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
then he if by himself it must be either to better or to worse both which are absurd From all these it followeth that God is incorporeal which may likewise be proved thus If God were a body he should consist of matter and form for every body consisteth of matter and its form joynes to that matter which is made like unto the Idaea's aâ—d in an ineffable manner participant of them But that should consist of matter and form is absurd for then he could not bee either simple or a Principle therefore he is incorporeall Again if he be a body he consisteth of matter and consequently is either fire or air or earth or water or somthing made out of these but none of these is principle by it selfe besides he must then bee later then matter as consisting of it which being absurd it is necessary that God be incorporeall Moreover if he were a body it would follow that he must be generable corruptible mutable which to affirm of God were intollerable CHAP. XI Of Qualities THat Qualities are incorporeall may be proved thus every body is a Subject quality is not a Subject but an accident therefore quality is not a body Again no body is in a subject every quality is in a Subject therefore quality is not a body Again quality is contrary to quality but no body as no body is contrary to a body therefore qualities are not bodies To omit that it is most agreeable to reason that as matter is void of quality so quality should be void of matter aud if quality be void of matter it must likewise be void of corporeity for if qualities were bodies two or three bodies might be together in the same place which is absurd Qualities being incorporeal the maker of them must be incorporeall also moreover there can be no efficients but in corporeals for bodies naturally suffer and are in mutation not continuing alwaies in manner nor persevering in the same state For whensoever they seem to effect any thing we shall find that they suffer it long before Whence as there is something which wholly suffereth so must there bee somthing which wholly acteth but such only is incorporeall Thus much concerning principles as far they relate to Theology we proceed next to Physicall contemplations CHAP XII Of the Causes Generation Elements and Order of the World FOrasmuch as of sensible and singular things there must of necessity be some examplars viz. Idea's of which are Sciences and Definitions for besides all particular men we conceive a man in our mind and besides all particular horses a horse and likewise besides all living creatures a living creature immortall and unbegotten as from one seale are made many prints and of one man there may be many Pictures of all which the Idaea it self is cause that they are such as it self is it is necessary that this Universe the fairest Fabrick of Gods making be so made by God that in the making thereof he look'd upon an Idaea as its exemplar whilst by a wonderfull providence and most excellent design God applyed himselfe to the building of this frame because he was good God therefore made it of all matter which being before the generation of Heaven disorderly scattered he from a deformed confusion reduced to beautifull order and adorned every way the parts thereof with sit numbers and figures untill at last he so distinguish'd them as now they are Fire and Earth to Air and Water of which there were then only the footsteps and a certain aptitude to admit the power of Elements and so without any reason or order they justled matter and were justled again by matter Thus God framed the World of four entire Elements of whole Fire and Earth Water and Air omitting no power or part of any of them For he saith it must be corporeall and generated and subject to touch and sight but without Fire and Earth nothing can be touched or seen Wherefore justly he framed it of Fire and Earth and because it was requisite there should be some chain to unite these there is a Divine chain which according to the proportion of reason maketh one of it self and those things which are united to it and the World could not be plain for then one medium would have served but sphaericall therefore there was need of two mediums to the constitution thereof Betwixt Fire and Earth by the prescription of this reason is interposed Air and Water that as Fire is to Air so is Air to Water and as Air is to Water so is Water to Earth and again as Earth is to Water so is Water to Air and as Water is to Air so is Air to Fire There being nothing remaining beyond the World God made the World one conformable to this Idaea which is one He likewise made it such as that is uncapable of sicknesse or age For besides that nothing can befall it whereby it may be corrupted it is so sufficient to it self that it hath not need of any exteriour thing He bestowed upon it a Sphaericall figure as being the fairest the most capacious and aptest to motion and because it needeth not hearing or sight or the rest of the senses he gave it not any Organs of sense He denied all kinds of motion to be competible to it except the circular which is proper to the mind and to Wisdom CHAP XIII Of the convenience of figures with the Elements and World THe world thus consisteth of two parts a Soul and a Body this visible and corruptible that neither subject to sight nor touch The power and constitution of each is different the body consisteth of Fire Earth Water and Aire which foure the maker of the Universe there being untill then nothing more confused then the Elements formed in a Pyramid a Cube an Octaedron and an Icosaedron but chiefly in a Dodecaedron Matter as far as it put on the figure of a Pyramid became Fire and mounted upward For that figure is the most apt to cut and to divide as consisting of fewest triangles and therefore is the rarest of all figures As far as it is an Octaedron it took the qualitie of Aire VVhere it took that of an Icosaedron it became Water The figure of a Cube Earth as being the most solid and staple of all the Elements The figure of a Dodecaedron he used in the fabrick of the Universe Superficies come nigher the nature of Principles then all these for they are before solids Of its nature the two Parents as it were are two Triangles most fair and rectangular one a Scalenum the other an Isosceles a Scalenum is a triangle having one right angle the other of two thirds the last of one third A Scalenum therefore is the element of a Pyramid and an Octaedron and an Icosaedron A Pyramid consisteth of foure triangles having all sides equall to one another each whereof is divided as we said into six scalenous triangles The Octaedors consist of eight like sides whereof each is
