Chapter 16
I. ch. 2.
I.
JAmblicus, Arijf.ch. 17.
Iccus, Pyth. ch. 24. Ichihyas
Itanacas, Pyth. ch. 24.
# L.
Aeon, Pyth. ch. 24.
/ Lacrates, ibid.
Lacydes.
Laphaon, cA. 24.
Lafthenia, PA/.c. 13. Speuf.c.2. Lafthenia, a Pythagorean, Pyth. ch. 24.
Lafus Preface.
Leocritus Pyth. ch. 24. LeOcydes, ibid Leon. Ariji. ch 14.
Leon, a Pythagorean, P/f^?.c.24. Leophantus, Preface.
Leophron, Pyth. ch. 24. Leptines, ibid.
Leucippus.
Lyco.
Lyco, a Pythagorean, Py//;.c.24. Lyfides, ibid Lyfias, Epic. Ci 16.
Lyfibius, J^/A. c. 24; Lyliphanes. Epic. c. i,
Lyfis, Pyth. ch. 24.
Lytamnus, ibid
M*
MAgentinus, Arif. c. ly Malias, Pyth. c. 24. Marinus, Ariji. ch 17. Marmaradius, Chah l.i.p. i.
JeU. 1. ehi 5*
Maximus, Arijiotich. 17. Mededimus, Pla.ch. 13. Megiftias, Pyth. ch. 24. Menalippus, ibid Melifies, ibid Melijfus.
Menedemus.^ the Qmick. Menedemm., the Eretrian. Meneftius, Pyth. ch 24. Menippus.
jMenodorus, Epic, ch 10. Menodotus, Tisnon., ch Menon, Pyth ch, 24.
Meton, ibid Metopus, ibid Metroclesi
Metrodorus^rnatned the Theo- retick. St Up. ch. 3. Metrodorus, theChian.E/’.c.4. Melias, Pyth.Ci 24.
Milo, ibid Milt’ades, ibid Mimnomachus^ ibid Mnafon, Arif. oh. 14. Mnefarchus, Pyth. c. 21, 24. Mnefibulus, Pyth. ch. 24. Mnefiftratus, Pla. ch.j^. Mofehus, Mened. ch i.
Muya, Pyth. ch. 21.
Muyes. Pyth. ch. 24. Myrmex,^////?^? ch. 3.
N.
NAftas, Pyth ch. 24,
Naufiphanes, a Pythago¬ rean, Epic, chi 4.
Naufitheus, Peth. ch 24. Neocritus, ibid Nicanor, Ariji. ch. 14. Nicephorus Blemmydes, Ariji.
Niolochus, Pim.ch. 3,
O.
OCcelo, Pyth ch. 24.
Occlo, ibid Ocylus, ibid Odius, ibid
Olympiodorus, Ariji. ch. 17. Onatus, Pyth. ch 2^.
Opfimusi Orelandrus, ibid Ofthanes,Q>^/i. lib. 2. p.n chapi 3i
Pi
PAchymerius, Geogr. Arijii ch. 17.
Pa£lon, Pyth.
PsEonius, Stilp.ch.^. PalsEphatus, Ariji. ch. 14. Pamphilius, Epic. ch. 4. Panuttius.
Parmenides.
Parmifehus, Pyth.
Pafeiles 5//-^. i.
Paficrates, Ariji. ch. 14* Periander.
Phtedo.
Phoedo,a Pythagorean Pyth.c.2af Phatfidemus, Stil. ch. 3. Phancelus, Pyth. ch. 24. Phanius, Ariji. ch. 14.,
Phanton, Pyth. ch. 24. Pherecydes.
Philippus,an Opuntian,P/^.rd 13 Philo, a Theban, Zen. ch. 9. Philo, the peripatetic..dr/7?.c. 14 Philodemus, 24.
Philolaus.
Philolaus of Tarentum, Pyth. ch. 24.
Philonides, ibid Philoponus, Ariji. ch. 17. Philtes, Pyth ch 24.
Fhiatias, ibid Phormio, Pla. chi^. Phrafidemus, Ariji. ch. 14 Phrinychus, P///;. ch. 24. ProntideS, ibid phyacyades. ibid phytius, ibid J)yferrydus, ibid pificrates, ibid pithon, Pla. ch. t^i Pittacus.
Plato.
plato the younger, Ariji. ch.14. Plijihenes.
Plutarch the yo\mger.,Ariji.c. 17 Pplematus, Pyth. ch. 24. polemarchus;^ ibid Polemo.
Poliades, Pyth.ch. 24. Polymneftus, ibid PolyPmus., Epic. ch. ly.
Pofdonius.
Praxiphanes, Epic. ch. 4. Praytus, Tim. ch. 3.
Proclus, Ariji. ch. ij.
Proclus, a Pythagorean, Pv/A.- ch. 24.
PrOruss
Prorvis, tbid.
P; 'iJi Igor as.
Protarchus, Epic. ch. 1 6. Proxenus, pofidonean,^//;.^. 24 Proxenus, a Sybarite, ibid Pfellus, Arifi. ch. 17. Ptolemacus,a Cyrenian,T/;w.(:.3. Ptolema:us the Black Epic.c. 1 6. Palemsus the White, ibid PtolemsEus, of Cyrene,Ti/«.f.3, Pylyflor, Eyth. ch. 24.
Fyrrho.
Pyrrho the younger, Tim. ch.^. Pyrrho,a pythagorean,I^c^. Pyfirronde, ibid Pythagoras.
Pythodo/us.
^R.
RHexibius, Pyth. ch. 24. Rhodippus. ibid.
S-
SAlaccra. Pyth. ch.
Sara, Pyth. ch. 21. Sarpedon, Tm» ch. 3; Staturninus, ibid Satyrus, Ariji. ch. 14*
Sextus, Tim. ch. 3.
Sycas, Pyth. ch. 24.
Silius, tbid
Simichus, Pyth. ch. 23.
Simmias.
Simmias, the Megarick, Stilp.
■ch. 3.
Simon.
Simplicius, 17.
Simus, Pyth. ch.,2y.
Smichacas, ibid Socrates.
Socrates, a Bythinian,-4r/y?.f.i4 Solon.
Soliftratus, Pyth. ch. 24.
s.-
The Table.
Soflhenes, ibid Softratius, ibid . Sotion, Arifi. ch. 1 7. Speujippus.
Sphaerus, Zeno.^ ch. p. Sthgnonides, Pyth. ch. 24. Stilpo.
Strato.
Syrianus, Arijiot. ch. 17.
