Part III.

S 0 C K AT E S.
95
■\ SocraK Epj}- t Soon after , a Lacedamnian Youth, who I had never more acquaintance with Socrates than what Fame gave him, took a Journey lo Athens^ intending to become his Difciple-, being come as far as the City Gates, and ready to^ enter, with Joy, to be lb near the end at which he aimed, inftead of Socrates^ he meets there the ■ news of his Death, whereat he was lb troubled.
A. Vhilmnele 7ie’r Mifchkf knew^ ^ IsSlaln^ alas ! is Slam by you.
ttKyviQdv
; Fit
At which words, all the Spefliators under- ftanding they were meant of Socrates.^ fell a fome giofs n weeping. explain dv-
iicws ui ilia i-vt-aLu, vviivi>-aL ll^- w ao '11170 Dcath of this foie Vcifon flaitht
that he would not go within the City Gates, pi^s) brought a general Calamity iipon the City ^ a; J'/tL/ but enquiring the place where he was Buried, \for it may eafdy he Collelied by Computation of (^dcriv diC went thither, and breaks forth into a Paffionate that frotn thenceforward the Athenians
Difeourfe, accompanied with many tears, to the \did nothing ConfderMe., but the City by degrees ^
■J- Laert. viu Mifth.
enclofed dead Body ^ when night was come, he fell alle^ upon the Sepulchre •, the next Morning, affeflionately kiffing the Dull that lay upon it, and with much PalTion taking leave of the place, he returned to Alegar a.
Suidas tells a like Story, (for that there were more examples than one in this kind, Eibanius implies) of a Chian named Cyrfas.^ who coming to Athens to hear Socrates., went to his Tomb, and flept there, to whom Socrates appeared in a Dream, and Dilcourled with him^ with which only fatisfaffion he went direfUy home again.
t Soa-at. Epip, + By thefe Accidents the Athenians were ^ awakened into a Senfe of their Injuftice, confi- dering they were obnoxious to the Cenfiire of the Lacedemonians by extraordinary Crimes, whole Children were fo AfFeflionate to the > Philofophers whom they had Murdered, as to take fiich long Journeys to fee Socrates, whom they would not keep when he was with them ; hereat they became fo exafperated, that they were ready to tear thofe wicked Men that were the occafion of his Death piecemeal with their Teeth, the whPle City cried out, they difclaimed the Aff, and that the Authors there¬ of ought to be put to Death, t AntijihenesHm- thered their Rage by this mc2.v&,Some young Men ^Pontus invited to Athens by the Fame of Socn- tes, met zmth Antifihenes, who carried them to AnytuSj telling them he was much wifer than So¬ crates ^ whereupon thofe that were prefent, with much Indignation, turned Any tus out of the City : thence he went to Her ac lea, where Ibme fay ‘the ^Tbemiji.orat. the Citizens alfb.Expelled him, ^ others that * Laert Stoned him to Death: Melitus was by the
*Diod. Sic. 14. Condemned and put to Death ^others
Socratic. Epijt. affirm the like of all his Accufers without Tryal, Deinvid, ^Flutarch, that they fo much hated them, as they would not fujfer them to kindle fire at their Hou- fes, they would not anfwer them any queftion,they would not wajh with them, but threw away the water they had touched as impure, until unable to brook this Hatred, they hanged themf elves.
In further Teftimony of their Penitence, they called home his Friends to their former Liberty of Meeting, they forbad publick SpeQacles of Games and wreltling for a time, they caufed his Statue, made in Brafs by Lyfippus, to be fet up in the Pompeum,md (a Plague enfuing,which they imputed to the injuftice of this Aft) they made an Order that, that no Manftiould menti¬ on Socrates publickly, or on the Theatre, that fo they might forget what they had done : Euripi¬ des (reftrained by this Order from doing it di- reftly) Reproached them overtly in a Tragedy, named Falamedes (in whom he alluded to So¬ crates) particularly in thefe Verfes.
Decayed, and with it all Greece.
0(^w.
CHAP. XV.
Of his P erf on and Vertue>s.
AS to his Perfbn, he was » very unhand. * Plat.
fome, of a Melancholy Complexion, ^ Pb^dy. rhateu Bald, a flat Nofe, Eyes flicking out, a fevere down-caft look, difficult in Speech, and too ^ if at.
Plat. Vmag,
Epip.
concife, his-Language rough and carelels, but P-Wr. more efficacious than all the Eloquence of The- The miftocles, Pericles, or any other j fo* acute, that ^ he could maintain either fide in any Qiteftion, therefore is Reproached by Arifophanes, as having two Languages, whereof one was to de¬ fend Wrong ; fervent in Difpute, often fo Tranf ported, that he would Beat himfelf, and Tear his Beard, to the Derifion of the ftanders bv, which he took quietly : Patient to be redar¬ gued j ' fbmetimes he covered his Face in Di- ' fcourfe, that he might not be Diverted by any Objeft of Sight.- ^ his Conftitution flrongand i. lo?. hardy, e which he preferved fuch, by taking ^ xemph. diligent care of his Health; ’’well bearing Cold, Hunger, and upon occafion, Excefs, .
Wine without difturbance : ' his Habit the fame ; sfa-at!^^^ ’ in Winter as in Summer, having but one Gar- Epifl, menta year; (k) no Shooes, his Diet fpa ring. In fine, his countenance promifed fb little, that 1'
(/) Zopyrus zPhjFognornM who undertook to “Iff toover the difpofitions of Men by their looks fatof faid he was ftupid,becaufe there were obflrufti- ons in his jugular parts; adding, he was given to Women and many other vices; whereat Alcibiadss, and other friends of his that were prefen t, knowing him free from thofe imputa¬ tions, fell alaughing; but juftified his
skill, anfwerihg, he was by nature prone to thofe vices, but fuppreft his inclinations by reafon, whenc {m) Alcibiades ufed to lay, he refembled ■" plat, con- the image of Silenus ( ( n) as he did indeed in his countenance, baldnefs, and fiat nofe ) carved " on the outfide of little Boxes, fitting, and piay--^ ’
ing on a Pipe ; for as thofe Boxes within held images of the Gods, lb was he adorned with chaftity, integrity, and all inward beauty, ravifli- ed, as ° Plutarch faith, with a Divine Zeal to ^
Vertue, in all kinds wereof Xenophon, Laertius co/!); and others, alfert thefe Inftances.