come mixt bodies differing according to the various proportion of the temperament and as they are compounded of the Elements so they resolve into the same All these mixt bodies consist of all the Elements of Earth for every things participates of the nature of that thing wherein it is produced of water because every mixt thing must be concrete and terminated which properties Water best affordeth to Earth of Air and Fire because every perfect mixt body is made by temperament of contraries such is Air to Earth Fire to Water Again the nature of all mixt bodies as well animate as inanimate as to mixture is the same but that the animate consist of all the Element is manifest in that they are nourished by them The causes and common principles of mixt bodies are three materiall fomall efficient The Materiall is the power to be and not to be by which elementary things are generated and corrupted The formall is the reason of the essence of every thing the universall efficient is the circular motion of Heaven not onely as being eternall continuall and before generation but chiefly because it bringeth nigh to us and carrieth far from us that which hath the generative power of all things that is the Sun and the other Stars which by their accession and recession are the causes of generation and corruption All these are so disposed according to the order of Nature that because no naturall being can be permanent in the same individuall state they may be at lest preserved by a continuall succession of many individuum's of the same species Whence the naturall cause of generation is onely conservation of the species CHAP. XI Of imperfect mixt bodies MIxt bodies are twofold imperfect and perfect Meteors are imperfect mixt bodies produced according to Nature but after a lesse orderly and constant manner The generall matter thereof are the Elements the efficient the celestiall bodies which act upon inferiours by a kind of coherence Heaven is highest next Heaven the Element of fire next fire air under air water and earth Clouds are not generated in the sphear of fire nor in the region of the air partly by reason of the heat which is there partly because of the motion of the Heavens which carrieth along with it the element of fire and the upper region of the air by which motion heat is produced in inferiour bodies for the air being carried along by the Heaven is heated by that motion and by the proximity of the Sunne and of the Element of fire Flames that appear in the upper part of the air are made thus The Sun by his warmth extracteth a kind of breath out of the Earth which if hot and dry is called exhalation and if hot and moist vapour Exhalation ascends higher as being higher and being got into the upper region of the air is there enkindled by the motion of the air and proximity of the fire Hence come those they call fire-brands goates falling-starres and the like Hence are also Phasmes such as are called gulses chasmes bloody colours and the like the exhalation being variously colour'd by reflection of the light but chiefly seeming purple which colour ariseth from the mixture of fire and white The efficient cause of Comets are the Sun and stars the materiall an exhalation hot dry condensed and combustible so as it burnes not much nor is soon extinguished It is called a Comet or airy starre when it is a like on every side a pogoneia or bearded starre when it hath a long train That it consists of fire is manifest because at the same time there is commonly great winde and drought It appears seldome and then single and beyond the Tropicks because starres especially the Sun dissipate the matter whereof it consists The Galaxie is not the light of many starrs together as Anaxagoras held but an exhalation hot and dry kindled by the motion of many great starrs which are in that part where the Galaxie appeareth We come next to those meteors which are in the middle and lower region of the air When the Sun and other Starres draw up vapours out of waterish places into the middle region of the air they are there kept so long untill they are condensed by the cold of that place into drops of water which if they come down very small are called misling if greater rain This thick vapour which is seen suspended in the aire and changeth from air to water is a Cloud Mist is the superfluity of a cloud condensed into water Vapour attracted by a small heat not much above the earth and descending more condensed by the nocturnall cold becometh either dew or frost Frost when it congealeth before it resolves into water Dew when it turnes into water so as the warmth cannot dry it up nor the cold freez it Snow is a congealed cloud rain dew frost and snow differ almost only in bignesse and smalnesse Haile though it be of the same nature as ice yet is seldome produced in winter as being caused by Antiperistasis As the air above the earth condensed becommeth vapour and vapour by cold becommeth water so doth it also in the caverns and receptacles of the earth by a continuall mutation first it turnes into little drops then those little into greater Hence comes all springs and heads of rivers abundantly flowing out at one part of the earth Hence great Rivers and Fountains commonly flow from great hills which have greatest caverns The parts of the earth are in continuall mutation sometimes humid sometimes dry sometimes fertile sometimes desert by new eruptions or defections of rivers or accesse or recesse of the sea according to certain periods of time Thus have the parts of the earth their youth and age as well as plants and living creatures by the heat and conversion of the Sun Time and the World are eternall but Nilus and Tanais were not alwaies for those places whence they first issued were once dry grounds The proper place of water is the concave superficies of the aire This place the Sea compassing the earth possesseth for the swift and more rare water is drawn upwards by the heat of the Sun the salt more thick and terrene setleth downwards For this reason all waters tend to the sea as to their proper place yet hereby the Sea is not enlarged for the sun draweth out of it by reason of its expansion as great a quantity of water as it receiveth from rivers The sea is as the world eternall the saltnesse thereof proceedeth from admixtion of some terrene adust exhalation From the top of the Sea is drawn up a fresh vapour from the bottom heated by the Sun an exhalation which passeth through the Sea and commeth up with the vapour but falling back into the Sea bringeth that saltnesse with it as water passed often through ashes Winds are produced by the Sun and Starrs of a hot dry
for the Stoiâ—ks take away intellectuall substances affirming all things that are to be comprehended by sense onely differences are not subsistent A solid body according to Apollodorus is divisible three waies into length breadth and depth A superficies is the terme of a body or that which hath onely length and breadth but no depth thus Possidonius A line is the terme of a Superficies or a length without breadth that which hath length only A point is the terme of a line or thâ— least mark A body is divisible into infinite yet it consisteth not of infinite bodies CHAP. III. Of Principles THe place concerning bodies is divided into two degrees into those which produce and those which are produced the first Principles the second Elements â—Principles and Elements differ Principles are ingenerate incorruptible Elements shall perish by conflagration Moreover Principles are bodies and void of form Elements have forme There are two principles of all things the Agent and the Patient The Patient is a substance void of quality called Matter the Agent is the reason which is 〈◊〉 the Matter God Matter is sluggish a thing ready for all things but will cease if none move it The Causâ— that is the Reason â—formeth mâ—tter and moldeth it which way he pleaseth out of which he produceth various woâ—ks There must therefore be something out of which a thing is made and also by which it â—s made This is the Cause that Matter The Cause or active Reason is God In the Agent there is power in the Patient a certain matter or capacity and in both both for matter it selfe could not 〈◊〉 if it were not kept together by a power nor that power without some matter for there is nothing which is not compelled to be somewhere Both 〈◊〉 God and the World the Artist and his work they compâ—ehend within this terme Nature as if nature were God mixed