Part V.>.

Flato endeavoured to effeft • he inftruQ;ed Dion in Philolbphy, in the Academy : Dion lay in the City at the Houfe ot Calippus, with whon> he had been long acquainted. He purchafed a Country Houfe for Pi eafure, whither he fome- times went^ this he bellowed afterward, at his return to Sid/y, upon Speujippus^ with whom he converfed moft intimately, as being fo advi- fed by Flato, who knew the cheerful humour of Speufippin to be a fit divertifement • for the relerved difpofition of Dion. Flato had undertaken the expence of fome Plays and Dances by fome Youths ^ Dion took the pains to teach them, and paid the whole charge: By this liberality which Flato fuffered him to con¬ fer upon the Athenians, he gained more Love than Flato Honour.
In the mean time, Dionyfius, to acquit him felf of the difefteem he had gained amongft Phi- lofophers in Flat o’ s Caufe, invited many Learn¬ ed Men, and in a vain Ollentation of Wifdom, applied improperly the Sentences he had learned of Flato ; Hereupon he began to wifh for Flato again, and to blame himlelf, for not knowing how to ufe him well when he had him, and that he had not learned fo much of him as he might : and being like a Tyrant tranfported with uncertain paffions and changes, a fudden vehement defire came upon him of * PUt.EpiJl.$. feeing Flato again. The peace being now con¬ cluded, he fent to Flato to come to him ( but not ( as he had promifedj to Dion) writing to him, that he would have him to come immedi¬ ately, and that afterwards he would fend for Dion. Hereupon Flato refufed to go, not- withftanding the intreaties of Dion • alledg¬ ing for excule his old Age, and that nothing was done according to their agreement. In the mean time, Ar chit as, whom, with others of Tarentim, Flato, before his departure, had brought into the acquaintance of Dionyfius, came to Dionyfius •, there were alfo others there, Auditors of Dion. Dioiyfius being refufed upon a fecond Invitation, thought his Honour deep¬ ly concerned, and thereupon lent the third t time a Gaily of three banks oi' Oars ( t trimmed
with Fillets) and other Ships, and with them Archidemus, whom he conceived Flato moft affefled of all his Friends in Sicily, and Ibme Sic/7w;z Noblemen: ^ He had by all means ob¬ liged Archytas the Fythagorean, to let Flato know, he might come without danger, and that he would engage his word on it. t As t plat.Epift.y. ibon as they came to Flato, they all protefted, that Dionyjius was much inclined to Philolb¬ phy, and delivered an Epiftle from him to this eflfed :
Dionyfus to Flato.
( A Fter the accuftomed way of Preface) L\. nothing ( faith he ) Jhould you do fooner, than come to Sicily at my requefi.Firft,as concern¬ ing Dion,^^// Shall be done as you will for I think you will only moderate things, and I will conde- fcend: But, unlefs you come, you Shall not obtain any thing which you defire for Dion, nor in any thing elfe, not in thofe which chiefly concern your own particular.
^ Pl^, ^ Other Epiftles were fent from Archytas,
and other Italian's and Tarentines, praifing
Dionyfius for his love of Learhing ^ adding, that if Flato came not, it would reflebl upon his Friends, as well as on himfelf t Many Let- 1 Flut.rcb ters and Inrreaties were lent to Dion, from his Wife and Sifter : ^ to thefe were joyned the im- ^ , portunities of fome Friends of Flatds at A- thens, i infomuch that Dion brought it to pals, ? that ^ left he Ihould delert him and^
the Tarentines, ) yielded to Dionyfius, without any excufe^ and, as he writeth himfelf, was driven the third time to the Sicilian Straits,
Once more Charybdis dangers to effay.
At his arrival in Sicily, Dionyfus met him with a Chariot, drawn by four white Horles, t whereinto he took him, and made him fit, + whilft himfelf plaid the Coach-man.- where-/^jj'^^i3''’^' upon a facete Syracufian, well vers^'d in ho¬ mer, pleafed with the fight, fpoke thele Verles out of the Iliads, with a little alteration
The Chariot groan'd beneath its weight,
Froud that the be ft of Men there fate.