He was fo wife,that he never erred in judging r Xavyk. betwixt better and worfe, nor thereto needed any other help: Yethe conftantly profePicJ, that he only knew that* he knew nothing; ^ for p/«t. which Reafon he was by theOrac]«j ol' Apollo lA^n. at Delphi^ declared of all Men the molt Wife^^’"^^*
• in
97
S 0 CRATES.
Part ///.
-I-
in this manner to Charephon^ many witnefles be¬ ing prefent ;
' hhol M- (ioph.
' Sophocles, Euripides, But wifeft of all Men is Socrates.
^ Academ.
qu£j}. I.
Laert.
^ Xen.memor,^. pag. 818.
Xen. mem.t. p. 710.
* Plut. Philib.
^ Suid.
'■ Schol.Axiftoph
* LdCi't.
^ Eli.in.
Ctc. Tu[c. qtuji, 5. Ojpc. X.
Plin. 7.
IP-
^ Xenoph-mem, 4* 8x8.
Flut.
Xcn. mem. i.- h 712.
* Elian. 12.
' Xennph.mem.
711.
Liban. i.
' Laof.
' Apollo ( laith Cicero) conceiving the only wildom of Mankind to confift in not thinking themfelves to know thofe things whereof they are ignorant. ‘ This Oracle, though he were nothing exalted with it himlelf, procured him much envy.
« He was Jo Rcligiot/s., that he never did things without advifing.^firfi with the Gods^ '" ne¬ ver was known to attempt or /peak any Impiety.
* He bare aReverence to the Gods, not Hu¬ mane, but fuch as tranfcended the greateft Fear : y Some fay it was out of his great Reverence •to the Divinity that he ufed to Swear by a
* (Cock) a Dog, and a Plain Tree, (under which they ufed to fit ) though it v^ere interpre¬ ted Atheilin.
» He was Conjiant.^ and a lover of the Bublick Good., as appears in his acquitting the ten Cap¬ tains, in his denying thirty Tyrants to fetch Lq- on in, hit refujing to cfcape out of P?ifon, and. Reproving Juch ai‘ grieved for his Deat h. S' Xan- tippe ufed to lay, that when the State was op- preft with a thoufand Mileries, he always went abroad and came home with the fame look, *= ne¬ ver more chearful, or more troubled, tor he bore a mind fmooth and chearful upon all occa- fions, far remote from Grief, and above all fear: In his declining Age, falling lick, he was asked by one that came to vifit him, how he did? very well (faith he ^either w^ay, if Hive, I flrallhave more Emulation, if I die, more Praife. .
* ^ He was fo Temperate, that he never prefer¬
red that which is pleafant before that which Is wholfome. He never did eat more then Appetite (which was his Sauce)made delightful j all drink was pleafing to him, becaufe he never drank but when he was rhirfty, and then with fuch Tem¬ perate Caution, that * he poured out the firff draught of Water upon the Ground, and if he were at any time invited to a Feaft, he, which to others is very difficult, with much eafe took care not to eat more than confifted with his health, ^ whereof he was very careful, be¬ caufe the Exercifes of the Soul depend thereon, and in order thereto, uled to walk confiantly before Meals, whereupon being asked by one that oblerved it, what he did ? I get Broth, faith he, for my Supper. To this Temperance it is imputed, though ^ Athens were often in his time vifited with the Peftilence, he alone elca- , ped it. I
t He was fo frugal, that how little foever he had, it was always enough. Wanting the means to live fplendidly, he taught nor anxioufly how to acquire more, but how to accom¬ modate his manner of Life to that which he had, ’ wherewith he was fo contented, that he affirmed himfelf to come neareft the Gods, becaufe he wanted leaft. Seeing the great variety of things expoled to Sale, he would lay to himfelf, how many things there are that I need not -, and often had in his Mouth thefe Verfes.
Purple, which Gold and Gems adorn.. Is by Tragedians to be worn..
Laertt
Laerh
Alcibiades ambitioufly munificent, lent him AEJian. p, many great Prelents ^ Xantippe admiring theii value, defired him to accept them : We, (an- Iwered Socrates) will conteft in Liberality with Alcibiades, not accepting, by a kind of munifi* cence what he hath lent us.
To the fame, who offered him a large plot of Ground to Build an Floufe upon : And if I wanted fhoos, (laith he) would you give me Leather to make them } but deferve I not to be derided if I accepted it?
' He flighted Arche lam King of Macedonia, and Scopar, Son of Cranoniat, Eurilocus,
Son of Tar if am, not accepting their Money, nor going to them. Archclam lending to him to ” defire his Company -, he laid, he would not go to one, from whom he fliould receive benefits, wffiich he could not equal with return. " To " Anton. Perdiccas, who demanded why he would not’"^*^'^- come to him, he anfwered, left I die the moft ignoble Death j that is, left I receive a Benefit which I cannot require.
Coming home late one night from a Feaft, fome wild young men knowing of his return, lay in wait for him, attired like Furies, with Vizards and Torches, whereby they uled to af¬ fright fuch as they met j Socrates as loon as he law them, nothing troubled, made a Hand, and fell to queftioning them, according to his ufual manner, as if he had been in the Lyceum, or Academy.
He defpifed thofe that Cavilled at him ^ Laert. ing told that fuch an one had reviled him behind his back : Let him beat me, faith he, whilft ^
1 am not by : And that another Ipoke ill of him : He hath not yet learnt, laid he, to Ipeak well. I
Being kicked by an infolent young fellow, Pint, de and feeing thofe that were with him much in- Genfe4, ready to purfue him -, he faid, what if an Afs kick me, would you have me kick again, or fue him ? but the Fellow elcaped not unpu- niflied, for every one Reproached him for this Infolence, and called him the Reviler, fo that at laft for Vexation, he Hanged himlelf
Another ftriking him a Box on the Ear, ht senecade iu. faid no more, but that it was hard a Man knew not when to go abroad with a Helmet.
Another fell upon him with much Violence, which he endured without the leaft difturbance, fuffering him to vent his Anger, which he did fo long, till he made his Face all fwelled and bruled.
Whenfoever he perceived himlelf to grow in- vht. deira. cenfed with any of his Friends,
■ I
,V
I
!
Before the Storm arofe. He to the Harbour goes.