through the World Sometimes they call that naturâ— which containeth the World sometimes that which generateth and produceth things upon the earth The Agent is as we said called the Cause A Cause according to Zeno is that by which there is an effect which is not a Cause 30 or as 〈◊〉 the reason of the effect or as Pâ—ssâ—donius the first Author of a thing A Cause is a body a not Cause a Categorem It is impossible that the cause being assigned the effect should not be present which is to be understood thus The Soule is the â—ause through which we live Prudence the Cause by which we are wise It is impossible that he who hath a Soule should not live or he who hath Prudence should not be wise CHAP. IV. Of Matter THe substance of all qualitative beings is first Matter according to Zeno and â—hrysippuâ— in his first of Physicks Matter is that of which every thing is made it hath two names 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Substance and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Matter Substance is of all things in generall Matter of particulars Universall matter is according to Zeno wholly eternall not admitting as Chrysippus saith encâ—â—ase or deâ—rease Particular matter admitteth augmentation and diminution for it remaineth not alwaies the same but is separated and mixed so that according to Chrysippus its parts perish by separation and exist by mutuall mistion But those who call fire aire water and earth Matter assert not a thing void of forme but of a body Matter is a body and finite Possidonius saith that the substance and matter of the Universe is void of quality and form in as much as it hath not a certain figure and quality in it selfe but it is alwaies seen in some figure and quality But the substantiall nature of the Universe differs from matter intentionally only Matter is passible for if it were immutable things could not be generated of it Hence it followeth that it is divisible into infinite yet it selfe as Chrysippus saith it not infinite for nothing that is divisible is infinite but matter is continuous Through this matter Zeno affirmeth that the reason of the World which some call Fate is diffused as feed CHAP. V. Of the World OF this matter was made the World The World hath severall appellations 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the World 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the â—ll 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Whole 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 World is taken three waies First for God himselfe who is properly qualified with all Essence incorruptible and ingenerate who framed the Universe after a certain period of time who resolved all nature into himselfe and again generated it out of himselfe Secondly for the starry Ornament and thirdly that which consists of both The All 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is one way taken as Apollodorus saith for the World and another way for the System of the World and the vacuity beyond it The World is finito the vâ—â—uity infinite Thus likewise they distinguish betwixt 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 includeth also an infinite vacuity in which the world is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies the world without that vacuity which neither is increased nor diminished but its parts are sometimes extended sometimes contracted It began from the earth as its center for the center is the beginning of a Circle The world is that which is properly qualited with the essence of all things or as Chrysippus and ` Possidonius define it a System of Heaven and Earth and of the natures therein contained or a System of God and Men and of all things that were made for them The world was made by God for if saith Chrysippus there be any thing which produceth such things as Man though indued with reason cannot produce that doubtlesse is greater and stronger and wiser then man But a Man cannot make the Celestiall things therefore that which made them transcendeth man in Art Counsell Prudence and Power and what can that be but God The World was made for those animate â—ssences which have the use of Reason these are the Gods and men then whom nothing is better All things of which it consisteth and which it produceth within it selfe are accommodated to the use of Man The World was made in this manner God in the beginning being alone by himself converted all substance which according to Zeno was fire first into air then into Water And as in the Plant the seed is contained so God who is the prolisick reason of the World left such a â—eed in the humidity as might afford easie and apt matter for the generation of those things that were to be produced Zeno addeth that one part tending downward was condensed into Earth another part remained partly water and partly being exhal'd air of a particle of which air flashed out fire Cleanthes describeth it in this
motions one with the World from East to VVest the other contrary through the Signes That the Sun is greater then the Earth appeareth in that it enlightneth not only all the Earth but Heaven also Again the shadow of the Earth being conicall argues the Sun to be greater then the Earth Again it is visible every where by reason of its magnitude The Sun is Eclipsed by interposition of the Moon betwixt us and that part of the Sun which is toward us as Zeno in his book of the Universe For meeting the Sun and coming under him she seemeth to darken his light and afterwards to disclose it again as will appear in a basin of water CHAP. X. of the Moon IN the lowest part of the aether is the Moon The Moon according to Zeno is an intellectuall wise igneous Star consisting of artificiall fire Cleanthes saith she is of a fiery substance and 〈◊〉 a dirty figure Lipsius for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dirty substitutes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is if of the same figure as a nat or cap. But perhaps there needs no alteration for they affirmed as she is nearer to the Earth then the Sun so is she of a more terrene Nature Possidonius and most of the Stoicks affirm she is mixt of fire and air by reason of which diversity of substance she is not subject to corruption To this mixtion of air in her composition they impute likewise those spots which are seen in her face She is greater then the Earth as well as the Sun is and Spnaericall as the Sun yet apeareth in various figures the full-Moon first quarter New-Moon last quarter Chrysippus saith she is a fire collected after the Sun from the exhalation of fresh Waters for which cause she is likewise nourished by them as Possidonius also asserteth Her motion is spiral Zeno saith she hath two motions as the one with the World from East to West the other contrary through the signes The period of her course is called a Mont◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is likewise that part of the Moon which appeareth to us for one halfe of her is alwaies turned towards us The Moon is Eclipsed when she falleth into the shadow of the earth For although every month she is opposite to the Sun yet she is then only eclipsed when she is fullest by reason of the obliquity of her course whereby her latitude is varied towards the north and south When therefore she happens to be neer the Ecliptick and opposite to the Sun she is eclipsed which happens as Possidonius saith in Libra and Scorpio and in Aries and Taurus Thus Laertius but Possidonius seemes to have been ignorant of or not to have considered the motion of the Nodes of the Moon commonly