And as Dionyfus was much joyed at his com¬ ing, fo were the Sicilians put in great hopes, being all defirous, and endeavouring, that Flato might fupplant Fhiliftus, and fubvert Tyranny by Philofophy The Ladies of the Court en¬ tertained Flato with all Civility But above all, Dionyfius feemed to repole more Confi¬ dence in him, than in any of his Friends 5 for, whereas he was jealous of all others, he had lb great relpefl for Flato, that he lulFered him only to come to him unfearched ( ^ though he^^: knew him to be Dion's intimate Friend*) and mp. 4. \d. offered him great fums of Money, but Flato would not accept of any F + yet Onetor laithf 'Lam* he received eighty Talents of him, wherewith enriched, he purchaled the Books of Fhilola- us) wdience Ariflippus the Cyrenatan, who was at the lame time in the Court, laid, Dionyfus befiowed his Bounty on fure grounds -, he gives little to us who require much, and much to Plato who requireth nothing. And being blamed that he received Money o^DiSnyfius, Plato. Books,
I want Money, faith he, Flato Books. So un¬ true it is, as Xenophon afperfeth him, that he went thither to lhare in the Sicilian Luxury .- ^[chm.
Or, as t Tzetzes, that he ftudied the art of ch'jiad. Cookery, and lived with Dionyfius as his Feti- fioner and Farafite. So far was he from any Sordid Compliance, that at a Feaft, Dionyfi- ^ us commanding every one to put on a Purple Atil' Gown, and Dance, he refuled, laying,
I will not with Female Robe dif grace
My felf, who am a A\an, of Manly Race.
5ome likewile aferibe this to him, whick others to^ijiippus-, that Dionyfius laying,
Who ere comes to a Tyrant, he
A Servant is, though he came free.
He anfwered immediately, o
TCo Servant is, if he came Free.
t Flato.
169
pART.
PLATO.
•iPlat. Efijl Pint.
■\ F/aio^ after a while, began to put fius in mind of the City he had promifed him to be governed by his rules ^ but Dionysus retraced his Promile ; He moved him alfo in t;he behalf of Djoti 'Diony/ius^x.l\\Q^l^^ delayed him, afterwards tell out with him, but ' olb fecretly , that none faw it, for he continued to confer as much honour on him as he could ^poflibly , thereby to make him forfake his Friendfhip to Dion. Flato from the beginning perceived there was no truft to be repofed in what he laid or did, but that all was deceit ^ yet concealed that thought , and patiently llifFered all ^ pretending to believe him; Thus they diflembled with each other, thinking they deceived the Eyes of all Men befides ^ He¬ licon of Cyzicuvi.^ a Friend of Flaio , fore¬ told an Eclipfe of the Sun, which falling out according to his PrediQion, the Tyrant much honoured him , and gave him a Talent of Silver: Then Arifiippus jelling with other Philofophers , faid he could tell them of a
Khi/Ji hej})all not plot any thing againji Dionyli- ns^that.he tnay there enjoy his Revenues. With this ajjurancel havefent /£>Heraclides, wi// fend again to him to come hither ■, but ij he come either upon the firfi or fecond notice^ I have made an a- greement with Dionyfius, and obtained apromife from him that he Jh all receive no harm., either in or without the City ^ but., if he be fo refoli^pdyhat he fend him away beyond the Confines of this Country until he fhall be better Jatisficd with him •, Do not you Dioityfius confent hereto., laith he ? 1 do, anfwered Dionyfius, neitherf he be in your Houfe, Jhall he receive any prejudice. The next day (about twenty days be¬ fore Rlato left Sicily) came Euribius,2Ln^ The- odotes loRlato in much haft and trouble-, Flato, faid Theodotes,you were Teferday prefejit at the agreement betwixt Dionylius and me, doncerning Heraclides. I was fo, anlwer’d Tlato, but lince, continues Theodotes,He hath font out Officers to apprehend him, and I fear he is fomewherd very nigh 5 therefore go along with us to Dionyfius,^//^/
ftranger thing that would happen ; they deli- let us ufe our utmefi endeavour with him They
ring to know what that was. I foretel, laith went vvhen they came before him, Plato fxha
he, Plato and Dionylins will be at difference reft Handing lilent by, and weeping) began
*plat. EfiSi. erelong-, and it came to pals. ^Dionyfius de- thus, Tliefc Men, Dionyims, are afraid lefi you