He ufed to moderate his Voice, to look fink, lingly and moderately upon them, referving himlelf untainted with Paffion, by recourfe to the contrary.
r He taught not fuch as converfed with him to * ^enoph. be Covetous, for he took no Money of his Scholars, therein expr effing hh' own Liberality.
Hunger.
Part. Ill.
S 0 C K AT E s.
Lmt.
^hunger or Want could never force him to fiat-\ his Friends, Ihe teli into the uTiial Extravasan- ter any: Yet was he very complaifant and facete cies of her Paflion, whereupon he not anlwer-
97
? Plut, de cxid.
in Company ; as he one day openly at Dinner reproved one of his Friends fomething harfhly, Idlato faid to him, had not this been better told in private ? Socrates immediately anfwered, and had not you done better, if you had told me fo in private? ' being demanded what Countri- man he was ? He anlwered, neither of Athens^ nor Greece^ but of the World. Sometimes he
ing sny thing, vvent forth with, them, but w’as no iboner out at ,the door, when.Oie runnintr up, into the Chamber, threw dovvn Whiter upon his head, whereat turning to his Friendi did I not tdl you filth he ihat after foiuch Thun- der ,w£ inould have Rain ?
Another time (he pull’d his Cloak off from J f.„K his Shoulders in the open Forum ^ Ibme friends
would Feaft in a fine Robe, as Plato deferibes } prefent counfelled him'to beathe^: Yes faith him, and when the time allowed, learned to he, that whilfl we two fight, you may all Rand
hvTf TXy-trX e-^TT J C> • * -
“ Senec, de tranquil.
- * Xenophi mentor. p. 8i8.
X PltdntU. 8.4
Sing, faying, it was no fhame to learn any thing which one knew not : He alfo Danced every day, conceiving that Exercife healthful ^ “ nor was he afhamed to play with little Children.
He woi- fo JuJf^ that he never in the leaf 'Wronged any Alan fit on the contrary Jbene fit ed all filch as converfed with him^ as snuch he could.
2 A 3—w.^ T * ^ .A ^ ^ ... .... f ... Ft. iTT ^
by, and cry, w^elldone Socratesfto.hmi Xan- tippe.
To-fome Qther Story of the fame kind, * An- ' t oni mis Alulcs in thefe words:- Socrates looked when he was fain to gird hmjelf with a o km having taken his Cloaths away. and carriefthem forth ivith her, and what he faid to
Fib, 2, 2^,
^ his Continence WM Invincible : ^He defpifed ■ Friends, who out of a Inode f refoelifulneW thp Beauty 6f Alcibiades, derided Tit eb dot a and] back, feeing him fo attired. ^ ^ ’
Calif e, two eminent Courtezans of that Having brought Euthydemus from the Pala-
y Xct, tnemor E p. 111.
» Xenoph. mm. 2.p.-j$2.
tlihe ^
, y He took great delight in the Converfition of good Ale n 5 to. fich he communicated whatfoever he knew j with them he f udied the writings of the ancient xmfe men, feleSing what was good out of /ta,(which confirms what was faid before in the life of Solon, that Moral Phifofophy was com¬ menced by the Sophy ) and efeemed this mutual friendfhip which he contratied with them above all Treafire. z Towards this his outward endeavour was fb affeQ ed and defired*by them, as much as he affe^ied and defired them.
plut. de irct.
CHAP. XVI.
His Wives and Children.
He had two Wives,’ the firff Xantippe, a Citizens Daughter of Athens, as Theodoret affirms, who adds, that fhe was Difhcneft be¬ fore he Married her, even with himfelf, befides others: Athen£us alfb faith, that after he was Married, he lent her to a Friend
running to the overturned it •, Euthyd£mus much troubled, role up, and would have gone away ■ when Socrates : did not a Hen the other day faith he, the very fame thing at your Houle, yet 1 was not angry thereat ^
Alcibiades having fent him a curious’ March- pane, (flirioully, as her Marnier was) Sji.i 1.12^
threv'^ It out of the Basket, and trod upog it
^^f'^ffSocrates\m^mg,andfhallnotyoiiHA\A
he) lofe your fhare in it ^
Another time fhe offered to go to a pubiick.-®/M». 7 k,; Show, attired undecently take heed, laid he, you Laert.At^b. be not rather the Speffacle than the^SpeHator.
With reafon thereof he faid, I had three ,, ,
Evils, Grammar, Poefie, and an ill Wife- two I have lhaken off, but my ill Wife I cannot. .
His other Wife was named A/lyrto., ^ Niece t -ri a *• to Daughter of Arptdes, not the
Juff, as Laertius, and from hivnSuidas affirms but another of that name, the third from him’ as is obferved by At hemeus^ for the two Daugh¬ ters, of the Juft, could not but be of
great Age before the 77^b Olympiad, wherein
• i. 17.
'■ Laert.
• Lnert:
j -a . . . ......V., and that
Mabtades lay with her: Arjfloxemis, and e-™- -a- o.e 770, v..iympiaa wlierein
Porphynvs, from whom thefe Alperiions are de- Socrates was born, long before^wWch’time Art rived, have been noted of too much malignity, Hides died an Old M-jn in 'nX
to be of any Authority.
She was (according to the Chamber * A. Gel A//X gives her) Curft, Froward, Chiding and Scolding always both day and night, ^ and for that reafon he chofe her, as he profeft to An- tifhenes, from obferving, that they who would be excellent in Horfemanfhip, chofe the rough- eft Horfes, knowing, if they are able to manage them, they may eafily Rule others : He, deli- rousto ufe much converfation with Men, took her to Wife, knowing, if he could bear with her, he might eafily converfe with all Men.
To Alcibiades, who faid, her Scolding was in tolerable, he profeft it was nothing to him, be¬ ing ufed to it, likefuchas live in the conti¬ nual noife of a Mill ; Befides, faith he, cannot you endure the cackling of Hens? but they, anfwered Alcibiades, bring me Fggs and Chick¬ ens : and my Xantippe, replies Socrates, Chil¬ dren.
Of her Impatience, and his Sufferance, there are feveral iiiftances j ' one day before feme of
fides died an Old Man in Exile ^ for that The- inifocles died the fecond year of the 77th Olym¬ piad is certain, and as JEmilius Probus affirms Arif ides died four years before Themifoeles was Banifhed Athens, hereupon Plutarch more cau- cioufly calls her not the Daughter, but Niece of Arif ides.