O "
T.
TAurus, Arifi. ch. 17.
Teliuges, Pyth. ch. 21. Terpfion, ch. 17.
TQ\iLCQr.f Chald. lib. i.p. i. fe^. . I. ch. 5.
Thales.
Theano, Wife of Brontino, Pyth.ch. 24.
Theano, Wife of Pythagoras, ch. 21, 24.
Themiftius, Arifi. ch, 17. Theodas, Tim.ch. 3. Theodeftus, Ariji. ch, 14. Theodorus the Atheift. TheodofusMetochita, Ariji. ch. Theodorus, of Gyrene, Pyth. ch. 24.
Theodorus of Tarentum, ib. Sheophfdjius.
Thoridas, ch, 24. Thrafcus, ib^
Thrafydemus, ibid. Thralymachus, 5//^^. 1.
Thrafymedes, Pyth. ch. 24* Timaeus, the Crotonian, ib. Timteus, the Cy2icene,P/?.f. 1 3 Timaeus, theLocrian, Pyth.c.2/^ Timatus, the Parian, ib. Timagoras, Stilp. ch. 3. Timaras, Pyth. ch. 24. Timarchus, Ariji. ch. 14. Timefianax, Pyth, ch, 24.
*1
Timolaus, Pla.ch. 13. Timofthenes, Pyth. ch. 23. Tydas, ib.
Tymafius, ibid.
Tymicha, ibib.
Tyrfenus.
Tyrfenus, ibid.
X.
XAnthus, Tim. ch. 3.
Xenocides, Pyth. ch. 24. Xenon, ibid.
Xenocrates.
Perophanes.
Yenophantes, Pyth. ch. 24, Xenophilus, ibid.
Xentas, ibid. •
ZAbratus, Pyth. ch. 5.
Zaleucus, Pyth.ch.ij^i Zamoixis, Pyth.ch 21. Zarmocenidas, Chald. l.i.p.i.
Seff.i.ch.').
Zeno.
Zeno Eleates.
Zeno the Epicurean, Stilp. ch.^.
Zen.c.p. Epic. c. 16.
Zeno., ofTarfis.
Zeuxes, Tim. ch. 3. Zeuxippus.
Zopyrus,aColophronian,AI^;?ip Zopyrus, aTarentine,P>’//7.c.24 Zoroafter, the Chaldean, Chald, 1. I. p. i. febl. i.c. 2* 3. Zoroafter, the Babilonian,C^ lib. I.p. li feS.i. c. 2. Zoroafter, the Ba^rian, ib. Zoroafter, thePamphilian,i^. Zoroafter,the Perfian, ibid.lib.2, pag. i. fePi. I. ch. 1.
Zoroafter, the Proconnefian, Chal. lib. i.p. i.h. i.c. 2. Zoiom2LVltQS,Chald.lib. i.p. i. fedd. c. 5.
The
A N
ACCOUNT
O F T H E
Life and Writings
OF
THOMAS STANLEY; £%
The Reader cannot expe6l to find in this Place a long Recital of Intrigues and Adventures ; for as the Life of a Courtier or a Soldier is paft in a Court or a Camp, fo that of a Scholar is in the Solitude of his Study : And as Mr, Stanleys Learning made up the brighteftpartof his Charafter, .fo an Account of his Life is but a Relation of his Atchievements in the Learned World.
Mr. Stanley was Son o£ Sit Thoiitas Stanley y aiid Born at CumherloKP-Green in Hartford-Shirey at the Age of 1 4 Years he was lent to Camhridgey and placed at Fembrook-HaU under the Tuition of Mr. Balcancholy Brother to the Dean of Durhanu This worthy Gentleman^ who had Married the Lady 5^^- rpard his Grand-Moth^, took a more than Ordinary Care in the Education of^his Pupil : He Ipared no Pains to Cheriih and Animate thole Delires of Learning which vi-
llbly appear’d the predominant Paflion of his Mind-
/
While he continued yet in the Univerfity,' hisFancy be¬ gan to exert it lelf, and give Ibme prefages of what the World was to expcdt from his Genius : It was Here he compoledthofe * MadrigaVsFoemsy and other Pieces, which together withfome Tranllations out of the Frenchy Italic any and Spanifhy were publiQied in one Volume after his Return from his Travels. As in hisfirft Pieces he has given the W or Id a Proof of the Fertility of his Invention j lb in the latter, which are incomparably better, he has, beyond Exception , done of his Great Diligence and Learning*
a
Soon
* Euro^, Cupid erucifiid and Venus Vigils with Notes, Load^ 1549.
— Anacreon, Bion, MoA chus: Kijfes by Secundns i Cupid crucified by Aufonius : Venus Vigils with divert other PoertiSf 16 $ u
An Account of the Life and Writings
Soon after his Return Home> when he had finiihed his Tour ofFrancey Itab/y and Spainy and by Travel extended his Knowledge beyond the Bounds of his Native Ifland, he Married Dorothvy Daughter of Siv ^ames Engan Flowery in the County of Northamptony whilft his Father and Mother were ftill living ; and before he was arrived at that Age, which by the Laws of his Country put an End to his Mino¬ rity, This alteration in his State and Condition of Life did not in the leaft change his Temper and Difpofition, or abate his AfFeiffion to Learning, which was no lefs vigorous now than before. Neither the Cares nor Con¬ cerns for his Family, nor the Careflesand Endearments of a Young Wife, could prevail with him to intermit his or¬ dinary Studies, on which he was obftinately bent. I will not fay of him as a Learned Chancellor of France has fpokeofhimfelf, t who complains in Print, that upon his Wedding Day he had not more than Six Hours to employ in his Studies ; but his Affiduity and Application is vifible to all who (hall confider the Greatnefs of his Works, and the ihort Limits of Life in which he finiihed them.
The firft Work which He enriched the Publick with, was this Hiftory of the Lives and Opinions of the Ancient Greek Philofophers. This Work was firft begun after the Example of the Learned Gajfendus who has com- pofed the Lives oKopernkusy fychoBrahey Peurhachiusy Re~ giornontanmy and other Modern Aftronomers and Philolb- phers. Mr, was not the firft who had attempted
this Province ; Diogenes Laertim in the Time of the Em- perour Marcus Antoninm compiled a Volume of the Lives of the Elder Philofophers, and afteAiim Ennapius writ the Lives of the Sophifts. Befides what is extant, Antifihenes and many others, whofe Volumes have perilhed, writ upon the fame Subjeff. The Learned Gerard Vojfimm. our Age has writ a fhort Treatife of the Ancient Philofophy, and the fcveral Sed:s, not to mention others \ but Mr.
has out-done all that preceded him in the Extent of his Defign, and the vaft Multitude of particulars He has amafs’d together.
