The lives, opinions, and remarkable sayings of the most famous ancient philosophers. The first volume written in Greek, by Diogenes Laertius ; made English by several hands ...

The LIFE of XENOPHON.

XEnophon, an Athenian, was the Son of Gryllus, Born in the Village of Ar∣geus: modest to Excess, and the most lovely Person living.

It is reported, that meeting Socrates in a narrow Passage, he held up his Stick, and having stopped him from going for∣ward, asked him where he might purchase such and such things, that were necessary for humane Use: to which, when Socra∣tes had returned him an Answer; Socra∣tes asked him again, where good and ver∣tuous Men were to be found; which sud∣den question putting Xenophon to a non∣plus, Follow me then, said Socrates, and Learn: and so from thenceforth, Xenophon became a Hearer of Socrates: and was the first, who taking Notes of what he heard, afterwards made his Observations public in writing to all the World; being

also the first that wrote the History of the Philosophers. He was in Love with Clini∣••s, as Aristippus relates in his fourth Book of the delights of the Ancients, to whom he is said to have used these Expressions.

And now Clinias, I behold thee with more delight, than all things else whatever, that are accounted Beautiful among Men. Nor would I value my be∣ing Blind as to all other Objects, so I might enjoy the Sight of Clinias only. But I am perplexed all Night, and dis∣quieted in my Dreams, because I see not Him. But I return the choicest of my Thanks to Day and to the Su••,

because they shew me Clinias again. As for his Friendship with Cyrus, he gained it in this manner. There was then in the Persian Court, a familiar Friend of his, Proxe∣nus by Name, by Birth a Boeotian, the Di∣sciple of Gorgius Leontinus, well known to Cyrus, and by him highly beloved. He remaining at Sardis with Cyrus sent an Epi∣stle to Xenophon and then at Athens, in∣viting him to an Acquaintance with the Prince, