Phalaridis Tyrannis destructa By which reckoning he govern'd 28 Years But St. Hierome out of some unknown Chronologer for that Note is not Extant in the Greek of Eusebius gives a different time of his Reign above 80 Years later than the other Olymp. 53. 3. or as other Copies read it 52. 2. Phalaris Tyrannidem exercuit annos 16. Which is agreeable to Suidas who places him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 about the 52 Olympiad Dissert p. 14. Here the Doctor declares the uncertainty of the time of the beginning continuance and end of Phalaris's Tyranny It begun Olymp. 31. 2. according to Eusebius but according to St. Hierome Olymp. 53. 3. or as other Copies have it 52. 2. so that there is above 80 Years difference It continu'd according to Eusebius 28 Years according to St. Hierome only 16. It ended according to Eusebius Olymp. 37. 2. according to St. Hierome Olymp. 57. 3. Thus the Doctor But the time of Phalaris's Government is still more uncertain because the Copies of Eusebius's Chronicon do here very much vary It seems that the Copy which the Doctor follow'd sets the beginning of it Olymp. 31. 2. But other Copies set it Olymp. 31. 4. Vid. Edit Paris A. D. 1512. Edit Basil. A. D. 1570 and Edit Pontaci A. D. 1604. Likewise his Copy sets the end of his Reign Olymp. 37. 2. but in Scaliger's Edition A. D. 1606. it is set Olymp. 38. 2. and Pontacus's Edition together with that at Paris and that at Basil placeth it Olymp. 39. 3. So as to the later account of the Time of Phalaris's Tyranny which we have in Eusebius's Chronicon and which the Doctor ascribes to St. Hierome his Copy refers it to Olymp. 53. 3. and yet he himself tells us That other Copies place it Olymp. 52. 2. as Scaliger's Edition sets it Olymp. 53. 4. and the Edition at Paris and that at Basil Olymp. 51. 4. From all this I may conclude That it is most-certainly true which the Doctor saith that The time of Phalaris 's Tyranny cannot be precisely determin'd Stesichorus was but 6 Years old at that supposed time of Phalaris's Death Dissert p. 15. By That supposed Time of Phalaris 's Death the Doctor means Olymp. 37. 2. so that the Authors whom the Doctor follow'd make Stesichorus to have been 6 Years old at that time and no more But according to Suidas's account he could not be of the Age of 6 Years at that time for he says expresly That Stesichorus was born in that very Olympiad viz. Olym. 37. And Eusebius seems not to agree very well either with the Doctor 's Authors or with Suidas For he sets Stesichorus's Death Olymp. 55. 1. and we are told by Lucian in his Macrobii That he liv'd to the Age of 85 Years according to which account he must be born Olymp. 33. 4. and consequently not 6 only but 14 or 15 Years old at that suppos'd time of Phalaris's Death And we may here observe That Suidas neither agrees with Eusebius as to the time of Stesichorus's Death nor with Lucian as to the Age to which he liv'd For Suidas makes him to have died Olymp. 56. not Olymp. 55. 1. as Eusebius And whereas Lucian says That he liv'd 85. Years according to Suidas who placeth his Birth Olymp. 37. and his Death Olymp. 56 he did not reach 80. Add hereto That Eusebius makes him to have been famous Olymp 42. 1. at which time he was but 20 Years old if he was that according to Suidas's account of him but it is not probable that he should be so fam'd a Poet at that Age. Tho' they that believe the relation of Pliny Nat. Hist. l. 10. c. 29. That a Nightingal sung in his Mouth when he was an Infant may perhaps not think it strange that he should be so celebrated a Poet so Young But what shall we say to the Marmor Arundel which according to Mr. Selden refers Stesichorus to Olymp. 73. 3. Or to Conon who ap Photium Cod. 186. Sect. 42. makes him Contemporary to Gelon of whom hereafter If these speak of the same Stesichorus that Eusebius and Suidas do there needs no more to manifest the uncertainty of Stesichorus's Age at that suppos'd time of Phalaris's Death i. e. Olymp. 37. 3. Aristotle and Iamblichus make these three to be Contemporaries Dissert p. 15. The Three of whom the Doctor speaks this are Phalaris Stesichorus and Pythagoras And it is true that Aristotle Rhetor. l. 2. c. 21. makes Stesichorus to be Contemporary to Phalaris and Iamblichus in the Life of Pythagoras shews That he and Phalaris were Contemporaries But if Pythagoras liv'd in the Time of Numa he could not be Contemporary to the other Two according to the account that is given of them Now Livy l. 1. n. 18. acquaints us that there were who gave out that Numa was Pythagoras's Scholar and Dionys Halicarnas l. 2. says That there were many that had writ thus I grant that these two celebrated Historians do not approve of that Opinion concerning the Time of Pythagoras's Flourishing but it shews however that it was not certain then at what Time he Flourish'd as it is uncertain still Those that agree that he was not so early as Numa's Time differ much among themselves about the Time when he liv'd Livy says That he was in Italy when Servius Tullius Reign'd at Rome but Cicero Tuscul. Quaest. l. 1. and A. Gellius l. 17. c. 21. say That he came into Italy in the Reign of Tarquinius Superbus According to Pliny Nat. Hist. l. 2. c. 8. he liv'd about Olymp. 42. according to Dionys. Halicarn l. 2. after Olymp. 50. according to Diog. Laertius in Pythagoras about Olymp 60. according to Clemens Alex. Vid. Strom. l. 1. his Olymp. 62. according to Eusebius in Edit Pontaci item Paris and Basil Olymp. 63. 4. in Scaligers's Edition Olymp. 65. 1. Plutarch in Numa bears Testimony to the uncertainty of the Time when Pythagoras flourish'd and also to the incertitude of Chronology in general For having acquainted us that some affirm'd that Pythagoras convers'd with Numa but that others made him almost 5 Generations later he adds That 't is difficult exactly to adjust the Times 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Alaesa was first built by Archonides a Sicilian Olymp. 94. 2. or as others say by the Carthaginians about two Years before Diod. p. 246. So that here are above 120 Years slipt since the latest Period of Phalaris Dissert p. 16. Here we have two that bear Testimony to the uncertainty of the time when this City was built viz. Diodorus Sic. and the Dr. Diodorus having said that Archonides built the City Alesa a little after adds That some say that Alesa was built by the Carthaginians about the time that Amilcas made Peace with Dionysius now the same Diodorus speaks of Amilcas's making Peace with Dionysius Olymp. 93. 4. Thericles the Corinthian Potter was Contemporary with Aristophanes the Comaedian Athenaeus p. 470. Thericles with the Cups that