The many Editions of fo large a Work are undeniable Prppfsof the Approbation it has received from the Publick. To fpeak the Truth, the Excellence and Variety of the Matter, and the vaft Reading which the Author has dif- cover’din every part of it, could not mifs of Admiration. Befides, moft Men have a relilh for Difeourfes of this kind j
and
of Thomas Stahicy^, Efq;
and there are few who have not a Curiofity to know the Lives and Adlions of thofe whofe Virtues they admire*
♦ This has engaged fo many Pens to write the Lives of Prin« ces. Great Captains, Minifters of State, and other Perfons who have made a confiderable Figure in the World, or had a (hare in the Revolutions of Empires and Kingdoms. Others again have entertained the Publick with the Lives of Divines, Lawyers, Poets, Phyficians, fyc, which have been kindly received and judged both Ufeful and Diverting.
There are two waysof Inftrufiion ; the one by Precept^ the other by Example ; the former is dry and barren, and makes at moft but a languid Effort ; the latter is lively and brisk, and leaves a f&ong Impredion, creating in the Mind Defires and Inclinations to imitate what is Good and Excellent, and a Horrour for what is Bale and Ill. Mr. Stanley only confiders Philofophers, and the Amufe- ments and Speculations of Men retired from the Hurry apd Noife of the World. He has with extreme Diligence compiled an exadl Hiftory of their Lives, their Opinions and Notions of Good and EviU of Qod and Nature ; their Theories of the’ Vniverfey their Thoughts about the Principles oiThingsy their Schemes ofMorality and Policy, their Gon«5 dufl: and Behaviour.
By this We lee the Steps by which the Arts and Sciencesi and all Parts of Humane Knowledge have been promoted^ iihd the feveral Advances it has niade from its Infancy, till it arrived at the Pitch it is at preleht at.
I nientioned before thole Writers who preceded pur Author in this Defign, but none have executed it with lb itiuch advantage; his Aim is more Cpmprehenfive, his Ac¬ count is in every part Succinct, Pertinent, without Ex- curfions, and conflfts of a vaft Number of' Fragments, which are not in others, fupplied out of the vaft Trea- fures of his Reading.
The following Hiftorycohfifts^of Nineteen Parts; ihe firft treats of the Seven Sages or Wilemen of Greece y lb Famous in Antiquity; the other give us an ample Account of* the Twelve different Scdls of Philofophers, the Lives of the mbft; feminent Profeffors, and the Opinions held by them. The lafl: treat of the Chaldaick Philofophy, aii Abffrufe^, and Difficult Subjeft, required nO
lefs Learning than Nti:, Stanley'^ to venture on it.
Thalesf
An Account of the Life and Writings
rrr r" ■ i r - - - ■ ■ ,■■ ■ p— ..■■ ■ ■ , , i ■ ■ i ■ ■ ■ . . . ■ m .
Thales^ the Milejian^ was the firft who employ’d himlelf in Matural Enquiries, and was thought to deferve the Magnificent Title of Wile for his Noble Difcoveries in Geometry, Aftronomy, and the Theory of the Univerle. His Principle was, that Water is the chief Material of which Natural Bodies are formed, and into which they are relblved. He imagined the Earth agreatMafs, floating on a vait Abyfs or Ocean of Water ; and from hence gave the Reafon of Earthquakes and Eruption of Springs. He conceived God as the Author of all Natural Motion, and the Soul which animated the Univerfe. Mr. Stanky tells us, be imagined Loadflone and Jett to have Souls, becaufe of their Virtue of attracting Bodies to them. To him is aferibed the Invention of Mealuring the Height of the Pyramids by their Shadows, and found the Natural Reafon of Eclipfes, which before were lookt on as Portentous, and Prefages of fome Calamity. Our Author tells us, he foretold that which ended the Five Years Wars between the Lydians and the Medes ; when thole poor People, frighted at the lirange Darknefs, and believing the Sun hid himfelf to avoid feeing the Slaugh¬ ter, laid down their Arms, and Compos’d their Quarrels. Beiides Thales ySolouy Chilon^ Pittacu^y Bids, Ckobulus, Periander, had the fame Title bellowed on them. And as Thales was the firB:, who by his Travels into the Eallern Countreys made himfelf acquainted with Mathematical and Natural Learning, and introduced it into Greece, thele were the Authors of leveral Excellent Laws and Schemes of Government : And as the Illuftrious Title of Wile was confer r’d on the firft for his Excellent Skill in Geometry, and the knowledge of Nature, it was conferr’d on the o- ther for their Excellent Precepts in Morality and Poli¬ ticks. Indeed the Attribute of Wife was given to all who profefied any fort of Knowledge above the Vulgar, till Pythagoras changed that into the Name of Philofophy, pi- oillly thinking fo great a Title could only be aferibed rightfully to the Infinite and Supreme Wifdom.
It will not be expeCted we Ihould enter into a Detail of their Lives ; this would be to anticipate the Reader, who will find all their Doftrincs, Letters, Occafional Speeches, ^c, recounted by our Author in their place.