called Caput Cauda draconis whereby the restitution or period of Eclipses is made in ninteen yeeres 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which was the ground of Meton's period and of the Cycle of the Moon in the Julian Calender CHAP. XI Of Aire NExt the sphear of the Moon saith Chrysippus is the element of Aires interposed betwixt the Sea and Heaven sphericall in figure consecrated by the name of Iuno Sister and Wife of Iupiter who is the Aether betwixt these there is a neer conjunction The Aire is divided into three regions the highest the middle and the lowest The highest region is the hottest and dryest and rarest by reason of the vicinity of the eternall fires The lowest and neerest to the earth is thick and caliginous because it receiveth terrene exhalations The middle region is more temperate then the higher and lower as to siccity and rarity but colder then both This wherein the clouds and winds are generated is according to Possidonius forty furlongs above the earth Next to it is the pure and liquid aire of untroubled light From the turbulent part to the Moon is twenty hundred thousand furlongs To the aire is attributed the primitive cold As concerning things in the Aire Winter is the rigour of the aire next above the earth occasion'd by the remotenesse of the Sun and is the coldest of the seasons of the year Spring is the season succeeding Winter preceding Summer and is a good temperature of the air occasion'd by approach of the Sun Summer is that season of the year when the aire above the earth is warmed by the Suns accesse towards the north Autumne that season of the year which followeth Summer and precedeth Winter is made by the return of the Sun from us Winter commeth when the aire is predominant in thicknesse and is forced upward Summer when the fire is predominant and driven downward Winde is a fluxion of the aire having severall names from the variety of places as for example That which bloweth from the darknesse of the night and Sun-setting is called Zephyrus from the East and Sun-rising Apeliotes from the North Boreas from the South Lybs It is occasion'd by the Sun's extenuation of the vapours The Rainbow is a reflection of the Sun's beams from a humid cloude or as Possidonius an apparition of part of the Sun or Moon in a cloud dewy concave and continuous to the phantasy as in a looking-glasse the representation of a Circle Comets are fires subsisting of thick air carried up to the aetheriall place 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is an accension of suddain fire swiftly carried through the air appearing length-waies Rain is a conversion of clouds into water when either from the Earth or from the Sea by the power of the Sun the humour is drawn upwards ineffectually Frost is congealed rain Hail is a concrete cloud dispersed by the winde Snow is humidity from a concrete cloud according to Possidonius Lightning is an accension of clouds which are driven by the winds upon one another and broken according to Zeno. Thunder is a noise occasion'd by the collision of clouds Thunderbolt is a strong inflammation rushing upon the earth with great violence when the clouds by impulsion of the winds are broken against one another Some define it a conversion of fiery inflamed aire violently rushing down Typho is a violent Thunder thrust down with a great force of winde or a smoaking winde which rusheth down upon the breaking of the cloud Prester is a cloud inclosed with fire by winde in the concavities of the earth There are many kinds thereof Earthquakes Câ—asma's and the like CHAP. XII Of Water and Earth THat part of the world saith Chrysippus which is the most solid support of nature as bones are in a living creature is called the earth About this the water is evenly diffused The earth hath some uneven parts arising out of the water called Islands or if of large extent Continents from the ignorance of man who knowes not that even those are Islands in respect of
and modest concession the occasion related thus by Laertius and Valerius Maximus Some young men of Ionia having bought a draught of the Milesian fishermen when the net was drawn up there was found in it a Tripod a golden Delphick Table of great weight Hereupon arose a dispute those affirming they had bargain'd onely for the fish the others that they bought the draught at a venturs by reason of the strangenesse of the case and value of the Tripod it was delivered to the City Miletus The Milesians sent to the Oracle at Delphi about it and received this answer Com'st thou Milesian to consult my shrine The Tripod to the wisest I assigne Hereupon the Milesians by agreement presented it to Thales he sent it to Bias Bias to Pittacus he to another till it past through all the seven coming at last to Solon who affirming God to be the wisest sent it back to Delphi giving him at once the title and reward of greatest wisdom But Callimachus in his Iambicks continueth Laertius relates it otherwise that Bathycles an Arcadian left a cup with order that it should be given to the wisest whereupon it was presented to Thales and past about in course till it came to him again who then dedicated it to Apollo Didymaeus with these verses according to Callimachus Thales to him that rules th' Ionian State This twice obtained prize doth consecrate In prose thus Thales the Milesian Son of Examius to Delphian Apollo of the Grecians offers this twice received prize of eminence He that carried the Cup from one to another was Thyrion Son to Bathycles whither allude these Verses of Phoenix Colophonius Thales whose birth his Country blest Esteem'd of all men the best Was of the golden Cup possest Eudoxius of Gnidus and Euanthes of Miletus report that a friend of Croesus having receiv'd from him a golden Cup to be given to the wisest of the Grecians deliver'd it to Thales and that at last it came to Solon who sending to the Phythian Oracle to know who was the wisest was answer'd Myson whom Eudoxius substitutes for Cleobulus Plato for Periander the Oracle concerning Myson was this Octoean Myson I declare Wiser then those that wisest are He that was sent upon the enquiry was Anacharsis Daedacus the Platonist and Clearchus affirm that the Cup was sent by Croesus to Pittacus and so carried about Andron in Tripode which seems to have been a discourse wholy upon this subject and is likewise cited by Clemens Alexandrinus to prove that Thales and the other six flourish'd about the fiftieth Olympiad writes that the Argiâ—es proposed this Trypod as a prize to the wisest of the Greeks and that it was adjudged to Aristodemus a Spartan who resigned it to Chilon Aristodemus is mentioned by Alchaeus This speech we to Aristodemus owe Money 's the man none 's poor and honest too There are who report that a ship richly laden sent by Periandeâ— to Thrasibulus Tyrant of Miletus was cast away in the Coan Sea and theâ— ripod taken up by some Fishermen Phanodius affirms it was lost in the Athenian Sea and afterwards brought to the City and upon consultdtion voted to be sent to Bias. Others say this Tripod was made by Vulcan who gave it to Pelops as his wives Portion from him it came to Menelaus and afterwards being taken away with Hellen by Paris was by the Lacedaemonian Hellen thrown into the Sea calling to mind an old Oracle that it would prove in time to come the ground of many contentions After this some Lebeaians fishing thereabouts drew it up and quarrelling with the fishermen about it it was brought to Coos but the controversie not decided the businesse was told to those of Miletus which is the chief