Some, becaufe Xantippe (as is manifeft from Plato) out-lived him, believe he was firft Mar¬ ried to .A/lyrto, but that he had both thefe Wiv’es at the fame time, which is attefted by Demetrl us^ Phalereus, Arifoxenus (to whom Athenxus faith, that Arifotle gave the ground) Calif Jycnes and Porphyrins : whence Arifippus in his E- „ piftle to his Daughter Alyrto, advifed her to go to Athens, and above all to honour Xantippe and AAyrto, and to live with them as he with Socra¬ tes.
The occafion, whereupon the Athenians, who from the time of Cecrops had ftriffly obferved fingle Marriage, allowed bigamy, in the time of Socrates, was this j In the fecond year of the 87 Olympiad, and the third of the Athens
N wa^
SO CRATES.
Part HI.
was Vifited extreatniy with the Peftilence, Euclid (^Megara, infiitutor of the Megarick which attended by War and Famine, occafioned Schoof fo named from Clinomachus h 'ls Difciple fo great a fcarcity of Men, that they made an called the DialeSick., ending in Zeno /^^■Citian, Edifl it might be Lawful for any that would who introduced the Stoick. to take two Wives. Euripides made ule of this The Herillians are named alfd., as a Scot that Indulgence, and that Socrates alfo did fo, is af • zwuld be called Socratick. To thefe recited by tefted by Satyrus the peripatetick, and Hierony- ‘ Cicero, Suidas adds
tmf.
Theadoret,
mm the Rhodian, who Recorded the Order -, to which Athenaus impViiQS thefilence of the Co- mick Poets in this particular, who omitted no grounds of Reproach. Rlutarch implies, that he took her out of Charity, for fhe was a Widow s (without any Portion or Dowry ) extreamly in want.
‘ Porphyrm reports, that when thefe two ( Xantippe and Myrto) quarrell’d, they would at iaft fall both upon Socrates, and beat him, be- caufe he flood by and never parted them, but laughed as well when they fought with him, as with one another.
By Xantippe he had a Son, named Lamprocles, who could not brook her impatience fo well as his Father, and being vex’d by her into Difobe- dience, was reclaim’d by Socrates ^ be died young, as may be gathered from Plutarch, who faith, Timarchm of Charonea, dying very young, defi- red earneftly of Socrates that he might be Buried near his Son Lamprocles, who died but few days before, being his dear Friend, and of the fame /Ige. It appears from Plato, that he had more Sons by her, for in his Apology he mdhtions three, two grown Men, the other a Child, v/hich feems to be the fame, brought by Xantippe to him in Prifon the day of his Death, and as Plutarch defcribes it, held in her Lap.
By Alyrto he had two Sons : the eldeff Sophro- nifcus, the Aiencdemus,oi Alenexenus,
tho’ fome fay he had 'Menedemus by Xantippe.
* De Orator, lib. 3.
Bryfo of Heraclea, who together with Euclid. invented difputative Logick.
TheodorusTiimm.Qdi the Arheifl, who invented a peculiar Se£l called Theodorean, the Opinion which he taught was d
Other Difciples of Socrates there were, who followed his Philofbphy, not appropriating out of it any particular Sefl, and therefore moft properly deferve the Title of Socratich,Pic]\ are Crito,Ch(erephon, Xenophon, 2Ef chines, Simiof,
Cehes, Glduco, and Terpfion.
The laft kind of his Auditors were thole whomadenoprofeffion of Philofophy, of whom were •
Critioi' and Alcibiades, who aftewards proved the moft Ambitious Spirits of the Athenians, but it was difcovered in neither whilft they converft with Socrates, either that their youth vvas not capable of expreffing their Vice, or that they cunningly complied (as Xenophon conjectures) with Socrates, in hopes of being by his converla- tion enabled to manage their former defigns, which as loon as they attempted they left off their Friendfhip mthSocrates. Critiar fell ftom him and converted his affeCtion into hate,becaule he reproved his Lovefto Etahydemus ; Alcibiades naturally diffolute, was reclaimed by Socrates, and continued fuch whilft he converfed with him.
He was of Form lb exqnifiie as gave occalion to fome to calumniate the friendfhip betwixt him and Socrates, to which effeCt Ariftoxe^ nus is cited by Laertius and Athen(eus,mid fome verfes of A fpafia by the latter •, his Vindication we refer to Plato and Xenophon.
Of SocratesAdi InftruCfions to Alcibiades there are thefe inftances.
“ He told him he was nothing of what a Man » cket. tufa ought to be, that he had no advantage by the greatnefs of his Birth above an ordinary Porter conviv.. whereat Alcibiades much troubled, with tears beibught him to inllrucl him in Virtue, and to reform his Vices.
‘ PeicACmgAlcibiades tobe exceeding proud of ' 3.
Ifs Riches and Lands, he fhewed him a Map of ^8. the World, and bad him find Attica therein; which done, he defired that he would fhew him his own Lands, he anfwered,that they were not there.
Do you boaft, replies Socrates, of that which
CHAP. XVII.
His Scholars and Auditors.
WHereas (faith Cicero) many Springing from Socrates by reafon that out of his Several various Pifputes diffufed every where,one laid hold of one thing, another of another', there were fome, as it xioere,fo many fever al Eamilies differing amongji themfelves, much disjoyned and df agreeing', yet all thefe Philofophers would Ife called, and conceived themfelves to be Socraticks .*
Of thefe were.
■ Plato, from whom came Ariftotle and Xeno- crates, the firfl taking the name of Peripatetick, the other of Academic.
Antifthenes, who chief y afehled the Patience | you lee is no ( confiderable ) part of the Earth? and Hardinefs /;? Socrates his difcourfe, from\ d Alcibiades being by reafon of his youth ^/wn. 2. whom came frji the Cynics, then the Stoicks. bafhful and fearful to make an Oration to the
' r . / • , People, thus encouraged him. Do you
u
Ariltippus, zcho was more delighted with his more voluptuous dif put ations, from him Sprung the Cyrenaick Philofophy.