tained D/^/?’s Rent which he ufed to lend year- Jhould do fomething again ft ETeraclides contrary
f plat.Epi3.-j
ly to him to Peloponnefus, pretending he kept it for his Nephew, Dion's Son. Plato dilcontented hereat, deiired he might go home, faying, he could not ftay, Dw/? being ufedfoignomlnioufly: Dionyfius fpoke kindly to him, deliring him to llay : He thought it not convenient to let Plato go fo fopn to divulge his aflions ^but being not able to prevail with him , he told him, he would provide a means for his pafFage; Plato had defigned to go with the PalTage-boats -, Dio¬ nyfius feeing him bent upon his Voyage, the next day Ipokethus kmdly to him^That the diffe¬ rences betwixt Dion and me may be compofed, 1 will for your fake condefeend thus far, Dion Jhall receive his Revenues living in Peloponnefus,;?^/ as abanifhedperfon, but as one that may come hi¬ ther when he and I,and you hts friends Jhall think convenient. The Trujiees for jhis bufinefs Jhall be your felf, and your-, andhisYriends who live here-, Dion Jhall receive his Rents, but through your hands, otherwife I Jhall not dare totruji him -, in you and yours I have more confidence -, ffay for thisreajon a Tear here, and then y ou Jhall carry along with you his Money, wherein you will do Dion a great Court efy. To this Plato,-pixoi2. days deliberation conlentedj and writ to that effefl to Dion but as foon as the Ships were gone, that Dionyfius law he had no means to get away, for¬ getting his promile,he made lale of Dions El fate.
■ t At this time happened a Mutiny amongft the Soldiers of Dionyfius, of which Heraclides a friend of PA/Z/i’s vyas reported the Author: Dionyfius laid out to take him, but could not light on him ; Walking in his Garden he called Theodotes to him -, Plato being aj^identally walking there at the lame time -, after Ibme pri¬ vate Dilcourle with Dionyfius, Theodotesymmng to Plato, Plato, faith he, I peifwade Dionylius that 1 may bring HQvzLdidcs to him to anfwer the. . Crimes wherewith he is charged, and then if Di¬ onyfius will not fuffer him to live in *di\CAy,ihat he at leaf} permit him to take his Wife and Children along with him to Peloponnefus,^//^a'//w tbere^ind
to the agreement you made TeJlerdayfor 1 fuppofe he is come near hereabouts. Dionyfius at this grew angry, his Colour often changed with Rage 5 Theodotes fell at his Feet, and taking him by the hand,befought him not to do any fuch thing: Plato continuing his Speech •, Be of good chear, laith he, Theodotes, for Dionylius tyill not do any thing contrafyfo the promife he made yefter- day. Dionyfius looking feverely upon Piato^ t you laith he, I made no promife -, Tes by the Gods anfwered Platoyou promifed not to do thofe things which Theodotes now bej'eecheth younoi to 'do. Ar¬ che demus and Ariffocratus being prelent he told Plato (as he had done once before, v/hen he interceeded for Heraclides,) That he cared for Heraclides and othQts mote than For him.-, and asked him before them whether he re-, membied that when he came 6t^.Xf> Syracufe, he counfelled him to reftore the Grecian Cities,^ ; Plato anlwered, he did remember "ft, and that he ftill thought it his belt courle, and, withal' asked Dionyfius whether that were the onlyf counfcl he had given him ? Dionyfius returned an angry contumelious H^ply, and asked him, laughing fcornfully , whether he va,ughr him thole things as a School boy. To which Plato anfwered, Tou well remember : What, replies he, as a Maffer in Geometry, or how ? Plato for¬ bore to reply, fearing it might occasion a , ftop of his Voyage ^ but immediately .went avray -, Dionyfius teiblved to lay wait piytfiferacl{des^-.
took occafion to fbrbear to lend jjfot Money j and firft lent P/atd out pf .his Ca ^ where, till then, he had lain ijext,|he Palace, , pretending that the Women were to cclebratL a Feaft ten daysjn the Gardens wl^ere he dwek|j[ For that time he commanded Plato , to live; without the Caftle with Archedemus ^ during whiph time Theodotes lent for him, and com¬ plained to him of Dionyfiius's. Proceedings, Dionyfius receiving Information that Plato had Y gone
170
FLAT 0.