City of that Country they sent sent a messenger to demand it and finding themselves slighted made war upon the Coans in which many being slain on both sides the Oracle declared that the Tripod should be given to the wisest whereupon both parties with joint consent presented it to Thales The Coans being willing to grant that to a private person for which they before contested with all the Milesians who dedicated it to Apollo Didymaâ—us the effect of the Oracle to the Coans was this This Contestation shall continue till The golden Tripod into th' Ocean cast By Vulcan you present to one whose skill Extends to things to come present and past To the Milesians Comest thou Milesian to consult my shrine as before Thusâ—aertius â—aertius Plutarch addes that Thales said Bias was wiser then himself whereupon it past to him from him to another as wiser so passing in a circle from one to another it came at last to Thales the second time Finally it was sent from Miletus to Thebes and dedicated to Ismenian Apollo Theophrastus saith it was first sent to Bias at Priene then by Bias to Thales at Miletus so passing through all it came again to Bias and finally was sent to Delphi This is most generally reported saving instead of a Tripod some say it was a Cup sent from Croesus others that it was left there by Bathycles Thus was the Priority of Thales confirmed by the Oracle for which reason he is by Cicero and Strabo stiled Prince of the wise men to whom the rest yielded the preheminence CHAP. VI. Of his Philosophy THales saith Laertius is by many affirm'd to be the first that made disquisitions upon Nature Cicero who taught the Greek Philosophy first to speak Latine acknowledges Thales to be the first Author thereof Strabo saith that he first of the Grecians made enquiry into naturall Causes and the Maâ—hematicks Plutarch calls him Inventor of Philosophy Iustine Martyr The most antient of Philosophers Tertullian first of Naturall Philosophers Lactantius the first that made enquiry after Naturall Causes Sect. 1. That Water is the Principle of all things IN his disquisition of the naturall Causes of things he conceived Water to be the first Principle of all naturall Bodies whereof they consist and into which they resolve His reasons as deliver'd by Plutarch and repeated by Stobaeus these First because naturall Seed the Principle of all living creatures is humid whence it is probable that humidity is also the principle of all other things Secondly because all kinds of Plants are nourish'd by moisture wanting which they wither and decay Thirdly because Fire even the Sun it self and the stars are nourish'd and maintain'd by vapours proceeding from Water and consequently the whole world consists of the same Whence Homer supposing all things to be engendred of water saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Ocean whence all things receive their birth In pursuit as Aristotle saith of this opinion he assign'd water the lowest place holding according to Seneca that the whole Earth â—â—oats and is carried above the water whether that we call the Ocean or great Sea or any simple
moisture of another nature or a moist element By this water saith he the earth is sustained as a great ship which presseth upon the water that bears it up because the most weighty part of the world cannot be upheld by the Air which is subtle and light Thus is Aristotle to be explain'd who saith Thales held that the Earth being capable of swimming resteth as wood or the like now of such things none suim upon Air but upon Water Upon this ground it was that he held Water as Laertius saith to be the cause of Earthquakes Thus Seneca He holds that the Globe of the Earth is upheld by water and carried as a bark and floateth by the mobility thereof at such time as it is said to quake One of his reasons alledged by Seneca is this because in all extraordinary motions thereof some new Fountains commonly issued which if they incline to one side and shew their keel asidelong gather water which if it chance the burden they bear be overweighty raiseth it selfe higher towards the right or left side From the testimony of Homer by which Thales according to Plutaâ—ch and Iustine Martyr defended this Tenet that water is the principle of all things it is manifest it was deliver'd though imperfectly by other Grecians before Thales Plutarch else where producing this Authority of Hesiod 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Of all things Chaos was the first addeth the greater part of antient Philosophers called water Chaos 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from dissusion The Scholiast of Apollonius upon these words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Earth of slime was made affirms citing Zeno that the Chaos whereof all things were made according to Hesiod was water which setling became slime the slime condens'd into solid Earth to which adde this testimony of Orpheus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Of Water slime was made This opinion they borrow'd from the Phoenicians with whom the Grecians had a very antient correspondence Linus came from thence Orpheus had his learning from thence as Thales is conceived to have done likewise which appears clearly in Numenius an antient Philosopher who cites the very words of Moses for this opinion The spirit of God moved on the face of the waters There is an eminent place in Eusebius to prove this the divinity of the Phoenicians asserts the principle of this world to be a dark spirituall air or the spirit of dark air and Chaos troubled and involv'd in darknesse that this was infinite and a long time had no bound but say they the spirit being moved with the love of his own principles there was made a mixtion which nexure was called love this was the beginning of the production of all things but the spirit it self had no generation and from this connexion of the spirit was begotten 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which some call slime others corruption of watery mistion and of this was made the seed of all creatures and the generation of all things Nor were the Indians ignorant of this as Megasthenes delivers their opinion They are of the same mind in many things with the Grecians as that the world had beginning and shall have end that God its Maker and Governour goes quite through it that all things had different beginnings but that of which the world was made was water The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Principle because with Philosophers it includes the efficient cause and consequently understood singly excludes the rest that being the most noble hath given occasion to some to mistake Thales as is by acknowledging no other principle he consequently accounted Water to be God but that Thales understands by Principle only the material Cause we may easily gather from Plutarch who condemneth Thales for confounding a Principle with an Element and for holding them to be both one Wheras saith he there is great difference Elements are coÌ„pounded Principles are neither compounded nor are any compleat substance truly water air earth fire we term elements but principles we call other natures in this respect that there is nothing precedent â—to them wherof they are engendred For otherwise if they were not the first they would not be Principles but that rather should be so termed whereof they were made Now certaine things there are precedent whereof Earth and water are compounded viz. The first informe matter and the forme it selfe and privation Thales therefore erres affirming