is That Thucydides doth not there make any mention of Xerxes's Expedition He tells That the Samians who had driven the Sicilians out of Zancle fled from the Medes but we cannot infer hence that the Name of that City was chang'd at the time of Xerxes's Expedition into Greece much less that Thucydides relates it The Conclusion is That Herodotus Thucydides and Diodorus Sic. leave us uncertain as to the Time of Zancle's changing its Name and Pausanias's Testimony alledg'd by the Doctor seems to make the Matter still more uncertain 3dly It is not certain that Chionis was Victor Olymp. 29. tho' Pausanias doth affirm positively that he was for in the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Scaliger we read thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Where we see that it is left doubtful some said that Xenophon others that Chionis was then Victor But of this see more in Part 2d Some Sicilians planted themselves Olymp. 96. 1. upon an Hill call'd Taurus near the Ruins of Naxos and built a new Town there which they call'd Tauromenion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from their Settlement upon Taurus so Diodorus l. 14. p. 282 and 305. About 40 Years after this Olymp. 105. 3. one Andromachus a Tauromenite gather'd all the remnant of the old Naxians that were dispers'd through Sicily and persuaded them to fix there Id. l. 15. p. 411. Dissert p. 31. The Doctor having said That Andromachus persuaded the Naxians to fix there should have added that which follows in Diodorus Sic. viz. That having stay'd a long time there he call'd it Tauromenium 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 If the Doctor had not conceal'd this it would have appear'd how uncertain it is both when and by whom the Name Tauromenium was given and also that Diodorus Sic. bears Testimony to this incertitude since l. 14. he says That the Sicilians that planted themselves there gave it that Name Olymp. 96 1. and l. 15. that Andromachus gave it that Appellation Olymp. 105. 3. I need not trouble my self to enquire how well Diodorus Sic. his Accounts of Tauromenium agree with Strabo's l. 6. who makes Tauromenium to have been a Colony of the Zancleans and Catana of the Naxians whereas Diodorus Sic. his later Account makes Tauromenium to have been inhabited by the Naxians Democritus was too Young to know even Pythagoras 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 says Diogenes in Vit. Democ. and yet Pythagoras surviv'd Phalaris nay depos'd him if we will believe his Scholars Dissert p. 34. Diogenes Laert. in Vit. Democ. seems to say not that Democritus was too Young to know Pythagoras but that he was too Young to be his Hearer But Eusebius makes Democritus to have been famous before Pythagoras's Death setting the Death of Pythagoras Olymp. 70. 4. and Democritus's being famous Olymp. 69. 3. in Edit Pontaci item Paris and Basil Olymp. 70. 1. in Scaliger's Edition The truth is he that enquires into the Birth Age and Death of Democritus will find the time of every one of them to be uncertain As to his Birth Thrasyllas sets it Olymp. 77. 3. but Apollodorus Olymp. 80. as Diogenes Laertius testifies and Suidas takes notice of this difference I know that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Diog. Laert. and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Suidas are rendred Vixit but I translate them Natus fuit because Diog. Laert. adds That he was a Year Elder than Socrates and he from Apollodorus tells us That Socrates was born Olymp. 77. 4. See him in Socrate Whether we translate it one way or the other it is evident that the account of the time either of his Birth or when he liv'd and became famous is various and so uncertain As to his Age. Hipparchus in Diog. Laert. gives him 109 Years Lucian in Longaevis and Phlegon de Mirabilibus Longaevis allow him but 104 Years Diodorus Sic. contracts it to 90 Years Lastly as to his Death Diodorus Sic. ibid. sets it Olymp. 94. 1. but Eusebius refers it to Olymp. 94. 4. Simonides was but Seven Years old or as others say yet unborn when Phalaris was kill'd Dissert p. 34. Here the Doctor plainly bears Testimony to the uncertainty of Simonides's Age acquainting us that some say that he was but Seven Years old others that he was unborn when Phalaris died Whereto I add That it is not certain that he was either but Seven Years old or unborn at the time of Phalaris's Death In Eusebius we have four different accounts of the Time when Simonides flourish'd It is set first Olymp. 28. 4. Secondly Olymp. 55. afterward Olymp. 60. or 34. lastly Olymp. 73. 3. Now if we follow the second of these accounts which makes him to have flourish'd Olymp. 55. 1. in Edit Pontaci item Paris and Basil Olymp. 55. 2. in Scaliger's Edit it is so far from being true that he was unborn or but Seven Years old that he was famous Nine or Ten Years before the time that the Doctor pitcheth upon for Phalaris's being slain viz. Olymp. 57. 3. And according to the first account he was famous above 100 Years sooner Clemens Alex. says That Simonides liv'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and that Archilochus was known after Olymp. 20. Suidas refers him to Olymp. 