The SeCls of Philofophers had a Double Original \ the one from Anaximander fit oi Thales, and therefore
hriic^ \ and the other from Pythagoras, that Prince of Philo¬ fophers, which from the place where he held his School
I
^Thomas Stanley^ Efq;
was called the Anaximander varied from the Doc¬
trine of his Mailer, and indead of made Infinity th^ Principle of all Things, but has left us without an Expla-' nation of his Meaning. He firil: difcover’d the Obliquity .Vf the Zodiacki made Geographical Charts^ aiid iriventeii Dials : Tho’ Mr. Stankyi^iftcr SalmafiuAy thinks his Gnomon did only note the Tropick and Equinoctial Points^ the di- viiion of Hours not being ufed till a long Time after. Of this SeCfi befides him, were Anaximenes ^ Anaxagoras^
Socrates^ an Athenian, was the Author of the Second SeCt : • His chief Study was Virtue, Moraiityi and the Re¬ gulation of our Lives and Actions. HewasSdnofa Sta- tuary^ but the Greatnefs of his Genius railed him above his Birth and Condition. He did not confine himfelf to' let Lectures in the Chair. W here-ever he was his Convc r- lation was ftill Plealant and inltruCtive. I he Camp, the Forum^ the Publick Streets, the Houles o Phis Friends, the Prifon in which he endured great .Hardlhip, were lo man y Schools of Know ledge and Virtue. For his great Wildom, his Manly and Noble Thoughts, the Eafe and Sweetnefs of his Expreffion he was admired by all Men, and efteemed the Prince of Philofophers. He had a right Notion of the Divine N ature,and V igoroully oppofed Politheifrh ; for which his Enemies reproach’d him as an Infidel, and an Enemy of the Gods, and Condemn’d hini to Death ; which he Dm/2^ with fuch Majelty of Soul, luch Serenity of Mind, as fhew’d the ablblute Empire of his Realbn over his Paf- fions, and the impotence of his Enemies Malice ; who by Death it felf could not break in upon the Tranquility of his Mind, or make him Die other than . There are great
Difputes maintain'd, not without fome Heat, among Chri- ftian, as well as Pagan Writers concerning the Daemon which attended Socrates^ and gave him Prelages of Events which Ihould happen foon after : The difeuflion of this maybe feen in an entire Chapter, in the Life of this Philofopher. Notwithftanding his Eminent Vertue and Wifdom, he could not elcape the Malice and Wit of Arifiophanesy who has expoled him in a Play called The Cloudsy which Mr. Stanley has tranflated into Englilh, and annexed as an Appendix to his Life.
The Succeffioii of the lonick Philofophy , which be¬ fore was lingle, was foon after divided into leve-
ral Schools and Se&s, fome of which were of lefs Note, and lalted but a Ihort Time, others were more Confidera- ble, and of longer Continuance ; of the firfl fort were
b the
An Account of the Life and Writings
the Cjrenaicky Megaricky Eleacky and Eretriack Se(5ls ; of the latter were the Academick and Cjnicky which two gave Birth to the Peripatetick and Stoic L
Ariftippusy a Difciple of Socratesy was the Chief of the Cyrenaick Sed:. He placed the Sovereign Good in Pleafure, and thinks Virtue only commendable as it conduces to ac¬ quire that. The Diftinetion of Right and Wrong, Juft and UnjuB:, he thought Arbitrary, and not ejftablilhed by 1 Nature, but Law and Cuflom. As his Principles were loofe, his Life was fuited to his Dodrine, which he paft away in Jollity and Mirth. His good Humour render'd him agreeable to 'Dionyfim the Tyrant of Sicily y while the Severity of Platoy which he mifcall’d Morofenefs, offend¬ ed that haughty Prince. I cannot forbear hereto recount one or two of the many Witty Replies which are re¬ corded of that Philofopher, and which our Author has col- leded among the other Incidents of his Life. When IjiQHyJiu6 asked him what brought him to his Court, He replied, He came to Traffick with him, to offer him what He had, and receive from him what He wanted, mean- ing to Barter the Wit and Humour He was Maffer of for the other's Money. He did not confine himfelf to the Rule^ of Temperance, Sobriety, and Continence. Upon a certain Time entring into the Houle of a Famous Cur- tezan. He obferved one of the Company to blufh. 5/r, laid he, there s no Harm in going /«, but in not being able to come out. When a certain Strumpet charged him with being with Child by him, Touknorp that nomore^ fays he, than in pajfing thro a Bujl:) which Thorn it is that pricks you. When offered him three Beautiful Women, and bid him chufe one out of them, which he liked bell:; he took them all three away with him, that he might not, as he faid, incur r the Fate of Parky who had been fo levere- ly puniflied for his indiferetion in preferring one to two. Ariftippws owned but twoPaffions, Pleafure and Grief, as the Springs of all Humane Actions; andthele are diverli- fied according to the Temper and Complexion of every Per foil. He derided the Calmnefs and Serenity of Mind, or Exemption from all Paffion, in which others place all Humane Happinefs, regarding this as meer Inad:ivity, and a tirefome Indolence. Helikewile derided the Plain- nefs. Simplicity, and Courfe Living of his Old Friend Antifthenesy and admired the Plenty, Eafe and Luxury of the Sicilian Court. Many other Pleafantries of the fame ® Kind are mention'd in their Place, but I fear I have tref- paffed the Bounds I preferibed my felf in defeendingto thefe Particulars. Be-
/
of Thomas Stanley^ £/^;
Beiides the Cyrenaick, Mr. Stanley treats of Megarkk , Eleack^ and other Seds ; but the moll eminent of ali thole derived from Socrates , was the Academick j who took their Name from the place where their School was ered:ed. Plato was the chief of thele, concerning whofe Birth Mr. Stanley relates leveral odd and mar¬ vellous Rumours. It was the common Fame /- thens^ that Apollo had condefcended to vilit his Mother’s Bed; and the God appearing in a Villon to his Father^ required him to refrain the Company of his Wife till after her Delivery. A pretty Artifice, fometimes ufed by the PagUn Women, to delude their Credulous Husbands. He had a plentiful Fortune, and after he had • been a Scholar of Socrates for a while , he Travelled to hear the Greatefl Mailers of his Time. In Italy he lludied the Pythagorick Dod:rines, and feems to have drawn many Things out of the Books of Mofes^ which he might probably have met with in his Voyages. He pafles with fome for the Inventor of Dialogue, but Mn Stanley pretends he did only refine and polilh it, and thinks the Analytick Way of Realbning, a Noble In¬ vention, ought to be alcribed to him. This is the Me¬ thod of Dilcovering Truth, by fuppofing the Thing fought as true or known,’ and enquiring what the Confe- quents are. ^
Mr. Des Cartes has given us an illullrious Inllance of the Ufe of this Method in his Meditations and Method^ where the chief Truths of Philofophy are demonllrated with great Force and Exadlnefs. The Examples of this Method are to be found in the Books of Euclid^ AppoUanim^ Pappwi^ and other places of the Old Geometers, as Mr. Stanley has marked. Plato thought Mathemiincal Learning of Ufe in all Parts of Humane Knowledge, and requires all his Scholars to be previoullyinllrudled in the Elements of Geometry.
His Philolbphy was held in Veneration in the firE Ages of Chriftianity, which Mr. Stanley thinks proceeded from his teaching, that God had one only begotten Son, whofe Power extended over all Creatures. In Ihort, his Notions are in many Points agreeable to the Scheme of our Reli¬ gion.
Platohold the Soul was Immaterial and Immortal ; that it was Free and Independent, but fubjc6l to NecelBty or Fate.