Water to be both Element and principle of all things Thus we see by Plutarch that the objection can onely be as to the name not to reason of the name for the distinction of principle and element being not used in that time Thales by principle meant nothing of the efficient cause which is most certaine from Aristotle Thales saith he affirmes water to be the principle wherefore he held the earth to be above the water perhaps hee conceived so because he saw that the nutriment of all things is humid that heat it selfe consists thereof and that every creature lives thereby He held that of which things are made to be the principls of all things for these reasons he was of this opinion as also because the seeds of all things are of a humid nature and water is the principle of things humid Sect. 2. Of God TErtullian saith that Thales to Croesus enquiring concerning the Deity gave no certaine accompt but desired severall times of deliberating to no effect He seemes to reflect upon the same or a like story to that which is reported of Simonides and Hieron But what the opinion of Thales was concerning God may bee gather'd from two Apothegmes cited by Laertius repeated with this glosse by Clemens Alexandrinus And what are not those the sayings of Thales that are derived from hence That God is glorifi'd for ever and ever and he openly confesseth that he is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hee who knoweth Hearts For Thales being demanded what God was that saith he which hath neither beginning nor end Another asking of a man might doe ill and conceale it from God How saith he when a man that thinkes it cannot Men ought to think sayes Cicero in his name that the Gods see all things He acknowledged God the first of beings and Author of the world asserting according to Laertius that the most antient of all things is God â—or he is not begotten that the fairest is the world for it is his work This is confirmed by Cicero Thales the Mileâ—ian saith he who first enquired into these things said that water was the principle of things but that God was that mind which formed all things of water If Gods may be without sence and mind why did he joyn the mind to waterâ— why water to the mind if the mind can subsist without a body Thus Cicero who understands Thales to intend the materiall principle to be co-eternall with the efficient which Thales himselfe seems not to mean when
deserve the titles of wise-men if we who said to Creet to informe our selves of matters there and into Aegypt to conser with Priests and Astronomers should not likewise make a journey to you Solon also if you think fit will come You who affect home seldome passe into Ionia nor care to enioy the society of strangers we who write nothing spend our time in travelling through Greece and Asia Thales to Solon IF you leave Athens you may in my opinion settle your selfe with those you take along with you at Miletus for here is nothing to trouble you If you dislike that we Milesians are governed by a â—yrant for you are averse to all Monarchs even elective yet may you please your selfe in the society and conversation of me your friend Bias likewise hath sent to invite you to Priene if to abide at Priene please you better we will also come and dwell there with you CHAP. XII His Auditors and Schollers THe first eminent person of those who heard Thales and profess'd his Philosophy was Anaximander sonne of â—raxides a Milesian who flourish'd in the time of Polycrates Tyrant of Samos Next is Anaximenes a Milesian also sonne of Euristratus who according to Eusebius flourished in the second yeare of the 56 th Olympiad He was Scholler to Anaximander and Parmenides But that he heard Thales also he acknowledgeth in an Epistle to Pythagoras We may as in that Epistle Anaximenes doth amongst the disciples of Thales reckon Pythagoras the Samian institutor of the Italick Sect who being from his youth particularly addicted to investigation of Religious mysteries addrest his first journey to Thales at Miletus as to one that best could further his designe being according to Iamblichus not fully 18. yeares old which if we follow the accompt of Euseb. us for his birth the fourth yeare of the seventieth Olympiad and that of Sosicrates for his age eighty yeares for the rest the farther they exceed that time are so much the more incapable of reconcilement will fall about the second yeare of the fifty fourth Olympiad which is the 82. of Thales From Thales he received the Rudiments of that Excellence which he afterwards attained This is acknowledged by Iamblichus Thales saith he entertaind him very kindly admiring the difference between him and other youths which exceeded the fame hee had receiv'd of him After that he had instructed him as well as he was able in the Mathematicks alledging for excuse his old age and infirmity be advis'd him to goe to Aegypt and to converse with the Memphian Priests especially those of Iupiter of whom he himselfe had in his Travells learned those things for which by many he was esteem'd wises and again among other things Thales chiefely advis'd him to husband his time well in respect whereof he aâ—tain'd from wine and flesh onely eating such things as are light of digestion by which meanes he procured shortnesse of sleepe wakefulnesse purity of minde and constant health of body CHAP. XIII of his Death THales having now liv'd to a great age being full of honour and wisedome died in the first yeare of the fifty eight Olympiad when according to Pausanias Erxyclides was Archon as he was beholding the Olympick games opprest with heate thirst and the burden of his yeares which amounted to ninty two Laertius under-reckons him to have lived but eighty seven yeares having before acknowledged his birth to have beene in the first of the 35. Olympiad Petavius over-reckons who makes him live to the end of the 58. which could not be because he died spectator of the Olympick Games Lucian and Sincellus more who say he lived 100 yeares Sosicrates comes nearest to the truth who allowes him to have lived 90. yeares and to have died in the 58. Olympiad for from the first of the 58. is 23. entyre Olympiads The manner of his death gave Laertius occasion to favour him with this Epigram Vewing th' Olympick games Elean Jove Thou didst wise Thales from that his race remove Nigher thy selfe and 't was well done now old He could not well from Earth the Starrs behold He was buried according to his owne appointment in a poore obscure part of the Milesian field where he presag'd that in future times their Forum should be upon his Tomb this distich Narrow the Tomb the fame then heaven more wide Of wisest Thales whom this earth doth hide There was also a statue erected in honour of him bearing this subscription Milesian Thales this doth represent Who all in wise Astrology outwent There were five more of this name mentioned by Demetrius the Magnesiâ—a an orator of Calatis an affected imitator A Painter of Sicyonia of a great spirit The third very antient contemporary with Hesiod Homer and Lycurgus The fourth mentioned by Duris the fift of later times by Dionysius in Criticis Laertius names Pherecydes as a detractour from Thales the Philosopher SOLON CHAP. I. Solon his Parents Country and Condition PHilocles cited by Didymus affirmes that Solon's father was named Euphorion but by the unanimous consent of all other writers he was called Execestides a person though of small fortune and account among the Citizens yet of the most noble family in Athens descended from Codrus Solon deriving himselfe from Neleus son of