56. and adds That others place him Olymp. 62. There were more than one of that Name which might be the cause of these so much differing Accounts The Marmor Arund takes notice of two Simonides's both Poets and the one Grandfather to the other The former it makes to have flourish'd Olymp. 72. 4. the latter Olymp. 79. 3. according to Mr. Selden's Computation From Aristophanes the famous Grammarian we know that Euripides's Philoctetes was written Olymp. 87. This also is uncertain for tho' it is true that Aristophanes the Grammarian in his Argument of Euripides's Medea doth say That Medea Philoctetes c. were acted Olymp. 87. yet others name his Phaenissae c. as having been acted then so Scaliger's 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as also Scholiast Aristophan Alcestis the first Tragedy of Thespis was acted about the 61. Olympiad which is more than Twelve Years after Phalaris's Death Marm. Arund Suidas 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dissert p. 40. I shall not enquire whether Alcestis was Thespis's first Play it is not plainly affirm'd either in the Marmor Arund or in Suidas that it was Suidas doth not mention it tho' he names other Plays of his He says of Thespis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but that Alcestis was acted then he hath not a Word The Marm. Arund is so defective that little or nothing can be made of it Part of the Name which is suppos'd to be Alcestis is wanting and likewise part of the Archons Name yea part of the number that should denote the Years so that it is only by uncertain conjecture that some make the number of the Years to be 272 or 273 the Archon to be Alcaeus and the Play Alcestis And whereas the Marm. Arund speaks of a◠He-Goat being propos'd Eusebius refer that to Olymp. 47.
Words are these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so that here is nothing of Phaedrus's being Dead But Athenaeus's meaning might be That he was not born in the Time of Socrates or at least too young to Discourse with him in such sort I cannot but take notice That Macrobius Saturnal l. 1. c. 1. Transcribes some of those Instances which Athenaeus doth but is not severe upon Plato as Athenaeus is Socrate ita Parmenides antiquior ut hujus pueritia vix illius apprehenderit senectutem tamen inter illos de rebus arduis disputatur Paralus vero Xanthippus quibus Pericles pater fuit cum Protagora apud Platonem disserunt secundo adventu Athenis morante quos multo ante infamis illa pestilentia Athenis absumpserat Thus Macrobius They that please may see what Aristides Platonica 2 da hath to the same purpose Among the rest that writ Elegies and Encomiums on Gryllus the Son of Xenophon Hermippus says Socrates was one Laert. in Xenophon Which is a Blunder of no less then Thirty Seven Years the interval between Socrates's Death and the Battle of Mantinea Socrates was put to Death Olymp. 95. 1. when Laches was Magistrate This is universally acknowledg'd See Diodorus Favorinus Diog. Laert. Aristides Marmor Arund Euseb. Argument Isocrat Busir c. Dissert p. 99. I do not find that it is universally acknowledg'd that Socrates died Olymp. 95. 1. Suidas says That he was born Olymp. 77. and liv'd 80 Years according to which account he died Olymp. 97. The Chronicon Alexand. makes him to have died Olymp. 104. 1. about which Time the Battle of Mantinea was according to the Doctor Even some of these whom the Doctor here alledges for his being put to Death Olymp. 95. 1. do not acknowledge it Eusebius in Edit Paris and Basil. with Pontacus's sets his Death Olymp. 95. 3. in Scaliger's Edition Olymp. 95. 2. The Marmor Arund if Mr. Selden computes right sets it Olymp. 94. 4. In Argument Busir ap Isocrat 't is only said that Socrates died Laches being Archon there is no mention of Olymp. 95. 1. The same may be said of Aristides There are then only two of all these whom the Doctor names that say plainly that he died Olymp. 95. 1. As to Hermippus he doth not say that Socrates writ an Encomium of Gryllus being Dead he only says in general that he writ an Encomium of him which he might do while Gryllus was living We have it from good Hands Diog. Laert. in Socrate Argum. Isocrat Busir that Euripides in a Play of his call'd Palamedes using these Words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. design'd to lash the Athenians for Socrates's Murther and the whole Theatre perceiving it burst into Tears Socrates therefore died before Euripides But 't is well known that the later died Six Years before Laches was Archon Dissert p. 100. The Doctor might well infer from that which Diogenes Laert. affirms touching Euripides lashing the Athenians for the Murther of Socrates that if he really did so Socrates was Murther'd before the Death of Euripides And yet Philochorus in the same Diogenes Laertius says the quite contrary That Euripides died before Socrates Must we not then conclude that there is no certain Constat whether of them died sooner But the Doctor says That Euripides died Six Years before Laches was Archon and so Six Years before Socrates who died in the Time of Laches's Magistracy To which I answer First The uncertainty of the Time of Socrates's Death hath been already manifested Secondly It is not certain that Euripides died Six Years before Laches was Archon If Laches was Archon Olymp. 95. 1. as the Doctor makes him to have been according to Eusebius Euripides died above Six Years before his Magistracy for he sets his Death Olymp. 92. 4. and the Marmor Arund according to Mr. Selden's computation agrees with Eusebius But the Chronicon Alex. differs from them both placing Euripides's Death Olymp. 94. 3. not 6 but only Two Years before Laches's being Archon supposing that to have been Olymp. 95. 1. Diodorus Sic. l. 13. saying That Apollodorus sets the Death of Euripides Olymp. 93. 