He
An Account of the Life and Writings
He had a Great and Noble Genius, and lurprizes the
Mind with the Eloquence of his Stile, and the Abundance
of his Imagination. To give us a more Compleat Idea of
liis Philolbphy , Mr. Stanley prefents us with an A-
bridgefnent of the Doctrines of the Old Academy out of
Cicero^ and after that a Compleat Summary. Several Col-
lediions of this Kind are found in F lutarch^ Laertius Apulenuy
but our Author palling thele by , has chbfen that of Alauais.,
as moll perfect and compleat, and annexed it entire as an
Appendix to the Life of this Philo fopher. In the lalt place,
to illulh ate the Matter, he has inlerted a PlatonickDiL
•courfe, written after a Poetical manner in Italian by the
Famous yo/^/2 Piemy Earl of Mirandola,
%
After the Death of PlatOy his Difciples divided into two Sed:s, the fir ft remained in the old Academy, the other took Pofieflion of the Lycaeum. The reft were call’d Pen- fateticks, of whom Arifiotky a Native of Staggruy was chief. Neither his Birth nor Education were lo advantageous as Plato. Mr. Stanley denies that he ever pradliled as a Quack, or fold Remedies at Athens. This, and the pretended Divine, Honours paid to his Wife fyhiasy and being concerned in a Plot againft Alexander y Mr. Stanley reje(fts as Calumnies gi oundlefs and injurious to the Memory of fo Great aMan. He made great Improvements in Logick as well as other Parts of Philolbphy, invented Categories, formed the Syl- logifm, and determined leveral Modes and Figures, de¬ tected the Arts of Sophiftry, writ a great Number of Books of Metaphy Picks , Phyficks, Natural Hiftory of Ani¬ mals, tlyte, '
t
't
The Fortune of this Philolbpher is very ftrange ; and it is furprifing to find Men judge lb differently of the fame Per- fon , in one A ge : Men have been excommunicated and trea¬ ted as Hereticksfor reading him to their Difciples : At other times he has been Introduced into Schools and Uni verfi ties, and no other Do6lrine taught to their Scholars. His Wri¬ tings in one Age have been made the Standard of Truth. Hellas beenftiled the Genius of Nature, and his Perfor¬ mances the higheft Pitch of humane Wit. Again, ato- thers his Philolbphy has been treated as Trifling, Verbole, Empty and Litigious. However it be, Mr. Stanley has given a curious and exa(fl: Abftradl of his Dodrine.
Another Branch of the School of Socrates were the Cynicks. Antijihenes was the Chief of thefe, which after was
made
o/' Thomas Stanley^ Efq;
made famous by Diogenes his Scholar. It is Difficult to de¬ termine whence this Name took its Rife. Mr. Stanley thinks partly from the Cynojarges^ the Gymnafmm or School of Antifihenes^ and partly the Roughnefs and Severity of their Manners, iiogenes wasthe moll: confiderable of this Sed:, and made fo great a Noile by the Singularity of his Maxims, that Alexander had the Curiofity to fee him. His odd manner of living in a Tub, his feeking HoneR Men with a Candle and Lantern at Noon, and the other pleafant Incidents of his Life, areallcolleded by Mr. Stanley.
The Sed of Stoicks had its Original from that of the Cynicks. Zeno was the Author of this, who having fiiTtheen a Scholar of Crates-, and afterwards a Hearer of othercSlii- lofophers, at lalt inlHtuted this New Sed. This Phi- • lofophy has formed Great Men, and char med a World of People by its Proud and Oftentatious Principles. It aims to fortifie Men againll: Bodily Torments, and Arm them againfl: the Blows of Fortune. Zeno admitted only one God, whole different Powers and Operations were expreft by fe- veral Names. The Sovereign Happinefs of Man he placed in Virtue as the only Means to make him Immortal, and afford him a Solid and LalHng Pleafure. He thought the Frame of the World would one Day be diffolved, 'and perifh in Flames. Ifhat Ablblute Empire of Man over his Body and Mind, which he lb highly alTerted, gave rile to that pernicious Dodrine, that any one might lawfully dellroy himlelf. And yet there is Ibmething in this Philofophy which is bright and glorious, and capable of dazling the Sight of thofe who only look at the Splendor of the Pa¬ gan V irtues ; with what an Air did Zeno teach his W ife Men the Contempt of Death, and an Indifference for the Things of the World ?
The Stoicks were fubtil Logicians as well as excellent Moralifts^ but we mull not enter into particulars. Mr. Stanley has , colleded the Remains out of Laertius^ Cicero, . Stobdeus, and others, and given us a Large Summary of that Philofophy at the End of the Life of this Philolbpher, Befides Zeno, were eminent Cleanthes, Chryfippusy Fanatius, Fojidonius, and others, all whom have Juftice done them by our Author.
I
The were the laft of all the Philolbphers derived from Thales, and conclude the Succeflion of the lonick School.
Pythagoras, whom moft believe a Samian, was Chief of the Italick Sed. He continued a great while in FLgypt
c to
An Account of the Life and Writings
to learn their Myfteries. Mr. Stanley tells us, that He was made Prilbner by Cambyfesy who fent him to Babylon^ where He became familiar with the Magi and Chaldeans^ and was acquainted with the Prophet He was a
Comely Man, and had a Majellick Mien proper to attrad: the Veneration of the People, and was thought by his Fol¬ lowers to be Hyperborean Apolh
No Philofopher had more Difciplcsthan Pythagoras. He enjoyned an exabt Submiffion to all he faid, and impoled a rigorous Silence on his Scholars for two Years. Tempe¬ rance was the Virtue which he moft earneftly recommend¬ ed as moft necefl’ary to bring the Body to an entire Sub¬ jection. His Philofophy was Cabaliftick, and full ofMy- ileries. He held the Pre-exiftence of the Soul, and its Migration from one Body to another. Thus he reported in his Writings of himfelf, that before the Trojari War he was ^thalides the Son of Mercury^ then Euphorbusy then Her- ntotimwsy then Fyrrhws a Deliany laftly, Pythagoras. In his Writings he reports that he came 107 Years fince from the Jnferiy and Stanley has annexed an Account of his Difcipline and Doc¬ trine, his Symbolical Way of Teaching, and tranfcribed into his Works the Learned Reuchliws Explanation of the Pythagorick Doctrine. Of this Sect were Empedocles, Archytusy Philolausy and to them it muft be own’d we arc indebted for the True Syftem of the XJniverle, which places the Sun in the Center, and the Earth io the Plane¬ tary Chorus.
The SeCls which fpring from the Italick may be reduced to four, the Heraclitiany the Eleatkky the Sceptick, or Fyr- rhoniany and the Epicurean.