Others there were who likewife called them' f elves Socraticks, but their Sells by the frength and Arguments of the former are broken andq^uite extinll : fuch were
Phsdo, an Elean, who infiituted a particular School, from him calledRViick, which afterwards Zitas called Eretriack, from Menedemus, who taught Eretria, from him Pyrrho, thence the Pyrrhonians,-
not efteem (faith he) that Shoomaker (naming him) an inconfiderable Fellow ? Alcibiades affen- ting ; and fo likewife (continues he) that Crier and that Tent-maker. Alcibiades granting this, doth not, faith he, the Athenian Common- wealth confift of thefe ? if you contemn them fingle,fear them not in an Affembly. To thefe add ^ laert. vH.
^ e The four Sons of Crito the Philolbpher ; the crit. eldeft Critobulus ^ exceeding handfome and rich,-/ Macro. but by Socrates (who valued his own Eftate at 7* 3; Esctninxdg demonftrated to be poorer than him- ** felf. The
Part HI.
S 0 C R AT E S.
99
b Xemph.mem. Aermogenes^ A who tailing into ! Hippioi^ inElean^ with whom di- 4
i Xmpk.mem. 4. ^ 785.
eTt* putAn-
Ttii ly '3 o7{
pHT0&lK07ii
&?• 774
Laert.
Poverty, 5' to entertain.
The third Epigenes, * a young Man of an in¬ firm Body, whom Socr-Aes adviled >to ftudy his own health, as that wherein confifled the well¬ being and knowledge of his Mind.
The Youngeft Ctejippus.
Of Poets, Euripides (as the Writer of his Life affirms)and Euenus,
J'fr ^ WC..«.A.W* fJ
Of Orators Lyjias^ emineilt in that kind'^'eafie k 'Qi asAyt- to be undetflood, hard to be imitated, he came vusMfjSpw, to Athens in the fecond year of the Sad. Olym- (r7ad\vTo- whom of refraflory he made pli-
to r^hkh ant,- and If cerates^ of whom when every young, alfo Flu- Socrates prefaged great things. In the number of carch') voiit^z- ^^^5 Scholars and Auditors were alfb
^t)K'Sv'7r^eSE^VQti. Dion. Hdicarn. in Critio.
I Plat Apol ’ Adimantus and “ Glauco Sons to Arijlo., nr Xemph. ' Brothers to P/dto : and Charmides Son of Glauco. mm. 5. />.772. Glauco before he was twenty years old had taken upon him to be an Orator, and aimed at fome great Office in the Common-wealth, not to be wrought off from this fancy which made him every where appear Ridiculous, until addrefs’d by fome Friends to Socrates.^ who made him ac- knowledg his own Error and Ignorance of that which he had undertaken. On the contrary, his Son Glauco of excellent Parts, fit for any Office in the Common-wealth, yet timeroully Ihunning all publick Affairs, was by Socrates induced to undertake the Magiffracy.
n Nicojiratus Son of Theodotides and his Bro¬ ther Theodotus.
* JEantodorus., and .his Brother Apollodorus. 'Lyfanias., Father of JE/chines. p Charecrates.^ brother to Ch£repho'nPoQtw\yi.t Whom there ivas a great Quarrel, but reconcil’d by Socrates.
was Theages.
r Al7??/^/7f,aCephifiean, Fatherof Epigenes: with whom he difcourles of lelffufficience, teaching A, and of veracity in ^ Xenophon. Eumaresz. YPAxXimpsAXenomedespeti Athenian Befides thefe, there are with whom Socrates difcourfed and inftruffed.
, * ALri/? ?/(?, who would
t Xenopb.mem. r> --fc d tn- • • 1
i.j). 725. not Sacrifice, Pray, oruie Lhvmation, but deri¬ ded all fuch as did, was by Socrates convinced.
Jr/^^rc^/^j^troubled that he had a charge of Kindred lying upon him, by Socrates converted to a willing Liberality towards them.
, Eutherusyvho returning from Travel, his Lands taken away, his Father having left him nothing, chole rather to follow a Trade than to apply h'lmfelf to Friends, but diverted by Socrates.
Diodorus.^ whom Socrates perlwaded to take Hermogenes.
Enthydemus., who had colleffed many Senten¬ ces of Poets and Sophifts, thought he excelled all his equals, and hoped no lels of his fuperi- riours, who was by conltrained to ac¬
knowledge his own Error and ignorance, and departed much troubled.
fcourled of Jnfticc.
Nicon/edes., Pericles., and Jphii rates, with ^ xinoph. whom he difcourfed concerning the Office of a General.^ .v Into the lalf he infufed Cour X Laert. by [hewing him the Cocks of Alidus y bruftling;- Trji^Va'ITi- againft thole of Callias. W
\ ^ difputing of Knowledge, he
m'.ft, Infpired as it were with Divine W ifdom. aliquando m- a Euthyphron who intended to accufe cau-
own Father, he dilfwaded. pandcntes.
With Phurrhafu^a Painter, Clito a Statuary, ^ and PijlLzs an Armourer : He difputes in b Xe- 1 Mm. nophon concerning their feveral Arts.
Plat. L rert. a. Plat. Laert.
n Plat. Apol. 0 Plat, ibid, p Kenopb.
q plat. Apol. r Plat. Apol. f Mentor, i. 732.
w Xen. metn.%.
Xen. mem. 2.
Xen. mem, 2.
Xen. mem. 4..
CHAP. XVII.
Id/s Writings.
THey who affirm that Socrates writ nothing ( as Cicero.^ Plutarch, Dion, Chryfoftom,
Arijiides, Origen, and others) mean in refpeft to his Philofophy, in which kind he never wrote any thing himfelf, but what he difcourfed was committed to writing by Xenophon, Plato and others of his Scholars. Hence the Works of Pla¬ to (particularly Phaedo ) went under the name of Socrates, and are fo cited by Arijiotle But that fome things were written by Socrates him- felf^ is evident from thofe who affirm.
c He writ, together with Euripides, and aided c Laut, him in making Tragedies, whence Alnejilochus,
The Phrygians is Euripides new Play.
But Socrates gave it the beft Array.
And again, Euripides Is fleer d by Socrates and Callias.
How thou with Pride and Self-conceit derflowf ;
But all the cauje to Socrates thou owefl.