3. Six Years before Laches's being Archon and withal That others make him to have dy'd a little before those Times plainly bears Testimony to the uncertainty of the time of his Death Palamedes was acted Olymp. 91. 1. AElian Var. Hist. 2. 1. Schol. Aristoph p. 401. which is Sixteen Years before Laches Dissert p. 100. If Palamedes was acted after the Murther of Socrates then it was not acted Olymp. 91. 1. unless we will say that Socrates dy'd before the time But the Doctor says That we have it from good Hands that Euripides in his Palamedes design'd to lash the Athenians for Socrates 's Murther and then it must be acted after it And it cannot be prov'd either from AElian or Schol. Aristoph that Palamedes was acted Olymp. 91. 1. AElian speaks of Palamedes not l. 2. c. 1. but l. 2. c. 8. and as to the time of its being acted his Words are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of which nothing can be made and the Latin hath Olympiade prima supra octogesimam The Scholiasts Words are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But how it can be concluded from them that Palamedes was acted Olymp. 91. 1. I know not So that until it can be made to appear from other Authors when it was acted it must remain uncertain According to most Chronologers Euripides was about Seventy and by the most favourable account above Sixty when Archelaus came to the Crown Dissert p. 131. Here the Doctor plainly declares the uncertainty of Euripides's Age when Archelaus came to the Crown since according to him most Chronologers say That he was about Seventy but others only that he was above Sixty Further we have no certainty as to the Time of Archelaus's coming to the Crown Athenaeus l. 5. p. 217. the very Place alledg'd by the Doctor in his Margin seems to say plainly That it was in the Third Year of the Peloponnesian War but Eusebius will have it to have been sooner viz. at the beginning of that War And the time of the beginning of that War is not exactly agreed and setled Diodorus Sic. l. 12. and the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 refer it to Olympiad 87. 2. but Eusebius to Olymp. 87. 1. and not Eusebius only but also Thucydides who writes the History of that War for he makes it to have begun when â—ythodorus was Archon now he was Archon Olymp. 87. 1. according to Diodorus Sic. l. 12. and the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pliny l. 30. c. 1. says it begun a trecentesimo nostrae urbis anno but circa annum fere trecentesimum vicesimum tertium says A. Gellius l. 17. c. 21. Now if we follow either Eusebius's or Athenaeus's account of the Time of Archelaus's coming to the Crown Euripides could not be at that time either about Seventy or above Sixty Years of Age. According to Diog. Laertius in Socrate
some Years before Solon's Death Dr. Bentley I dare say will grant me That he was turn'd out in or rather before Phalaris's Reign he will not I hope deny me because he has own'd it in Terms p. 41. of his Dissertation Mr. Boyle p. 167. Whether Dr. Bentley will grant that Pisistratus siez'd the Government some Years before Solon's Death I know not but I am sure that they who are mov'd with the Authority of Phanias ap Plut. Vit. Sol. will not grant it for he says expresly That the interval of Time between Pisistratus's invading the Government and the Death of Solon was less than two Years 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and therefore according to him the one was not some Years before the other It is true as was lately observ'd that according to Heraclides ap Plut. the one was some Years perhaps many Years before the other but this difference between Heraclides and Phanias only shews how uncertain it is how long it was before Solon's Death that Pisistratus's Tyranny began Phanias ap Plut. says That Pisistratus siez'd the Government when Comias was Archon and that Solon dy'd when his immediate Successor Hegestratus was Archon but it is not agreed in what Year either of them was Archon Some refer Comias's Archonship to Olymp. 53. 3. others to Olymp. 50. 1. in the Marm. Arund it is refer'd to Olymp. 54. 4. if the Learned Men who have taken pains to illustrate that Marble interpret it rightly as it also makes Pisistratus to have begun his Tyranny then But the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 refers the Government of the Pisistratidae or the Sons of Pisistratus to Olymp. 50. 1. as both Tatianus Orat. con Graecos and Clemens Alex. Stro. 1. say That the Time of their Government was about the 50 th Olympiad So that if these be in the right the Time of the Fathers siezing the Government must be set much higher For Iustin l. 2. c. 8. says That Pisistratus Reign'd 33 Years with whom agrees Heraclides de Politiis and also Aristotle de Republica l. 5. c. 12. if I dot not mistake his meaning when he says That in Thirty three Years Pisistratus Reign'd only Seventeen Years i. e. if I understand him rightly tho' there were Thirty three Years in all between Pisistratus's invading the Tyranny and his Death yet he enjoy'd it only Seventeen Years the other Sixteen Years he liv'd in Exile After all I freely confess That if it could be made out that the Word Pisistratidae is not always used strictly as it denotes the Sons of Pisistratus but sometimes in a more comprehensive Sense as including Pisistratus and his Sons too this Argument from the Authority of Tatianus and Clemens Alex. would lose all its force But till that be made appear it plainly Demonstrates how little certainty there is of the Time when Pisistratus first seiz'd the Government Nor is it more certain when he was turn'd out of it Dr. Bentley Diss. p. 41. says It was in the Days of Phalaris but Mr. Boyle will have it rather to have been before Phalaris's Reign both which accounts leave us uncertain when he was driven out unless it could be certainly known what time Phalaris Reign'd Besides Herodotus l. 1. c. 5. informs us That Pisistratus was driven out twice and as often recover'd the Tyranny therefore we should have been inform'd of whether turning out they speak otherwise we cannot so well judge of the Time of it It is not to be doubted but the Alcestis of Phrynichus that Phrynichus who was Thespis's Scholar was acted before Olymp. 