Heraclitusy by the advantage of a Good Genius, Was Ma- fter of that Knowledge, which others acquire with DiT ficulty and painful Refearches. ,
His Contemplative Humour and Difdain for the World ' made him love Retirement and Solitude. He withdrew from the Society of Men, and fpent his Timfe in the Soli¬ tary Top of a Mountain, in ferioufly bemoaning the Fol¬ lies and Vanity of the World.
Democritmy the Head of the Eleatkk Sed, was of a Tem-*- per very different from Heraclitus : He had a fmiling Coun¬ tenance, and diverted himfelf with Laughing at the Ri-r diculous Paffion which Men dilcover'd* for Trifles, the
Diligence
of Thomas Stanley, Efq^ .
Diligence and Pains they ufed to obtain them,, and the Regret and Grief they ihew’d upon any Lofs or Diiap* pointment. The People of Abdera^ among ^hom he lived, obferving him to laugh frequently, begaq to doubt of his Good Senle, and lent for Hippocrates tp chre him. But having Ihewn his Diacofmas^ the Opinion they had his P'olly was foon converted into Admiration. He was the firft Inventer of the Dodlrine of Atoms and a Vacuum^ or the Corpufcular Fhylofophyy the Elements of which Mr. Stanley has deliver’d. , ^
Pyrrho^vBS Chief of the Scepticks. He affigjjied/P^an could only Judge by Appearances of Truth and FaJ-lhood, and therefore Pretended the Mind only ought to coptinqp in fufpence, and not determine any thing.^, /All the Subtilty of thefe Gentlemen lay in finding Reafons of. Diffidence and Diflruft in Matters which appeared Plain and Evident. The Curipus will find their Entire Philofophy in its proper place.
The Author of the laft 5e(3: was Epicurus^ whom our Author tells us writ more than any other of the Philo- Ibphers. Replaced the Sovereign Good in Virtuous Plea- fure. The wrong Interpretation of his Opinions, and the , Abufeof themby his Dilciples, ha^ brought his Philofo-j phy into Difrepute,and caufed it to be decried as the Source of all Vice and Immorality. But Mr. affirms the Weak- nels of his Conllitution, and his extreme Sobriety, ought to remove fo injurious a Charge. Befides, the Altars ere^ed to his Honour after his Death will not fuffer us to believe him lb voluptuous a Man as his Enemies would reprelent him. Every one knows he taught Atoms and ^ Void to be the Principles of things held, an’d contrary to Arijiotle and o- thers, that the World was not Eternal. Nay, he affirms it bears fenfible Marks of its Newnefs; urging for Inftance, the Rife of Arts and Sciences as undeniable Proofs of its fmall Continuance. Lucretius in his Elegant Poem has given us hisDo(^rine of the Univerfe, Providence, the Principles of Things; and Qaffendus^ who revived his Philofophy in this Age, has written his Life.
f
It is Time now to proceed to the three lad parts of this large Work, which contain an Account of the C6^/- daicki Fefian^ and Sabcean Learning. As the 'European Sciences had their Source in Greece y fo the Philofophy of thole People was derived from the Eaftern Nations, whofe Original is very obfcure. The Writings of the Ancient Sages are long fince periflied, ^nd Plato ^indPythagor as y who have mix-
An Ac count' of the Life and Writings
ed their Tenets with their Philofophy, have done it in fuch manner, that it is hard to diftinguifti what they ha^e borrowed from their own Inventions. This Difficulty has rather animated than difcouraged Mr. Stanlef Who with mighty care has amafled the Icatter’d Fragments, and by digefting what is Genuine, has compiled an Idea of the Oriental Learning.
' Lht Chaldeans inthQ oi Alexandety pretended they had continued to obferve the Stars for 4;»ooqo Years. But this muft be regarded as an Empty Boafl, fince all the Obler- vations tlifey could then produce, as Mr, Stanley affures us, did fall Ihort of two Thouland Years, and there is lipthing extant, at prefent, of their more an¬
cient than the Mr a of Nabonajfaty or the 3 9 • thcjulian Period.
Zoroafier is commorily own’d as the firft Author of Arts and Sciences amongft the Chaldeans^ but who He was, or in what Age He lived, is dark and uncertain. His Difciples, the Magi^ propagated this Learning, which was introduced into by Berofm before or about the Time of Alexander.
The Eaftern Learning was not taught in Schools to a promifeous Audience, but confined to certain Families, the Father of whom infIru(Ted his Children, and by this Means convey’d his Myfierious Knowledge to Pofterity. Their Wilemen were regarded by the Vul¬ gar as facred Perfons, and had a leparate Habitation, enjoying great Priviledges, and an Exemption from Pubiick Charges. They were divided into Several Kinds or Sedts, according to tfie Subject of their Studies, as Naturaliflsy PrieJtSy Aflrologers^ &c.
Their Great Mafter Zoroafter divided all Things into three Kinds. The firft Eternal, without Beginning or End. The next Immortal, which had Beginning, but no End. And the laft Mortal and Corruptible. They thought the Firft of all Things was Eternal and Supreme God, whom they termed Father and King, and placed his Efience in Light and Truth.
After God, were their Good and Ill D^monsy which they conceived to inhabit the Regions of Fire, Air, Water, and Earth. The former they fancied to dwell in the Light of the Divine Prelence, and were the
Mi-
^Thomas Stanley, Efq;
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ t _ _ _ _ _
Minifters and Meflengers of God. The latter, whom they fuppolkl to be of Spirits Darknefs, did wander up and down, and were Enemies and Haters of Mankindj and continually feeking to Hurt and Deftory them. Of thele they thought the Earth, and Sea, and their moll retired Cavities and Depths were full. Of the III Ucemons_ they accounted fome to be worfe than others. Thole whd kept their Refidence in the Air they thought to be Wanton and Sportive, who either Diverted Men with their Capricious Tricks, or Infpired them with Sanguine and Amorous Thoughts. On the contrary, thofe which- frequented folitary and dark places, or lodg'd in the Caverns of the Earth, were extremely Malignant and Fierce, and like wild Beafts, attacked and tore in Pieces whomfoever they met. If by the Permiffion of Heaven they were fuffered to remove their Scats they enter’d into the Bodies of’ Men, threw them into Madnels, Epilepfies, Convulfions, and other Difmal and Affrighting DiftemperSi
Aftet the Immaterial Beings, the next Order were thfc Corporeal Worlds, of which they accounted Seven; one Empyrealy three Etherialy and three more Material^ by which they meant the Tjeirreftrial Globe compos’d of Water, Air and Earth,
We have faid enough 6f their Theology and Phyjicksy the next Branch of the Chaldaick Learning was their Arts of Prognofiicky or Prefages of Future Events, The chief of thele were AJirologjy Augury y Interpretation of Dreamsy Explanation of Prophecies y ahd other like Myllical Sciences.