Hither refer we that of d Cicero, who faith, ^ when Euripides made his Play Orejles, S'ocrates quaji 4. revoked the three firft Verfes. He writ alfo fome Fables of JEfop in Verfe, not very Elegant, men¬ tioned by Plato, Plutarch and Laertius, begin¬ ning thus :
To thofe who dwelt in Corinth, .^fop faid.
Virtue with Vulgar Wifdom be not weigEd.
A p£an or Hymn in honour of Apol. and Diana ;
One that went under his name beginning thus.
Dalian Apollo, and thou fair,
Diana, hail-, immortal pair.
is by Dyonifidorus denied to be his.* This is menti¬ oned alfo by Plato, to which fome add
The Encomium of Gryllus Son of Xenophon, e Laert. vif. flain in the Alantinean Fight, which the difa- greement of times will notallow 3 more certain it is he framed
/ Dialogues, which he gave to Mf chines, fee- y v/r.
ing him in want, that he might get Money by /Epbm them 3 to thefe add
Epijiles, fome whereof are publiffied hy Leo Allatws that he writ more is implied by Arrr an and Athenaus.
N 2
Socrates
lOO
~S0 CK AT ES
Part Hi-
Socrates his Epiftles :
Epiftle I
a Allatius otbemije.
O U feem unacquainted with my re- folutions, elfe you would not have fent the fecond time, and enlarged your Ojfers •, but you believe Socra¬ tes, as well as the Sophifts, Mercenary of his Counfel, a and that what I writ before was not real, but only to draw great overtures from you: therefore -now you promife wonders, in confidence to oblige me by your many Prefents to quit my intereft and commerce with the A- theniatis, and to come over to you : I think it mofl unleeming a Philolbpher to fell his ad¬ vice, and extreamly contrary to my Prafilice for ever fince by God’s command I firft entred into Philofophy, I was never known to take any thing, but keep my Exercifes in publick, b tor every one to hear that will I neither brtf T£ lock the door when I teach, as is reported of rT/’ f’ ^"thp Eyihagoras, nor go abroad to the Multitude, wordsarTpaffa- and exafil Money of the Hearers, as fome here- ble(fo knot the tofore have done, and fome in our times yet do*, interpretation of j enough from witfiin my felf, fhouldl ac-
Allatius, xjtic Others, I know not where to
Imcli '^et'mnfi depofite it, nor whom to truft better than the miint poteftate givets themlelves, whole Faith if I fufpeft, I faBa. ) But I j;];iaii be thought improvident to confide in, if honeft, I can receive from them, though I lay up nothing with them ^ for they that would be faithful keepers of Money, will not be unfaith¬ ful prefervers of their own gratitude, and they will never go about to defraud me of what they would have given^ but receiving that of me gra¬ tis, for which others take Money, they will c confider me when I want. In a word, if friends, they will, d like you, impart of their own to . us ; if not Friends, they will feek to deprive us
conceive the words of So¬ crates weo'e
Tw oCtOVTt TS
c Allatius, otherwife. d For
rea-
ding CinSi of what IS ours. ritMii. Befides, I have not leifure to hoard up Mo¬
ney, but wonder at them that lay, they get Riches e This inter- g for their own lake, and have a high Opinion pretatm feems themfelves for their means, who negle8: by th^parkcle Learning to addifif themlelves to Gain, and fo
before
cCVTi.i.
f Otbermfe ^llatius. g Reading
become admired for their Riches, derided for their Ignorance, efteemed for all things except themfelves. f But if we fo much abhor to have recourle to Friends, g to depend on others to eat their Bread, how comes it that we are not alliamed to fuffer the fame from Money ? do we not know that thefe Men are not fulpefled only for their Wealth, and if Fortune turn, they live in all difrelpeO; ? they are not fully contented when they are in efteem, becaufe it is not for their own Iakes,but in dilelfeem are much more difcontented, being themlelves the caufe of their own dilhonour.
Firft, therefore you were miftaken, if you did imagine Socrates would do that for Money which he would not without, not knowing that many occafions, but chiefly the neceffities oi my Country detain me : Wonder not that I fay I difcharge my Countries Bufinels, being not imployed either in Army or Court, every one ought to apply himfelf to that which he is capable of *, ^ things above his reach he mull '^«{-Vw"a/-l-S2,ve to others, and perform thofe that are within his compafs : And in fuch Cities as this.
ruv
h Arret.
tj&f) iriocov . ' a
not only counfellors or commanders for Sea or Land are requifite, but fome likewile, that may admonilh others in their Offices ^ for it is ^ no- ; by thing ftrange, that they fall as it were alleep, under the weight of their charge, and need a Goad to waken them : Over thefe God hath pla- lle^LlZdti ced me, for which I become, and not without drr^ n caufe, Odious to them. Irsp wixo#
But he, in whom I moft confide, will not fuffer me to go, he knows better than my felfo^/;^^ what is good for me ^ when I refolved to come k Perhaps to thee, he with-held me, and when thou fent- ^eevfAA- eft the fecond time, forbid me ; I dare not difo- ^ bey him. Eindar taught this Wifdom, fiying.
When God points out the beginning of any work, it is the dired way to obtain Virtue, the end Glo¬ rious: The Verfes are much to this purpole. O- ther Poets have faid as much of the Gods, that what is undertaken with their advice, fucceeds well; but what without God, is unprofitable to the undertakers. The wifell Cities of Greece confult the Oracle of Eelphi, and as many as • follow it have good fuccefs, who do hot, moft commonly receive prejudice.
Yet I mail not wonder, if you give no Faith to what I deliver of the Damon, for I have met with* not a few alike incredulous; moft of thole that were in the Delian Fight did not believe me;
I was then in Arms, and Sallied out of the City ■with the People to skirmilh, many of us were dilperfed in Fight, and as we came to a certain way, the accuftomed lign came upon me ; I ftopt, and faid, in my opinion, friends, we Ihould not go this way, for I heard the Damon’s Voice : the greater part were angy, as if I had trifled at a time fo lerious; fome few were perfwaded to go along with me another way, and got fafe , home ; one that came from the others brought word they were all llain : fome Horle-men re¬ turning from the purfuit, had fallen upon them, whom they at firft refilled, but being at laft en- cloled by them, who were more in number, they gave back, and were in the end opprelled and and killed ; he that brought this News was dan- geroully wounded, and elcaped only by the help of his Shield. I have alfo by inftru£lions from God, foretold many events to particularperlbns.