67. Mr. Boyle p. 168. But craving this Honourable Persons leave I cannot but doubt of it for as I know not that any Author affirms it so he doth not declare what ground he hath for such assurance I know that Suidas affirms That Phrynichus won the Prize in that very Olympiad and mentions Alcestis as one of his Plays but it cannot be infer'd hence That Alcestis was acted before that Olympiad Yea if I should say that it was one of those Plays of his that were acted then and by which he won the Prize or that it was acted after that Time it would not be easie to disprove it Tragedy is of ancient Vsage in this Country nor did it take its Rise from Thespis and Phrynichus as some imagine but if you consider the thing well you find that it is extreamly ancient Plato in Minoe Mr. Boyle p. 170 171. Here Plato bears Testimony to the uncertainty of the Antiquity of Tragedy in telling us his own Opinion viz. That it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 very ancient and yet withal that others were of a contrary Opinion that it took its Rise from Thespis Besides he doth not tell us how ancient he believ'd Tragedy to be I know Mr. Boyle says That he i. e. Plato thought it almost as ancient as Minos and that the reason of his introducing the Reflection shews it but if we consult Plato we shall find that the reason of his introducing it shews no such thing Whether Plato thought Tragedy more ancient than Minos or only as ancient or but almost as ancient cannot be determin'd from the reason of his introducing the Reflection Mr. Boyle knows not what to make of a Passage of Plutarch in his Life of Solon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Thespis now beginning to move or set on foot the Play called Tragedy but says he he could not mean That there was no such thing as Tragedy of any kind before the Days of Thespis and be consistent with himself for he expresly tells us in another place the Life of Theseus that the acting of Tragedies was one part of the funeral Solemnities which the Athenians perform'd at the Tomb of Theseus Thus Mr. Boyle p. 176. But I do not find any such thing in the Life of Theseus Indeed in the Life of Cimon there is a Passage which some Ignorant or less considering Persons may possibly construe to such a Sense but Mr. Boyle could not I add that if there be any such Passage in Plutarch it doth not contradict this That Tragedy took its Rise from Thespis for Theseus had no Tomb at Athens before the Days of Thespis So that notwithstanding any thing that Mr. Boyle alledges Plutarch by those Words in the Life of Solon might mean That there was no such thing as Tragedy of any kind before the Days of Thespis To proceed Mr. Boyle p. 171. brings Diog. Laertius as a Witness That Tragedy is more ancient than Thespis but on the other side p. 177. he speaks of Authors in the Plural Number who make Thespis the Inventer of it and p. 176. he calls them old Writers so that he acknowledges that there are ancient Writers for the one Opinion as well as the other I know that he would persuade us That when these Authors make Thespis the Inventer of Tragedy their meaning is That he was the Improver of it or that he was the Inventer of that sort
had their Appellation from him come above 120 Years after Phalaris's Death Dissert p. 19. Athenaeus's Words are these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which seem to leave it uncertain whether Thericles liv'd at the same time that Aristophanes did or only in the Times near it But let it be granted that he liv'd at the same time that Aristophanes did still it will not be certain that he was above 120 Years after the Death of Phalaris It must be confess'd that if that was certainly true which Suidas hath concerning Aristophanes that he liv'd Olymp. 114. this would make something towards the Proof of this That Thericles was above 120 Years after Phalaris's Death But the Authority of Diodorus Sic. doth utterly destroy the certainty of this account of Suidas for l. 12. he affirms That Aristophanes was about the Age of Pericles and withal that Pericles died Olymp. 87. 4. so that according to him Aristophanes liv'd before Olymp. 87. 4. Yea Eusebius makes him not only to have liv'd but also to have been famous Olymp. 85. 4. and so Thericles if he was Aristophanes's Contemporary as the Doctor says that he was might be famous for his Cups then or before Whence it follows that it cannot be certain That Thericles was above 120 Years after the Death of Phalaris for from Olymp. 57. 3. to Olymp. 85. 4. are not 120 Years Thucydides l. 6. p. 414. relates That at the Time of Xerxes's Expedition into Greece which was Olymp. 73. Anaxilaus King of Rhegium besieg'd Zancle and took it and call'd it Messana from the Peleponnesian City of that Name the Place of his Nativity The same says Herodotus l. 6. c. 23. and agreeably to this Narrative Diodorus sets down the Death of Anaxilaus Olymp. 76. 1. when he had Reign'd 18 Years Pausanias Messen. p. 134. placeth this same Anaxilaus of Rhegium about 180 Years higher than they do telling That he assisted the Refugees of Messana in Peleponnesus after the second War with the Spartans to take Zancle in Sicily which thereupon was call'd Messana Olymp. 29. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The time of the Messenian War agrees with that Computation and the ancient Catalogue of the Olympionicae puts Chionis's Victory at that very Year 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dissert p. 24 25 26. Here are many Things very uncertain as 1st It is uncertain whether Xerxes's Expedition was Olymp. 73. for according to Eusebius Xerxes begun his Reign Olymp. 73. 