The third Part of the Wifdom thefe Sages were Famous for, weiSth^ir Magick Natural 2ind Them gick. By the Help of the former they pretended to have a great Power over the Natural World, to drive away Wild-Bealls and Veno¬ mous Creatures, to prelerve the Fruits of the Earth, to keep off Storms and Tempefts, Thunder, and what not. By the latter they affirm’d they could command B^monsy and call the Good to their Aid and Affiftance, and repel and chafe the Malignant ones. I lhall not enter further into an Enumeration, but leave the Reader to lee the Original , where Mr. Stanley has given us a large and ample Account of the Worlhip, Religious, Rites, Arts and Sciences of thefe Nations.
Ha-
d
An Account of the Lifi and Writings'
Having thus given a View of the Hiftoty pf Philofophy, we {hall proceed to the reft of his Learned Labours, which are either Printed, or remain in Manufcript in the Hands of the Curious*
When Mr. Stanley had happily Finilh’d this Work? and before he was Twenty Eight Years of Age, he undertook ILfchylus^ the moft knotty and intri^te of all the Greek Poets, and in the Year i66^. after a World of Pains Ipent in illuftrating and reftoring him, he publilhed his Accu¬ rate and Beautiful Edition of that Author. This was a Work of great Difficulty, and an Enterprize worthy of Mr. Stanleys Abilities and great Skill in the Greek Language.
^ chylum pofiic Henry Stephens^ Salmajim^ and divers other Cri ticks, thought jfnuncVden- the Difficulties infuperable, and delpair’d of feeing this Accomplilhed.
lem, quam E* . .
vangelia E- _ ^ ^ ^
piltolas Apo- Six Tragedies of this Poet were nrft of all publifhed by ejus Agamcm- Aldas at Venice in the Year 1 51 8. After this Adriart Turne^ fcuScqwn- bus printed them with various Readings at the end in 155^* The fame Year they came out at Venice Revifed by SrtS &sr who added his own Conjectures, together with
rufmis ^ coco thole of Michael Sophianufix and in this Edition the Choephora rupdreftiievci was firft added with Scholia out of the Ancient Copies. rcTS'imaf. Not long after the whole came out all more Corred: than ci Ep! before, by the Care of* Petrus Vi^orius from the Prefs of P s7 Henry Stephens, In tlje laft plaee> thele Seven Tragedies were publilhed by G. Cauterus at Antwerp in 1580. in which Edition, beildes the Gorredion of an infinite number of Faults, there is an A,ccount given of his Verfification. Ifaac Caufabon in his Notes upon declares his intent to publiih and illuftrate MfchyJus 3 but either he did. no¬ thing in it, or his Labours have perilhed, to the great de¬ triment of Learning,
After thefe Great Men, Mr. Stanley engaged in this Work, and what he has done in it, may be drawn from the Account himfelf has premifed to his Edition. The Greek Text he has taken from the Cauterian Edition, and the Scholia from ViBoriusy to which, that he might omit nothing, he has annext the various Readings, Epiftles, Prefaces, Conjedures and Obfervations. He has farther Collated the former Tragedies, with Two Manuferipts, the one in the Bodleyany and the other in the ArundeUian Library, both of which were Lent him by Mr. SeUen, By means of the firft he has enriched the SchoUafi on the firft Three Tragedies, and by help of the latter publiihed
a
of Thomas Stanley^ Efq;
a Scholiaft which never before faw the Light. The Ac¬ count of the Verfification v/hich Cauterm publiflied, he has Amended, Colleded the Fragments, made a New Latine Tranflation ; and laftly, Compleated the who Work with a mofl Learned Commentary. ^
i - ■ ■
Befides thefe Monuments of his Learning which are publiflied, there are divers other Proofs of his unwearied Application remaining ftill in Jyfanufcript, all or moil of which are in the Library of the Right Reverend the Lord Bilhop of Nomich,^ Here ate his latge Commentaries on Mfchjlus in Eight Volumes in Polio which were never publilhed, his Adverfmay or Proinifcuous Remarks, in which feveral Paflages ;of Sophoctesy Euripidesy Stephanm de Vrbibusy JuvemU Perfm^ ^Hefychiu^y Callimachmy and other Ancient Authors are amended ^d explained. Belides what is mentioned, there are l^ge iPraeleiJipns on Theo^ his Charafters, and a Critical - ElTay on the Firfi- Fruitsand the Tenths of ‘the Sj)oiifaid in the Epiftle to the Hebrervs to be given by the Prbpliet Abraham to Melchh fed^cky all which are full nf Exc^|eint Learning, and no lefs juftly valued by their prefent PofTeffors.
{ f:
And thus you have a Ihdrt Account of our Author, who was a Gentleman pf.a Comely Alpedf, and exceeded by none of his Time, for Modefty,. Candour and Learn¬ ing. ' . .
His Contemporaries paid that Deference to Him which he fo well defer ved ; his Works were much beyond the Number of his Years j and in this he might be accounted another Picm MirandoUy in that he Died about the lame Age, leaving our Nation exceedingly indebted to his Fa¬ mily for affording Two fuch Illufirious Englilh Men as Sir and himfelf. '
■ 66-1. Thom. Sranleii Ampliffimi Commentarii in ./Efchyli Tragsedias [quos fui nu- nu fcripfic nondum Edi* tl] 8 Vol. Fol.
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66p. Tho. SraHleii PrjE- Jeftiones am- plifTtms in Theophrafti Charafteres.
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Stanley's Lives of the Philofophers. Folio,
Part!
1
THE
HISTORY PHILOSOPHY.
Containing thofe on whom the Attribute of W I S E was conferred.
THALE5.
CHAP. I.
The Country and Parents of Thales.
