THE LIFE of MYSO.

MYSO the Son of Strymon (accor∣ding to Sosicrates, who follows Hermippus) was a Chenean by Birth, so call'd from a certain OEtaean or Laco∣nian Village, and is reckon'd in the num∣ber of the Seven Wise Men. Others say that his Father was a Tyrant of some City not mention'd.

It is reported, That when Anacharsis enquir'd of the Oracle, whether any one were wiser than himself, the Prophetes• return'd that Answer already recited in the Life of Thales.

Thereupon Anacharsis, to satisfie his cu∣riosity, came to the Village, where he found Myso in the Summer-time fitting the handle to his Plough, To whom, O Myso, said he, 'tis not now the Season for Plough∣ing: No, reply'd Myso, but 'tis time to pre∣pare.

Others report, that the Oracle did not answer OEtaean, but Eteian; and they are Page  83 very diligent in their enquiries who that Eteian should be? Parmenides asserts it to be the Village of Laconia, where Myso was born. Sosicrates affirms him to have been an Eteian by the Father's side, but a Chenean by the Mother's side. Euthyphron the Son of Heraclides Ponticus, asserts him to have been a Cretan, for that Eteia was a City of Creet. Anaxilaus will have him an Arcadian. Hipponax also makes men∣tion of him, in these words, And Myso, whom Apollo prefer'd for the wisest of Men. Lastly, Aristoxenus in his Medleys relates, That he differ'd little in his Disposition and Manners from Apemas and Timon; as being a Man-hater, and once found laugh∣ing by himself in a Solitary Place. And when he was ask'd by him that had so discover'd him, why he laugh'd by him∣self? He answer'd, At that very Accident. Aristoxenus therefore calls him ignoble, as not being born in a City, but in a Vil∣lage, and that an obscure one too. Which obscurity of his Birth was the reason that many of his sayings are attributed to the Tyrant Pisistratus, by most Authors, ex∣cept Plato; for he makes mention of him in his Protagoras in the stead of Perian∣der.

He was wont to say that things were not to be examin'd by words, but words Page  84 by things; for that actions were not per∣form'd for the sake of words, but tha• words were fram'd to set forth action• He dy'd in the ninety seventh year of hi• Age.