3. and if he came not to the Empire till that time it is manifest as by the account given by others so by the relation of Herodotus that his Expedition into Greece was not Olymp. 73. For Herodotus says l. 7. c. 7. That in the second Year after the Death of his Father Darius he made an Expedition into Egypt to reduce it and c. 20. that having done this he spent Four Years compleat in Preparation for the War against Greece and set forward in the Fifth Year I know that there are considerable Writers who do not agree with Herodotus as to the Time that was taken up in Preparation against Greece Diodorus Sic. l. 11. making it but Three Years Iustin. l. 2. c. 10. affirming That he spent Five Years in it which number of Years Iulian Orat. 1. in laudem Constantii doubles making it to have taken up Ten Years but this only renders it more uncertain in what Year Xerxes's Expedition into Greece was To return to Eusebius he sets his Reduction of Egypt Olymp. 74. 1. and his making a Bridge over the Hellespont Olymp. 74. 4. Vid. Edit Paris Basil. Pontaci Diodorus Sic. l. 11. refers the Expedition into Greece to the Year following Olymp. 75. 1. with whom Dionys. Halicarn l. 9. agrees as the Marmor Arund according to Mr. Selden and others agrees with Eusebius for they make the An. 217. to which the Marble refers Xerxes's making a Bridge over the Hellespont to answer to Olymp. 74. 4. Clemens Alex. Stro. 1. sets this Expedition 297 Years after the first Olympiad as Thucydides l. 1. placeth it in the Tenth Year after the Battle at Marathon so that if that Battle was Olymp. 72. 1. as Eusebius sets it Xerxes's coming against Greece was Olymp. 74. 3. But Plato de Legibus l. 3. says That it was but almost Ten Years between Datis's coming into Greece and the Fight at Salamis It must then be confess'd that it is not certain in what Year Xerxes's Expedition into Greece was nor yet that it was Olymp. 73. as the Doctor sets it unless Olymp. 73. be the Printers Mistake 2dly It is uncertain when Anaxilaus Reign'd and when Zancle was call'd Messana For the Doctor acquaints us That Pausanias is so far from agreeing with Herodotus Thucydides and Diodorus Sic. about the time of Anaxilaus and of his changing the Name of that City that their Accounts differ about 180 Years It may perhaps be said That if the three other eminent Historians plainly agree upon the Time Pausanias's Dissent will not make it less certain for we may conclude that it was his Mistake The Question then will be whether Herodotus Thucydides and Diodorus Sic. do plainly agree about the Time And I shall grant that Herodotus and Diodorus Sic. seem to agree as to the time of Anaxilas or Anaxilaus or Anaxileos for the Name is written thus differently Herodotus l. 6. c. 23 24. signifying that he Reign'd in the Time of Darius the Father of Xerxes and Diodorus Sic. saying That having Reign'd 18 Years he died Olymp. 76. 1. But of his changing the Name of Zancle into Messana Diodorus in that place hath not a Word and tho' lib. 4. he doth mention the change of the Name yet there he doth not tell us either when or by whom it was changed Herodotus lib. 7. c. 164. speaks of the change of the Name from Zancle to Messene as Eustathius upon Dionys. Alex. also doth alledging Herodotus but they do not mention Anaxilaus as the Author of the Change nor inform us when that Change was made I grant that Herodotus speaks of it upon occasion of his mentioning one Cadmus who liv'd at the time of Xerxes's Expedition against Greece but he does not say that the Change was made then yea he seems to signifie that Zancle had chang'd its Name before His Words are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which had chang'd its Name to Messene To come to Thucydides Herodotus and he seem not to agree very well in that which they say of the King of Rhegium By the persuasion of Herodotus's Anaxileos the Samians possess'd themselves of Zancle but Thucydides's Anaxilas cast the Samians out of it not long after that the Samians had driven the Sicilians out of it so that perhaps it may be question'd whether those two Historians speak of one and the same Person Besides tho' the Doctor says That Thucydides l. 6. p. 414. relates that at the time of Xerxes 's Expedition into Greece Anaxilaus took Zancle and call'd it Messana yet the truth
And as to the first of these the Scholiast upon Pindar he Pyth. 1. places the beginning of Hiero's Reign 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Olymp. 85. not 75. Possibly some bold Critick will tell us That 85 is by the Scribes or Printers mistake put for 75 but still it will not well agree with that which the same Scholiast hath Pyth. 3. where he makes Hiero to begin his Reign 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 As to the time of Themistocles's Banishment I have not found that the Scholiast gives any account of it Diodorus Sic. is the next and it is true that he speaks of Hiero's beginning his Reign in Olymp. 75. 3. and of Themistocles's Banishment in Olymp. â—â—â— 2. but we may observe That he speaks of Themistocles's Death in the same Year viz. Olymp. 77. 2. whereas it is clear that his Banishment and Death could not be in the same Year and therefore from Diodorus's mentioning Themistocles's Exile in that Year we cannot conclude that it was his meaning that it was the very Year of his being Banish'd In that Year Diodorus gives an account as of Themistocles's Banishment so also of his going to Argos his Flight from thence to Admetus and afterward from Admetus into Asia his Journey from thence to the Persian Court and what befel him there and lastly of his Death Not that all these happen'd within the space of one Year for there was a considerable time from his Banishment to his coming to the Persian Court and a considerable time again from his coming thither to his Death but the Historian thought it best to dispatch all that concern'd Themistocles's Fall at once Eusebius's Chronicon only remains in which it is left uncertain whether the beginning of Hiero's Reign is to be refer'd to Olymp. 