St. Augustine, Of the citie of God vvith the learned comments of Io. Lod. Viues. Englished by I.H.

L. VIVES.

VVHereas (a) Aristotle] Borne at Stagyra, sonne to Nicomachus and Phaestis both des∣cended * 1.1 from Aesculapius: borne the 99. Olympiade. He came to Plato at 15. yeares old, and heard him till he was 35. when as Plato died: and then beganne he to teach himselfe, walking in the Lycium, whence his followers were called Peripatetiques of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, to walke. He was an admirable, singular witted man, inferior to none: Plato's better in variety of know∣ledge, and all the worlds better in disputation of all artes. Nor are these great guifts of his to be euill taken, or maligned: we must confesse indeed that hee was an affectator of glory, and too curious a condemner of others, but withall, modest and abstinent: nor in doctrine of artes had he euer his fellow. I wish he had delt more vprightly in his confutations of others. (b) * 1.2 Plato's inferior] comparision betweene Plato and Aristotle is odious, because of their diuersity of studies. Doubtlesse they were both admirable examples for all to imitate. The greekes call Plato, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, diuine, and Arystotle 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which is asmuch: Plato's eloquence was such that it was a common saying, if Ioue would speake greeke, he would speake Plato's greeke: But Ari∣stotles knowledge in Rhetorick (I had almost said) excelled Plato's: mary in vse hee was farre short of him. For Aristotle affected a succinct phrase: least beeing ted•…•…ous, and drawing each thing at length the discourse might become to profuse, and the rules of arte too long to beare away. So his enduour was not to admit an idle word, which made him attaine vnto a great perfection in the proper vse of the greeke language and figures. (c) Sect] 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 in Greeke, a word of indifference, but ordinaryly taken in the worst sence, for all opinions priuate, or o∣ther, without the Church, wee call Heresies. (d) His Maisters life] Aristotle (saith Plato in Laertius) hath kiekt against vs, as foles doe at their dammes. Yet some say hee did not teach whilest Plato liued. (e) Speusippus] Eurymedo•…•…s sonne, Plato's successor, he taught 8. yeares, and * 1.3 tooke pay, for which Dionysius mockt him: he went also as far as Macedon to sing the Epitha∣lamion at Cassanders marriage, for mony: which Philostratus saith he had written in bald and * 1.4 rugged verse. Growing diseased Xenocrates of Chaledon succeeded him at his owne request, one that Plato loued deerely well and trauelled with him into Sycily: he was but dull of wit, but of a seuere and sacred carriage. •…•…lato saith Aristotle •…•…ackt the bit and he the spurres: but lo∣ued him so well that when men swore he spoke ill of him, he would not credite them, thinke it vnpossible that one whom hee loued so well, should not loue him againe. In controuersies of law, the Iudges neuer put him to his oth: thinking it sin not to trust so iust a man though bee swore not. (f) Academy A fanne was indeed nere Athens, al woods & fennes, & therefore vn∣healthful & had bin saith La•…•…rtius) the habitation of Academus, one of the Heroës: Eupolis the * 1.5 Cōmedian calleth him a god: but Plutarch in his life of Theseus, shews what he was. It was he y^• told Castor & Pollux y^• Theseus after his rape of Hellen, kept her secretly at Aphidna: & there∣fore was euer after respected both by them & al the other Lacedemonians: for in al their roades made into y^e Atheniā territories, they neuer meddled with Academia: but Dicaearchus saith y^•:

first was called Ecedemia of one Ecedemus, a soldiour vnder Castor and Pollux: and so after, came to be called Academia: This Laertius toucheth at. Apuleius saith that Plato left all his patrimonie, in a little garden neare this Academie, two seruants, a cup for sacrificing in, and as much gold as would make an eare-ring. In vita Platon. Laertius saith hee was honorably buried in the Academy, and that Mithridates king of Pontus, hauing taken Athens, erected Plato a statue, dedicating it to the Muses. In Athens (this we may not passe) were these schooles. First the Academy, secondly Liceum, thirdly Prytaneum, fourthly Canopum, fiftly Stoa, sixtly * 1.6 Tempe, seuenthly Cynosarges. (g) Therevpon] This is the old Academy, taught to Archesilas, by •…•…lemon Senocrates his scholler, and hee endeuoured to reduce all to Socrates his forme of disputation, to affirme nothing, but confute all, and this was called the new Acame•…•…, which Tully in Uarro's person affirmeth was like the old one: But hence-forth those that had posi∣tiue grounds for any thing, and held a truth to be in things, as Plato did, were not called Aca∣demicks but Platonists, I thinke because the name of Academicks was so proper to A•…•…chesilas schooles. (h) Plotine] Borne (saith Suidas) at Lycopolis in Egipt: hee wrote foure and fiftie bookes, obscure ones, to keepe the custome of his sect. Hee liued in th'Emperor Galie•…•…us time, * 1.7 vntill Probus entred, he of whose desteny Firmicus doth so lie and prate. Porphyry, Plotines schol∣ler wrote his life at large. (i) Iamblichus] Of Calchis, Porphyries scholler, a Pythagorist rather * 1.8 then a Platonist as Hierom testifieth: yet in all diuine matters, the Platonists are Pythagorians. His witte and manners were better then his maisters. (k) Porphyry] A Tyrian, one neither * 1.9 sound in body nor minde, of wauering iudgement, vnmanly inueterate malice and cruelty: a professed Plotinist: Suidas saith he was Amelius scholler also. Porphiry (saith he, was properly called Basileus, a Tyrian philosopher, Aemelius his scholler whom Plotine taught. Hee liued in A•…•…lians time and continued vntill Diocletians. Thus farre Suidas. Why he was called Basileus he sheweth in his maister Plotines life. Amelius (quoth he) dedicated this booke to me, and in the title called me Basileus, for that was my name: in the language of my country, I was called after my father, Malcus: which translated is king. Thus he of himselfe. (l) Plato himselfe] In his Timaeus he calles Saturne, Ops, and Iuno gods, and all the rest brethren and kinsfolkes amongst them-selues, and else-where, hee commands sacrifices vnto their gods, Demones & Heroes: saying it is these to whom the Cities good estate is to be commended. De legib. & de repub. in diuerse places.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Aristotle.
• * 1.2

  Plato and Aristotle compared.
• * 1.3

  Speusippus.
• * 1.4

  Xenocrates
• * 1.5

  Academy what and •…•…ence.
• * 1.6

  The sch•…•…les of Athens.
• * 1.7

  Plotine.
• * 1.8

  Iamblichus
• * 1.9

  Porphyry.