To the extent possible under law, the Text Creation Partnership has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above, according to the terms of the CC0 1.0 Public Domain Dedication (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/). This waiver does not extend to any page images or other supplementary files associated with this work, which may be protected by copyright or other license restrictions. Please go to http://www.textcreationpartnership.org/ for more information.
PEriander the Corinthian was the Son of Cypselus, of the Race of the Heraclidae. He marry'd Lysida, whom he himself call'd by the name of Melissa, the Daughter of Procleus, Tyrant of Epidaurum, and Eri∣sthenea, the Daughter of Aristocrates, and
Sister of Aristodemus: Which Procleus, as Heraclides Ponticus witnesses in his Book of Government, extended his Dominion almost over all Arcadia. By her he had two Sons Cypselus and Lycophron; of which the younger became a Wise Man, the el∣der grew a meer Natural. After some time, in the height of his Passion he threw his Wise under the Stairs, being then big with Child, and spurn'd her to death, incensed thereto by his Harlots; which afterwards, nevertheles, he flung into the fire and burnt: And then renounc'd his Son Lycophron, and sent him into Corcyra, for weeping at his Mother's Funeral. How∣ever, when he grew in years he sent for him again to invest him in the Tyranny while he liv'd. Which the Corcyreans un∣derstanding, resolved to prevent his de∣sign, and so slew the young Prince. At which Periander enrag'd, sent their Chil∣dren to Alyattes to be Eunuchiz'd. But when the Ship arriv'd at Samos, the Chil∣dren, upon their supplications to Juno, were sav'd by the Samians. Which when the Tyrant understood, he dy'd for very anguish of mind, being at that time four∣score years of Age. Sosicrates affirms, That he dy'd before Croesus, one and forty years before the forty ninth Olympiad. Heredetus also reports, That he was en∣tertain'd
by Thrasybulus, Tyrant of the Milesians. In like manner Aristippus in his first Book of Antiquities relates thus much farther concerning him, How that his Mother Cratea, being desperately in love with him, privately enjoy'd him, nothing scrupulous of the Crime: But that when the Incest came to be disco∣ver'd, he grew uneasie to all his Subjects, out of meer madness that his insane A∣mours were brought to light.
Ephorus, moreover, tells us another Story, That he made a Vow, if he won his Chariot Race at the Olympic Games, to offer up a Golden Statue to the Deity. But when he had won the Victory, he wanted money; and therefore under∣standing that the Women would be all in their Pomp, upon such a solemn approa∣ching Festival, he sent and despoil'd 'em of all their Rings, and Jewels, and by that means supply'd himself for the per∣formance of his Vow.
Some there are who report, That de∣signing to conceal the Place of his Burial, he made use of this Invention. He command∣ed two young Men (shewing 'em a certain Road) to set forth in the night, and to kill and bury him they met first; after them he sent four more, with command to kill and bury them; and after those he sent a grea∣ter
number, with the same Orders; by which means meeting the first he was slain himself. However the Corinthians would not suffer his supposed Tomb, to go with∣out an Anagram, in memory of so great a Person, in these words.
For Wealth and Wisdom Periander fam'd Now Corinth holds, the place where once he reign'd. Close to the Shore he lies, and that same Earth Conceals him now, that gave him once his Birth.
To which we may add another of our own.
Ne'er grieve because thou art not Rich or Wise: But what the Gods bestow, let that suffice. For here we see great Periander gone, With all his Wealth, and all his high Renown; Extinct, and in the Grave laid low; for all His Art and Wit could not prevent his Fall.
It was one of his Admonitions to do nothing for Money's sake, and to Princes that designed to reign securely, to guard themselves with the good Will of their Subjects, not with Arms. Being asked why he persisted to govern singly? He an∣swered, Because 'twas equally dangerous to resign, whether willingly or by Com∣pulsion.
Some of his Apothegms were these. That Peace was a good thing, Precipitancy dangerous: That Democracy was better than Tyranny: That Pleasure was Corruptible and Transitory; but Honour Immortal. In Prospe∣rity, said he, be moderate, in Adversity Pru∣dent. Be the same to thy Friends, as well in their Misfortunes as in all their Splendour. Be punctual to thy Promises. Beware of betray∣ing a Secret. Punish not only Offenders, but those that design to Offend. He was the first that made use of a Life-guard, and that changed Democratical Govern∣ment into Tyranny, nor would he per∣mit every one that desired it, to live in the City, as Euphorus and Aristotle testi∣fy.
He flourished in his Prime, about the thirty third Olympiad, and reigned full Forty Years. Nevertheless Sotion Heracli∣des, and Pamphila affirm, That there were two Perianders, one a Tyrant, the other a Wise Man, and that the Tyrant was an Ambraciote; however Neanthes of Cyzicum will have 'em to be Cousin Germans. A∣ristotle also asserts the Corinthian to be the Wise Man; and Plato denies it. Whoever it were he designed it seems to have digged down the Neck of the Isthmus: and his Motto was this, Premeditation does all things. There are also extant several Epi∣stles
of his, and among the rest these that follow.
Periander to the Wise Men.
IMmortal Thanks to Pythian Apollo, that my Letters found ye all toge∣ther: And therefore I expect your Co∣ming, assuring you of a welcome befit∣ting the quality of your Persons. For seeing that you were so ready the last Year to visit Sardis in Lydia, I make no question but that you will vouchsafe your Company to the Tyrant of Corinth, nor will the Corinthian be unmindful to con∣gratulate your coming to Periander's Ha∣bitation.
Periander to Procleus.
I Do not hear the Crime which thy Wise committed was done volunta∣rily, and therefore thou wilt do ill, if thou shalt act premeditately any thing against thy ungrateful Son. Forbear therefore thy Cruelty toward the Youth, or I will assist and defend him, in regard he has suffered enough already.We also find another Letter, written from Thrasybulus to Periander, in these Words.
Thrasybulus to Periander.
WE dissembled nothing to thy He∣raulds, for I led him to the standing Corn, and with my wand in his Presence, struck off the Ears that grew up above the rest: ask him therefore, and he will tell thee what he heard me say, and what he saw me do. Then follow my advice, if it be thy design to establish thy regal Power, cut off the Principal Men of the City, whether Friends or Enemies: For Friends and Foes are to be alike suspected by a Tyrant.