75. or Olymp. 76. We read first Hieron Syracusis regnat Olymp. 75. 3. and presently after Hieron post Gelonem Sycucusis Tyrannidem exercet Olymp. 76. 2. As to Themistocles's Banishment it is not mention'd in the Chronicon tho' his Flight to the Persians is And if it were true that according to Diodorus Sic. his Banishment was Olymp. 77. 2. it must be confess'd that Eusebius differs very much from him who sets his Flight to the Persians Olymp. 76. 4. whereas his Banishment was a considerable time before it as we have seen from Diodorus Sic. already and it may appear further from Thucydides l. 1. who informs us That his living some time at Argos and going into other Parts of Peloponnesus his flying thence to Corcyra and thence to King Admetus and from him to Asia did all intervene between his Banishment and Flight into Persia. By this which hath been said it may be judg'd whether we have the express Verdict and Declaration of most of the Chronologers that Hiero begun his Reign Olymp. 75. 3. and that Themistocles was Banish'd Olymp. 77. 2. Secondly The Doctor says That it is agreed among all that Gelo 's Victory over the Carthaginians in Sicily was got the very same day with the Battle at Salamis But tho' he saith among all he only names Herodotus and Diodorus Sic. And Herodotus l. 7. c. 166. only says That it was reported 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. They say that Gelo 's Victory over the Carthaginians was the same Day with the Victory over the Persian at Salamis so he And as to Diodorus Sic. he is so far from agreeing to this that he says That Gelo overcame on the same Day that Leonides fought Xerxes at Thermopylae 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so Diodorus l. 11. Concerning this Gelo I may observe That the accounts of the Time both of the beginning and continuance of his Government are so various that we cannot think it strange that it is so uncertain when his Successor Hiero came to the Crown As to the beginning of Gelo's Government not to take notice of the Marmor Arund according to Pausanias Eliac Post. he begun to Reign Olymp. 72. 2. with whom Dionys. Halicarn partly agrees who l. 7. speaking of an Embassy which was in that Year says That Gelo was then newly come to the Government but Eusebius sets the beginning of his Reign Olymp. 73. 2. and according to Diodorus Sic. it begun Olymp. 73. 4. As to the continuance of it Scaliger's Greek Eusebius says That he Reign'd 17 Years and yet the Time of Hiero's succeeding him is there set so that he Reign'd but Twelve Years The Latin Eusebius according to one account gives him Twelve Years according to another only Nine Aristotle in Polit. l. 5. c. 12. allows him Seven and something more Gelo says he Reign'd Seven Years and dy'd in his Eighth Year Finally Diodorus Sic. l. 11. allows him only Seven Years Diodorus who hath brought all his History into the method of Annals places the Death of Pausanias Olymp. 75. 4. and the Exile of Themistocles Six Years after Olymp. 77. 2. Plutarch in Themist p. 224. makes Themistocles after his Banishment to have private Dealings with Pausanias Dissert p. 87 88. If the Doctor have rightly represented these two Eminent Historiographers we have here a clear confirmation of that which I have lately inculcated viz. the Incertitude of the Time of Themistocles's Banishment for it was before the Death of Pausanias according to the one Six Years after it according to the other And it will not be easie to reconcile them unless we shall say That Themistocles had Dealings with Pausanias when Pausanias had been dead Six Years Athenaeus l. 11. p. 505. among other Errors in Chronology for which he chastises Plato brings this in for one that he introduces Phaedrus Discoursing with Socrates who must certainly be dead before the Days of that Philosopher Dissert p. 93. If Athenaeus do justly chastise Plato for Errors in Chronology this alone may seem to be a sufficient Demonstration of the Incertitude of it For if Plato could and did err in the Chronology of his own Time or that which was near it how can we give Credit to the account that we meet with in any Heathen Chronographers of things done long before their Time Now the Instances which Athenaeus 9. gives of Plato's erring are in Things of his own Time or nor much remote from it as any one that will consult him may see both in the Place alledg'd by the Doctor viz. l. 11. p. 505. and in l. 5. p. 217. where Athenaeus says 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 We may content our selves with the Instance produc'd here by the Doctor of Phaedrus and Socrates That Socrates was in Plato's Time will be readily granted and if Phaedrus was Plato's Scholar as some Learned Men make him to have been he was in his i. e. Plato's Time also But it will be said This cannot be for the Doctor informs us That Phaedrus was certainly Dead before the Days of Socrates To which I answer that it is true That the Doctor tells us so but Athenaeus says no such thing Athenaeus's