You offer part of your Kingdom, and invite me to it, not as to a changed Government, but to Rule both your Subjefls and your lelf: but Icon- fels, I have not learned to Command, and would no more undertake to Rule, not knowing how, than to play at Dice, having never been taught;
And doubtlefs if other Men were of the fame mind, there would be fewer troubles in life ; whereas now the confidence of fuch as are igno¬ rant, undertaking things they do not underftand,- occafions thefe many difturbances : hence is it, they make Fortune greater than Ihe is, and by their own Folly, increale her Power. Befides, I am not Ignorant , that a King ought to be more Honoured and Admired than a pri¬ vate Perfon, and as I would not undertake to be a Horfeman having no skill in Horfeman-
fiiip, but had much rather be
in
a Footman, tho’ the
lOI
Part
III.
SOCK A T E S.
the charge be lels honourable : the lame is my
Opinion as touching Kings and private Perfons, nor puffed up by Ambition vnWl defire moregl'o-
thele two arO' requifite, Courage arid Bounty^ tor this we are loved of our Friend's-, tor thlt* ieared of our Enemies : of both, 'thou halt do^^
rious Affiftions : they who invented the Fable of meltick precedents.
Beiferophon feemed to imply fomething to this purpole,for he was opprelt with misfortunes, not becaufe he fought to rife higher in place, but fof aiming at things above him, and being thrown down from his hopes, led the reft of his life
Epifl.VL
Have takenduch care of your Strangers as you defired, and retained one to plead their caule , before the People, ri a- Friend ofburs, who pro-^ teft himfelf the readier to undertake it, out oi ^
I
I 'AfiHVCi J'oKuv Othefs. dy-^veiv S'oitav. Eey haps Aia^vov
Cr ifjifJLemv J^oKuy.
poorly and ignominioufly, driven by mocks out I his defire to ferve thee of Cities into theWildernels,andfhunning path- 1 As for that which you write in jeft concern- ways, not what we commonly call fo, but the | ing wealth, and fuch as are fblicitous for it, per- freedomjwherewith every one orders his life.But 1 haps it is not unreafonable. Firft, becaufe whilft let this be taken how the Poets pleafe, niy refb- others Studie to be Kich, I chobfe to live mean- . lution you now hear again, that I will not change ly. Then though Imight receive many Gifts' this place for that, / conceiving this fitteft for I and Legacies from living and dead friends ; yet '> me : nor is God willing I fhould, who hath been 1 1 freely difclaim them, and for a man thus en-
ever untill now, my Counfellor and Guide. Ep/Jf, IL
dined, to be by others judged mad, is nothing hrange: But we muft examine itbt this only.
YOU are not ignorant how great efteem we I but the reft of our life; and fince we difagree have oiCharephon^ who being chofen Am- 1 in the ufe, no wonder that we differ in the aC- baffador by the City to the Yeloponnefians^ will 1 quifition of o Riches ; my Diet is very fparing, o For cuiii- perhaps come to you ; a Philofopher is enter- rmy Habit the fame in Winter as in Summer; Iruvreacix^n- tained with imall trouble, but the Journey is never wear Ihoos, I am not taken with Popular dangerous, efpecially becaufe of the tumults I Applaufe, but with the ftudy of Wifdom and that are there at this time, from which, if thou Integrity. But they who are intemperate, Luxu- proted him, thou wilt preferve our friend and rious in Meat, not every year, but every day infinitely engage us. ' ; I putting on new Apparel, are trarifported with
Epift. III. I unlawful delights, and as they who lofe their
ANe/o of Amphipolis was commended to me| natural Complexion have recourfe to Paint. So at Votidiza^ he is now coming to Athens^ | thefe lofing the true glory of Virtue which eve- being thrown out of his Houfe by the People-d ry one ought to have, flie to that which depends for at prefent. Affairs are much Embroiled and j upon Complaifancewith others, courting vulgar Clouded there, but I believe within a little while I Applaufe with Largeffes and Feafts. Hence I they will clear up. In aflifting him, you will I fuppofe'it comes, that they need much Wealth; oblige a deferving perfon, and benefit both the I They th'emfelves cannot live upon a little, nor Cities; Amphipolis., left by Rebelling it incurr ir-J will others adrhit them into their Society, un
remediable danger : Ours, left we be involved in their troubles as at this prefent we are reduced almoft to. extremity for Potidrca.
Epifl. ir. ■
'Eeting with Critohulus., I perfwaded him
M'
_ to ftudy Philofophy, but I think he is of Mother mind, and more acjdifted to affairs of State, in which he intends to make choice of the fitteft method, and beft inftrufilor, fbrthemoft exellent fojourn now in Athens., and with many of them we are intimate. Thus much concerning him; as for u*, Xantippe 2dAx\\q Children are well, and I continue to do, as when you were with me.
Epiji. V.
WE hear you are at Thebes^ and Troxenus gone into Afia., to take part with Cyrus ; whether your defigns will prolper God knows, rU'AdiffViOr they ate here condemned by many, for it is con- ceived unfit the Athenians fhould aflift Cyrus^ through whofe means they were deprived of Command by the Laced him, who fought againft them. It is not there¬ fore ftrange if the State being altered, fome be ready of themfelves to accufe you of tempori- iing, and the better your fiicceft is, the greater will be their Calumnies -, for I am well acquain¬ ted with the difpofitions of fome ; but fince we have undertaken this, let us prove our felves ho- neft men, and call to mind what we ufe to fay of Virtue, accounting this one of the beft fen- lences of the Poet, Our Fathers houfe muft not be difcredited.
m Read
rrhjil ’Aa'iay.
lefs they receive a Salary for commending them.
But niy life is well as to both thefe : I will not deny but in fome things I may fail, I know that wifeft M.en prefer thofe, mold Men thefe ;
RefleHing foihetimes within my felf upon God;
I find that he exceeds us, in that he hath need of nothing ; it is the property of a moft excellent Nature not to' want any thing, and to compre- hend within himfelf all that he enjoys. Thus is v-
he wifer than others, who imitates the moft .;rd(xe^y, eirc. Wife, p and Happier, who refembles the moft ?