Codrus and from Neptune His Mother neer of kin to the Mother of Pisistratus his Parents had another Son named Dropides Archon the year after Solon from him was Plato descended Solon was born according to Laâ—rtius at Salamis for which reason he desired at his death that his body might be carried thither but from his Parents and the place of his residence he was sirnamed Athenian His father by munificence and liberality brought his estate so low as to want even necessaries Solon ashamed to receive from any being of a house which used to maintain others betook himselfe to Merchandise others say he travelled rather to improve his knowledge and experience for he was a professed lover of wisdome and even to his last used to say I grow old learning riches he esteemed not much but to grow rich like him who abounds In heaps of gold as in rank corn his grounds In Mules and Horses whilst his numerous wealth Made pleasing by uninterrupted health If to compleat these joyes he be possest Of wife and children he is truly blest And elsewhere Riches I wish not riches that are plac'd In unjust means for vengeance comes at last SOLON Many unjust grow rich and pious poor We would not change our virtue for their store For constant virtue is a solid base Riches from man to man uncertain pass Aristotle ranks Solon amongst the inferior sort of Citizens whiâ—h saith he is manifest from his Elegies meaning perhaps some of these which Plutarch cites Lucian saith he was extreamly poor Palaeologus that he neither had nor valued wealth CHAP. II. How by his means the Athenians took Salamis
the great Ocean The earth is in the midst being in the nature of a Center one and finite sphericall in figure The water is likewise sphericall having the same center with the earth The earth hath five Zones one northern beyond the Artick Circle uninhabitable through extremity of cold another temperate a third not habitable by reason of extream heat whence it is called Torrid a fourth temperate a fift southern not habitable by reason of cold But Possidonius conceiveth the Climate under the Equinoctiall to be temperate for saith he under the Tropicks where the Sun dwells longest the places are habitable and why not then under the Aequator Again the night being equall to the day affordeth leisure enough for refrigeration which is assisted likewise by showers and winds The generation of the world began from the earth as from the Center for the Center is the beginning of a sphear Plants have not any soul at all but spring up of themselves as it were by chance CHAP. XIII Of Mistion and Temperament CHrysippus asserteth a Spirit moving it selfe to it selfe and from it selfe or a spirit moving it selfe backwards and forwards He calleth it spirit as being moved aire answering in some proportion to the Aether so that it both meets in one and this motion is only according to those who think that all nature receiveth mutation solution composition and the like Composition mixtion temperament and confusion are different Composition is a contract of bodies whose superficies are contiguous to one another as in heaps of grain or sand Mixtion is of two or more bodies whose qualities are diffused through the whole as we see in fire and red hot iron and in our own â—oules for every where there is a diffusion through entire bodies so as one body doth passe through another Temperament is of two or more humid bodies whose qualities are diffused through the whole Mixtion is also common to drie bodies as to fire and iron to the soul and the body temperament only to the humid For qualities appear from the temperament of severall humid things as of wine honey water vinegar and the like that in such temperament the qualities of the things tempered remain is evident from this that oftentimes they are by some art separated from one another For if we put a spunge dipped in oyle into wine mixt with water the water separating it selfe from the wine will gather to the spunge Lastly confusion is the transmutation of two or more qualities into another of a different nature as in composition of Unguents and Medicines CHAP. XIV Of Generation and Corruption POssidonius asserteth foure species of generation and corruption of things that are into things that are for that of things that are not and of things that are not he rejected conceiving there is none such Of transmutations into things that are one is by division another by alteration a third by confusion a fourth of the whole by resolution Of these alteration concerneth the substance the other three are of the qualities which inhere in the substance According to these are generations made But the substance it selfe is neither augmented nor diminished by apposition or detraction but is only altered as happeneth to numbers and measures But in things properly qualited as Dion and Theon there is augmentation and diminution wherefore the quality of each remaineth from the generation untill the corruption thereof in plants and living creatures which are capable of corruption In things properly qualited he asserted two susceptible parts one according to the substance another according to the quality This as we have often said admitteth augmentation and diminution Neither is the thing properly qualited and the substance out of which it is all one nor divers but only not all one because the substance is a part and occupateth the same place but things that are divers have distinct places and are not consider'd in part That as to the thing properly qualited and as to the substance it is not the same Mnesarchus affirmeth to be evident because it is necessary that to the same happen the same things For if for example a man having formed a horse should break it and make a dog we would presently beholding it say this was not before but it is now So are the qualited and the substance divers Neither is it likely that we should all be the same as to substance for it often happens that the substance is preexistent to the generation as the substance of Socrates was before Socrates was and after the corruption and death of Socrates the substance remaineth though Socrates himselfe be not CHAP. XV. Of Motion MOtion according to Chrysippus is a mutation of parts either in whole or in parts or an excession out of place either in whole or in part or a change according to place or figure Iaculation is a vehement motion from on high Rest is partly a privation of motion in a body partly the same habit of a body before and after There are two first motions right and oblique from the mixtion of these ariseth great variety of motions Zeno affirmes the parts of all things consisting by themselves are moved towards the midle of the whole and likewise of the World it self wherefore it is rightly said that all parts of the World tend to the midle thereof and principally the heavy and that there is the same cause of the rest of the World in the infinite vacuity and of the rest of the Earth in the World in the midst of which it is constituted as a point All bodies have not gravity as air and fire yet these in some manner tend to the midst of the World CHAP. XVI Of Living Creatures OF animate Creatures there are two kinds for Plants as wee said have no souls some are appetitive and concupiscible others rationall The Soul according to Zeno Antipater and Pâ—ssidonius is a hot spirit for hereby we breath and move Cleanthes saith we live so long as that heat holdeth Every soul hath sense and is a spirit innate in us wherefore it is a body and shall not continue after death yet is it by Nature corruptible notwithstanding that it is a part of the Soul of the Universe which is incorruptible Yet some hold that the lesse firm Souls such as are those of the unlearned perish at the dissolution of the body the stronger as those of the wise and virtuous shall last even untill the generall conflagration The Soul hath eight parts whereof five are the Sences the sixth generative the seventh Vocall the eighth Hegemonick The Supream or Hegemonick part of the Soul is that which maketh Phantasies assent sense appetite This Supreme part is called Ratiocination it is seated in the Heart some say in the Head as in its sphear From the Hegemonick issue and are extended to the body the seven other parts which it guideth by their proper Organs as a