Euripides was born Olymp. 75. 1. and according to Eusebius's account Archelaus came to the Throne Olymp. 87. 1. viz. Forty Eight Years after so that as Clemens Alex. Strom. 1. says That there were Forty Eight Years between Xerxes's Passage into Greece at which time Euripides is said to have been born and the beginning of the Peloponnesian War so by this account Euripides was only the Age of Forty Eight Years at the beginning of Archelaus's Reign According to Athenaeus's account Archelaus succeeded in the Kingdom when Epameinon was Archon i. e. according to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Olymp. 87. 4. Epaminondas who was Archon Olymp. 87. 4. according to Diodorus Sic. l. 12. is believ'd to be the same with Athenaeus's Epameinon Now from Olymp. 75. 1. the Year of Euripides's Birth to Olymp. 87. 4. are no more than Fifty One Years which are far short of about Seventy or above Sixty Notwithstanding that the Doctor says That according to the most Chronologers Euripides was about Seventy when Archelaus came to the Crown yet after all in his Margin he only names Diod. Sicul. alios apud Athen. l. 5. p. 217. But he had done well if he had directed us to the place in Diod. Sicul. where he gives this account of Euripides's Age for my part I despair of finding any such And as to Athenaeus in all that p. 217. to which we are refer'd there is no mention of Euripides I grant that there is an account of the time of Archelaus's succeeding Perdiccas but it is such as makes not for the Doctor 's purpose but wholly against him as I have just now declar'd And now that I name Perdiccas what can make more toward the manifesting the uncertainty of Chronology than that which Athenaeus in that very place observes touching the wonderful Discord that there is about the number of Years that Perdiccas Reign'd Nicomedes Acanthius says he gives him Forty One Years Theopompus Thirty Five Anaximenes Forcy Hieronymus Twenty Eight Marsyas and Philochorus Twenty Three Thus Athenaeus The accounts of the Time that Perdiccas Reign'd being so various it must be more difficult to assign the Time of Archelaus's succeeding him I know that a Learned Critick takes upon him to correct Athenaeus making him to set the Time of Archelaus's coming to the Crown much later than it is in our Copies But if this was so that he set it later it would make the difference greater between Eusebius and him Withal I am not satisfy'd with this Criticks Correction or Alteration for First I find that the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 agrees exactly with our Copies of Athenaeus placing the beginning of Archelaus's Reign in the 3d Year of the Peloponnesian War when Epamelnon was Archon Secondly He doth not produce the Authority of any approved Copies to warrant his Alteration Thirdly He doth not alledge any ancient Historian that says expresly that Archelaus begun his Reign that Year which he pitcheth upon viz. Olymp. 93. 3. He only infers this from the Words of Diodorus Sic. l. 14. whom he makes to say That Archelaus dy'd Olymp. 95. 2. having Reign'd Seven Years and if both these be true that he Reign'd Seven Years and no more and dy'd Olymp. 95. 2. the beginning of his Reign must be placed Olymp. 93. 3. But not to take notice that this Critick mistakes the Year of Archelaus's Death for Diodorus Sic. sets it not Olymp. 95. 2. but 95. 1. the same Diodorus l. 13. relates That Archelaus King of the Macedonians besieg'd Pydna Olymp. 92. 3. therefore he was King then and how long before that time we know not It appears then that there is no agreement either as to the time how long Perdiccas Reign'd or as to the time when Archelaus succeeded or as to Euripides's Age at the time of his succeeding but they are all uncertain Planudes lived about 2000 Years after AEsop. Dissert p. 149. The Doctor doth well in using this cautious Expression About 2000 Years for unless we could be assur'd both when AEsop and when Planudes lived we cannot be certain how long the one lived after the other The Doctor in his Margin from good Authority without doubt makes Planudes to have lived A. D. 1370. but others refer him to A. D. 1340. and have perhaps as good Authority for so doing And as we are thus uncertain how long Planudes lived after Christ so there is no certainty how long AEsop was before him Suidas says he was before Pythagoras but Heraclides de Politiis makes him to have been famous at the Time when Pythagoras was Plutarch in Vit. Solon in septem Sapientum convivio relates That he was very much in the favour of King Croesus as also what pass'd between Solon and him when Solon had incurr'd Croesus's Displeasure but Eusebius will have him to have been slain before Croesus's coming to the Monarchy For according to Eusebius Croesus came to the Crown Olymp. 54. 2. and AEsop was slain either Olymp. 54. 1. for so Scaliger's Edition hath it and that account seems to be follow'd by Suidas or Olymp. 53. 4. as it is in other Editions And as to the Birth of Christ he sets it Olymp. 194. 3. so that according to him AEsop dy'd not much above 560 Years before it But if we follow Plutarch we must place AEsop's Death later viz. in the time of Croesus's Reign and then there were not so many Years between it and our Savious's Birth and if we follow those Eminent Chronologers that will not allow that there were above 490 Years between the first Year of Cyrus and our Saviour's Death we must still diminish the number of Years from AEsop's Death to the Birth of our Saviour and say That there were not compleat 500 Years from the one to the other By this it appears That there is not any certainty how long AEsop lived before Christ any more than there is how long Planudes lived after him but tho' we take the extream accounts and suppose the one to have lived somewhat more than 560 Years before our Lord's Nativity and the other 1370 Years after yet the whole time will fall considerably short of 2000 Years A VIEW OF THE EXAMINATION OF THE DISSERTATION UPON THE EPISTLES OF Phalaris Themistocles c. PART II. ZAleucus we are sure was a Pythagorean Porph. in vita Pyth. p. 15. and Diod. Sic. l. 12. p. 84. Thus Mr. Boyle p. 53. If this be certain we must confess that the Time both of the Master's and of the Scholar's flourishing is most uncertain The Scholar Zaleucus is by Eusebius in Chron. refer'd to Olymp. 29. yet the Master Pythagoras is both by the same Eusebius and by several other Authors placed much later And there are others who make Zaleucus very ancient as well as Eusebius doth particularly Clemens Alex. Strom. 1. who writes That Zaleucus was reported to be the first Lawgiver and that he receiv'd his Laws from Minerva the later of which he confirms by the