GReat wits^ which have been happy in be- _ nefiting Pofterity by their excellent in¬ ventions, have not always had the fortune to
enjoy the juft reward, their glory being inter¬ cepted oftentimes by fome later dilguife of alteration or addition. It were therefbrec grati- B tud,e
I
2
THALES. Part S
tude in us, who find our felves1nftru£led by the Ancients, to vindicate the memory of our Ma¬ kers, by enquiring diligently the Author of thofe Labours whereof we reap theHarveft. This kind of injury hath happened very conliderably to THA LES the wife Man of who
firft introduc’d Natural and Mathematical Learning into Greece.^ from whence it is derived to us 5 but the honour of fo noble a defign, the ambitious oppofition of fome, the induitry ol others hath to obfcufd, that there is little ol the reputation left to the deleaving Author. I have therefore efteemed it worth my pains, to digefl: what I could collet or oblerve of a perfon, to whom all lovers of Learning are fo much oblig’d.
The Original of Tba/es is very obfcurely deli- vered.Somc conceive he was a PlMnidan by birth, whole opinion leeming to be ftrongly founded upon Laertius, and the Authorities by him al- ledged, it is necelTary that we begin with a dif quifition upon his words, which are, as com¬ monly rendred, thele :
Now Thales was born, as Herodotus, Duris and Democritus affirm, his Lather being Examius, his Mother Cleobulina, of the Tholidx, who-were Phoenicians, the moji illuflriom of all from Cad¬ mus andh%oxiox, [as Plato alfo faithi] The Te- ^Aftronom.Nx- fj-jmony oi Herodotus, though ^ Higynm and
nh^u^Herodo- ^ttidos feem to underftand it according to the tusMiiefiw di- common error, as if he wer-e born in Phcenicia, tit. Which exprelly confirms the contrary, being thus:
corra ^ t r f r ^ Male flan, afar off by defeent a Fhatni-
5 whence we may gather, that the other tus u that? ) two Authorities of Duris and Democritus im^oi- and to be re- ted little more, or at leaft nothing to a con- trary fenle. So likewile that of Leandcr, which fuH Pbmtx°ul is by ^ Clemens Alexandrinus cited jointly with Herodotus, Mi- Herodotus, to prove him of a Pharnician ex-
lefiHs ut alii diciwt.
* In vpce Tbalest
tra£l.
He was' made free (^/Miletus idhen he went with Neleus who was banifh*d out learn’d * Cafaubon to reconcile this Story with that of Nelem, who was not banillfd out,^^of Pha;nicia,whon. he built Miletus -, for on HA3t au/5
(potvim,zs if
Thales being banilh’d out of Phoenicia had gone with Neleus to Miletus-, which alteration be- getteth a very great Anachroniliu , for this Thales was above four hundred years later than that Neleus. Therefore if Laertius meant the lame Nelem, either he was llrangely mill aken, or his Text, is corrupt, and ought to be under- Itood of the Ancelfors of Thales, to which lenfe it may be reduc’d with little alteration, thus, d ^ ot? auu
iK-maifn fotytiuf’ as if they being Phcenici- ans, went into Caria, and became Citizens of AMletus, at what time Ntleus Son of Cordrusho- ing put befide the Kingdom of Athens by his younger Brother Medon, led thither the Ionian Colonies, whereof Miletm (which he built) was the chief City. Of this Colony fee Herodotus, Strabo, and MUan.
But as mofl fay he was born there, at Miletus, and of a noble Race : j So they render , but
in oppofition to the firfl: opinion, which only mentions his Family, not Country, it may per¬ haps be underftood' here in the fame relation : Some f faith he j think he wasof aPte/Vw»|
extraft, of thofe who were incorporated at Mi¬ letus others ^at he wasjof a^Qrecian Epiily,. and that noble.' Pf thi§ l|tt^ opfinion is „ P^yiieHmL tarch,who reproves Herodotus for making ’’Tljoles malign, delcended afar oft' fibm T Barbarian ffock, and him, tliat he thanked, the Gpd^ he wasa,G^ffAS^i notsit'arddrtdh, ■
CHAP. n.
•
APollodorus///V^, that Thales was born the frftyear of the thirty fifth Olympiad- ^ De- * metrius Phalereus faith, that he was honoured* uen, with the title of Wife, when Damafias was Ar- chon. Damafias was Archon according to « Di- • 3.
onyfius HalicarnalTcEUS the fiecond year of the thirty fifth Olympiad, when Ancus Martius the \ fourth King ^Rome began his Reign.
Hereupon an Anachronifm of one year is fup- poled by very learned Men, who would have Thales to be born the fame year that Damafias was Archon. Whence " Sigonius, ' Voffius, b De AtheH- and others bring down the Birth of to the enf. tempf lecond year of this Olympiad j ^ Scaliger, '
Aleurfius. ^ Petavius and others raile Damafim to the firft year, that they may make \ inEufeB. hisMagiftracy agree with Thaleses Birth •, nei- ' Archmt. i. ther rightly ^ for the office of Damafias relateth .
not to the Birth of Thales. For the clearing . whereof we muft take notice, that Damafias *’ the Athenian Fajii is twice laid to be Archon, firft in the fecond year of the thirty fifth Olym¬ piad, the next year after the Birth of Thales, and again the fourth year of the forty eighth Olympiad, when he obtained the title of Wife 5 the latter we cannot mention without acknow-
Iledgment of the great light Chronology hath received by Mr. Selden^s Marmora Arundeliana. .
It will be alfo worth oblervance, that there was another of this name, whom Eufebius pla- ceth at the eighth Olympiad, and Laertius and ^ Plutarch make contemporary with Homer, « VitA Lymg. Hefiod and Lycurgus. " Scaliger, who perceiv- h ed the inconliftency of this account, perceived. * not the reafon ofit^ for ‘ Lycurgus and tus inftituted the Olympick Games twenty ven. Olympiads before Corabus was Viffor, who according to Eufebius is the firft. Thefe two Thales are by fome confounded ; Eufebius calls the firft a Natural Philolbpher, whereas it is certain that kind of Learning was firft intro¬ duc’d into by the lecond. ^ Suidas cites In voce th A- Phlegon, that the latter Thales flourilh’d in the les. leventh Olympiad, which Phlegon douklels meant of the firft. ‘ They who place TJ^ales a- 1 ^ee st Au- bout the feventh Olyihpiad, and make hirm con- guftm, deceit, temporary with confounded the latter Dei,lib.iB.cap.
Thales with the firft, and the true Epocha of ^4) & 27* the Olympiads with the vulgar. For the firft Thalesdwed in the feventh Olympiad from the • firft of Iphitus-, Romulus liv’d about the lame di- ftance from the Olympiad of Conebus.
This time is miftaken by that learned Father Clemens Alexandrinus, to prove younger than the later Prophets. Thus (f^itfi he) it, is “» srnmit. i, demonjirated that they who prophefiefm the time of Darius Hyftalpes in the fecond yenr of his
Reign,
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