just nor dispraise nor honour nor punishment but this is false therefore all things are not done by Fate But Chrysippus not allowing this necessity yet maintaining that nothing happened without precedent causes distinguisheth thus Of Causes saith he some are perfect and principall others assistant and immediate When we say all things are done by Fate from antecedent causes we understand not the perfect and principall causes but the assistent and immediate He therefore answers the former objection thus If all things are done by Fate it followeth that all things be done by antecedent causes but not by the principall and perfect but by the assistent and immediate which though they be not in our power it followeth not that the appetite likewise is in our power This Argument therefore concludes well against those who joyne necessity with Fate but nothing against those who assert antecedent causes not perfect nor principall What assent is and how it commeth to be in our power we have already shewn in the Logick Hence it followeth that notwithstanding that all things are necessarily coacted and connected by Fate with a certain principall reason yet saith Chrysippus our mindes are so obnoxious to Fate as their property and quality is For if at the first by nature they were formed soundly and profitably all that power which commeth upon them extrinsecally from Fate they transmit easily and inoffensively but if they are harsh ignorant and rude not supported by any helps of good art although they are pressed by little or no conflict of fatall incommodity yet by their own unluckinesse and voluntary impulsion they rush into continuall sins and errours which thing maketh that this naturall and necessary consequence of things which is called Fate be by this reason For it is as it were fatall and consequent in its kinde that wicked minds should not be without sins and errours an instance whereof he bringeth not unapposite As saith he a rolling stone if you turn it down a steep place you first give it the cause and beginning of its precipitation but afterwards it rolleth headlong of it selfe not that you make it do so any longer but because its figure and the volubility of its form is such In like manner order and reason and necessitie moveth the beginnings of causes but the impetuousnesse of our thoughts and mindes and our own actions are guided by every mans private will and minde Thence continueth he the Pythagoreans say Men of their own accord their ills procure As conceiving that all ills proceed from themselves and according to their own appetites when they sin and offend and according to their own minde and signe For this reason he denyeth that we ought to suffer and hear such wicked or idle or noxious or impudent persons who being taken in some fault and wickednesse have recourse to the necessity of Fate as to a Sanctuary affirming that they have done wickedly is not to be attributed to their temerity but to Fate CHAP. XX. Of Not-Bodies or Incorporealls and first of Dicibles HItherto of Bodies we come next to the second place of Physick concerning Not-Bodies or Incorporealls Incorporeall is that which may be but is not contained in bodies Of those there are four kinds Dicibles Vacuum place and Time Dicible is that which consisteth according to rationall phantasy a mean betwixt notion and thing Of this already in the Logick CHAP. XXI of Vacuum and Place THe second incorporeall is Vacuum which is the solitude or vacuity of a body In the world there is no vacuum neither in the whole nor in any part Beyond it there is an infinite vacuity into which the world shall be resolved Of this already in the Chapter concerning the world Next is Place Place is that which is fully occupated by the body or as Chrysippus defines it that which is or may be occupated by one or more things Thus it differs from vacuity which hath no body and from space which is occupated but in part as a vessell halfe full of wine CHAP. XXII Of Time LAst of the Incorporealls is Time Time is according to many of the Stoicks the motion of it selfe not of heaven and had no beginning of generation Chrysippus saith that Time is the measure of slownesse or swiftnesse Zeno defined it the intervall of motion and measure of slownesse and swiftnesse according to which all things were and are Possidonius saith that some are wholly infinite as all Time some only in part as the past and future for they are joyned together by the present He defined Time the intervall of motion or the measure of swiftnesse and slownesse one part of it being present the other future the present connected to the future by something like a point It is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 attributed to the least part of Time that falleth under sense subsisting according to the difference of past and future Chrysippus saith that Time is the intervall of motion the measure of swiftnesse and slownesse a consequent intervall to the worlds motion according to which all things are and are moved unlosse rather there be a two-fold Time as the Earth and Sea and Vacuity and Universe have the same names with their parts And as vacuity is every way infinite so Time is both waies infinite for the present and future have no end He likewise asserts that no entire present is Time for continuous things being divided into infinite Time likewise admitteth of the same division so that no Time is properly present but so called after a lesse accurate manner The present only is subsistent unlesse it be understood as of Categorems as walking is attributed to him that walketh but not to him that sitteth or lyeth Thus much for the STOICALL PHILOSOPHY CLEANTHES CAP. I. His Life CLeanthes was of Assus an Aeolian City fortified as Stralo describes it both by Nature and Art sonne of Phanias He was first according to Antisthenes a wrastler and comeing to Athens having no more then four Drachms he apply'd himself first to Crates then to Zene whom he heard constantly and persevered in his Philosophy and Opinions He was much commended for his laboriousnesse in as much as being poor he went by night to the Gardens to draw water and in the day time studied Philosophy Hence he was called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The drawer of Water Being cited to the Court to give an account how he lived being so healthfull and lusty hee produced the Gardener under whom he drew water and a woman for whom he ground meal to witnesse how he subsisted The Areopagites wondring hereat allotted him 10. minae which Zeno would not suffer him to accept Antigonus gave him 3000. minae On a time leading some young men to a spectacle the wind blew back his Cloak and discovered that he had no Coat whereupon the Athenians much applauded him and as Demetrius the Magnesianâ—aith â—aith bestowed a Coat upon him Antigonus who was his Auditor asked