by Cicero five Bookes of Divination as also five bookes of the nature of the Gods Thus far we have a continued succession of the Stoick Philosophers the last School according to Laertius's disposition of thsoe that were descended from Thales FINIS 2  52  3  53  4  54 Pisistratus died having raigned 17 years Arist. Polit. 5. Lxiii  55  2  56  3  57  4  58  Lxiv Miltiades Hâ—l 7. 59  2  60  3  61  4  62  Lxv Â
he wasted prodigally all the means his father left him whereby he was necessitated to betake himselfe to the Warres but therein being unfortunate he set up an Apothecaries shop and Plato keeping open School amongst the rest admitted him And who will credit Timaeus the Tauromenite who writes that being come to riper years he shut up his poor shop and gave over his mercenary profession Who can be perswaded to believe what Aristoxenus the Musician saith in the life of Plato that when he was from home some strangers rose up and set up a School in opposition to him which words some interpret of Aristotle but erroneously for Aristoxenus alwaies commendeth Aristotle yet Suidas as we said averrs the contrary Who does not esteem the Commentaries of Alexinus ridiculous for he bringeth in Alexander as a youth talking with his Father Philip sleghting the instructions of Aristotle but approving those of Nicagoras surnamed Hermes Eâ—bulides manifestly falsifies in the book he wrote against Aristoâ—le For first he bringeth in some dull Poems as written by others upon his marriage and affinity with Hermias then he saith that he injured Philip that he was not present with Plato at his death and that he corrupted his writings As for the accusation of Demochares against Philosophers it is not worth the mention for he asperseth not only Aristotle but all the rest and whosoever looks upon his calumnies will say they are triviall for he affirmes that some Letters of Aristotle's against the Citty of Athens were intercepted and discovered that he betrayed his own Country Stagira to the Macedonians that when Olynthus was taken he informed Philip upon the sale and ransome of the goods and prisoners which were the most wealthy of the Olynthians No lesse foolishly doth Cephisodorus disciple of Isocrates calumniate him as an effeminate person and a glutton with many other aspersions of the same kinde But of all the most foolish is that of Lyco who professed himselfe a Pythagorean for he saith that Aristotle sacrificed to his wâ—fe after she was dead as the Athenians to Ceres and that using to bath himselfe in warme oyle he afterwards sold it and that when he went to Chalcis those who bought his goods found in one bark 75 brasse pots Indeed neer so many were the first calumniators of Aristotle from whom sprung up others some in the same age others little after all Sophists Litigious persons and Orators of whose names and bookes no more remains then of their bodies As for those who flourished after these some repeat only what these had said before and therefore we need not take any notice of them much lesse of those who not lighting upon those books have fram'd some inventions of their own such as they who affirm he had 300 pots for there was not any Author of that time who made mention thereof but Lyco and he saith there were found only 75 pots And not only from computation of time and from the persons who assert these calumnies may any man perceive all they say to be but false but also from this that not any two of them lay the same thing to his charge but every one hath a particular calumny different from the rest But if any one of these had been true Aristotle should have heard of it not only once from them but a thousand times It is manifest therefore the same thing befell Aristotle which happened to many others that as well for the respect and friendship he had with Princes as for the excellency of his Dissertations the envy of the Sophists of that age persecuted him But such as are ingenious ought not to minde calumniâ—tors but those who have praised and imitated him whom they will finde to fall nothing short of the others either for number or worth Hitherto Aristocles CAP. XVI His writings LAertius hath given a large Catalogue of his Writings as a testimony of his excellency in all kinds of learning Their Titles as reduced to their severall heads by Patricius are these LOGICK THe Sophist 1. Of Sciences 1. Sophistick distinctions 4. Of Eristick 2. Eristick solutions 4. Of Genus and Species 1. Of Proprium 1. Epichirematick Commentaries 1. Instances 1. Of those which are said many waies as according to the propositum 1. For Science 1. Distinctions 17. Diaereticks 1. Of interrogation and answer 2. Propositions 1. Eristick Propositions 4. Syllogismes 1. First Analyticks 9. Second Analyticks 2. Of Problems 1. Methodicks 8. Termes Antetopical 7. Syllogismes 2. Syllogistick and Termes 1. Ante-Topicks 1. Topicks to Termes 1. Diaeretick 1. Definitions 13 Argumentations 2. Propositions 1. Epichiretick Theses 25. Methodick 1. Of Speech 1. Categories 1. Of Interpretation 1. In all 123. PHYSICK OF the Soul 1. Of suffering and being passive 1. Of Elements 3. Of motion 1. Theses of the Soul 1. Of Nature 3. Physick 1. Of Animals 9. Anatomy 7. Anatomick selections 1. Of compound Animals 1. Upon not Generating 1. Of Plants 2. Physiognomick 1. Signes of Tempest 1. Physicks by Elements 38. Perspective Problems 2. Of Stone 1. In all 75. ETHICK OF Iustice 4. Of Philosophy 3. Politick 2. Of Riches 1. Of Nobility 1. Of Pleasure 1. Alexander or os Colonies 1. Of a Kingdome 1. Of Education 1. Of Good 3. Oeconomick 1. Of friendship 1. Propositions concerning Vertue 3. Of the passions of anger 1. Ethicks 4. Of the Better 1. Of Elegible and Accident 1. Of Pleasure 1. Of Voluntary 1. Of Faire 1. Amiâ—able Theses 2. Politicks 2. Laws 4. Constitutive Law 1. Politick Auscultation 8. Of Iust 2. Of Consultation 1. Iurisdictions 1. Passions 1. Governments of Cities 158. Proper Democracies Oligarchicks Aristocraticks Tyrannicks In all 217. METAPHYSICK OF Contraries 1. Of Principle 1. Of Idaea 1. In all 3. MATHEMATICK MAthematicks 1. Of Magnitude 1 Of Unity 1. Astronomick 1. Optick 1. Of Musick 1. Mechanicks 1. In all 7. PHILOLOGICK OF Poets 3. Gryllus of Rhetorick Works of Rhetorical art 2. Collection of the Theodectick art 1 Rhetoricall Enthymemes 1. Homericall Difficulties 6. Poeticks 1. Comparisons 1. The Olympionicae 1. Phythionick Musick Pythick 1. Pythionick Elenchs 1. The Dyonysiack Victories 1. Of Tragedies 1. Poems 3. So Hermias to Democritus Elegies In all 27. UNCERTAIN or EXTRAORDINARY NErinthus 1. Menexenus 1. Erotick 1. Symposium 1. Protreptick 1. Of prayer 1. Collection of arts 12. Art 1. Another art 1. Collection 2. Of fabulous living creatures 1. Medicine 2. Memorialls 1. Encyclicks 2. Inordinate 12. Expounded by their Genus 14. Doctrines 1. Proverbs 1. In all 46. EPISTLES TO Philip and Alexander 4. To Antipater 9. To Mentor 1. To Aristo 1. To Olympias 1. To Hephaestion 1. To Themistagoras 1. To Philoxenus 1. In all 19. AGAINST THE ANCIENT PHILOSOPHERS OVt of Plato's Laws 2. Out of Plato's Commonwealth 2. Out of Timaeus and Archytas their writings 1. Problems out of Democritus 2. Against Melissus 1. Against Alcmaeon 1. Against Gorgias 1. Against Xenophanes 1. Against Zeno 1. Of the Philosophy of Archytas 3. Of the