Happy. If Riches could do this. Riches were be preferred ; but fince Vertue only can obtain ^ it, it were folly to forfake the real good to pur- cc-
fue the feeming. Hence I cannot eafily be perfwa- yoAldv ded but that my Condition is better than theirs, q As for Children,Who as, you fay ought to be provided for, the care that I take for them, all Men may fee, I know but one ground of hap- oVr*? dyd-fv- pinefs,Wifdom. The Fool who repofeth his truft in Gold, poffefleth not that which he hath, and is withal fo much more mifcrable than tjV sji others, in that they who are oppreffed with po- vary may grow Wife hereafter. But of an Opinion of his ownHappinels, negleaing^.^,;„^^^^v^ true Gain is, corrupted With Plenty, r BeMesto^teyfed for that he never yet obtained Man’s eflentialgood,'5f'^y is depriv'd of hope thereof for the future. J Nor is it poffible that fuch a Man pn go ‘
fecurely to Virtue, who is entangled in the fiat whkb i choofe, teries of thofe who are Mafters in all infinua- reuding mme- ting Arts, and in the ^Charms of.
Know therefore, that to War, wh'ich glide into the Soul through every Senfe,
and
102
s Verhitps
So Allacius ^eems to read. t l^'or 0V
reading
TSf/W.
S 0 C RAT E S.
Part. IIJ.
and drive out all wile and lound Judgment. How then can he choofe but give his his Chii- dten occafion of Folly rather than Inftruftion,. who not only in words but aflions exprefleth that in thele things he hath placed his hope, who not proving good, their Subfiifence fails, and they die miferably for want of food; Julfly puniflied for their Idlcnefs j Parents are by Law enjoyned to bring up theit Children till they are Men. But you, perhaps fonae Citizen
may fay to his Sons greedy to inherit, fpare me jthefe things were not done without Socrates. 5
nor dying,and whilft you live relie for mainte¬ nance upon me, tho’ dead not afliam'd to lead a life more lazy than death j you expeff that my fortunes fliould extend toothers even after my de-. ceafe, biit your own are not competent for your felves. whilft ypu are yet alive. Such
eth^ but we ;WiU Gonfider more exactly upon
thefe things when we meet ^ thus much may ferve as a curfory anfwer to your demand.
. Epijl. VIL
I wonder not at what you write, that you do fufpeO: the thirty continue the lame mind to us fince your departure , which they had when you were here. As foon as you were gone, they began to have a Jealoufie of me, and there paft amongft them a murmur that
within few days they cited me to the Court, I where fome complaints were preferred againft me, and when I defended my felf, they com¬ manded me to go to the Eyraum to apptehend Leon.^ their intention, was to put him to death, that they might enjoy his Eftate, and make
rough Speeches happily he willufe to his Chil- rme partner in theii^njuff ice ^ when I refufed,and dren, taking' the liberty both of a Father and Ifaid fomething to this effe£l that I would never a Patriot. My Fortunes in theeflimate of o- willingly lubfcribe to an unjuit aff^ Charkles thef Menare mean, but in the effeO: nothing iwas prefent, and inwardly wext, faith
inferiouf to the Rich. I will not leave my Chil- hhe, doft thou think to talk thus peremptorily,
dren Money, but a more honourable Heritage,dif creet Friends,whom as long as they keep they can want as necefiaries, and if they ufe them ill, doubtlels they would ufe their Money w.orfe,
land not luffer ten thoufand Ills.^C^^rm/ ‘but none fo hainous as to dounjuftly. He an¬ swered not a word, nor any of the reft, but e- ver finpe they have liked me the worle.
But ir to you, who know the negligence of I As for you, fome were then prelent, report- Friends, I feem to give ill advice j I anfwer , Led that- your affairs fucceed to your wilh, that that all Men are not alike affeffed to their j'the Thebans in (your Exile received you kindly. Friends, for fome take care of them after they and will alTift your return to their utmoft. are dead, and it is likely that ours are not of a pome were troubled at this News, and the negleQful humour, but pleas’d with the paft ad- 1 more becaufe it lefTened their hopes of fupply
vantage they have received by us, no lefs than with thepr^entof a fhort benefit, the requital is ftiort -, lafting benefits produce a return equal
from Lacedremo)!.^ for they who came along with the Ambafladous, affirmed, that theL^ drtmonians were engaged in a great War, and
to their profit, and I forefee that what is mine, the' Ephori hearing of thele Troubles, were dif will hereafter appear more gracious to my (contented, and faid, that the had
Friends, and therefore I exaff no rewards of not intrufted them with the City to fee it de-
them. I account nothing of equal value in ex¬ change with Philofophy but Friendlhip, nor like the Sophifts, have I any diffidence of thofe things that are mine, for being old they renew, and in their decaying * age flourifti, which makes them more acceptable to the Difciples, and their Father more efteemed ^ * . Living he obtains honour, dead is thought worthy of me¬ mory, and if he leave a Kinlman behind him, they will refpeH: him like his Nephews, and Brethren, and Ihew him all kindnels , as being allied to him by more than a natural affinity j neither if they would, can they negleff him, in misfortunes ^ no more than we can flight 'them, who are near to us in Blood -, for affinity in Soul forceth them to relieve the Son of the dead as if he were their own Brother ^ when they call to mind his Father, whofe dilhonpur they account their own.
Now judge if I order my affairs ill, or take no care for my Children, fo as when I die they lhallbe deftitute of neceffaries, who leave them not wealth, but fuch Guardians as will have a care of them and Wealth. No Hiftory makes mention of any Man that hath been made better by riches ^ a tried Friend in this is to be prefer¬ red before tried Gold, that he is not beneficial to every one who defires him, but to thofe he loves beft. Nor does he fupply only the neceffi- ties of Life, but is ferviceable a§ well to the Soul of hint that hath him, and is moft condu¬ cing to vertue, without which nothing profit-
ftroy’dj “ for if .they wouldhavedone fo,it were moft ealie for them who had the Command
being withal inftigated thereunto by the Czr/Vz- thians and Thebans.^ and that the City might be ^c, better governed under an Oligarchy than a iV- If alii this be true, and your affairs fucceed as they report, there is great li^hood that upon your coming in with the Thebans^ the Lacedaemonians not aiding thefe, all things here may. be, eafily compofed. Befides, many of the Natives who now are quiet through Fear, if they perceived never fo little that you were firm, will readily forfake this Party, be-’ caufe in this government of the City nothing is left them entire but through many and continu*' al Enormities all is in Confufion ^ the greater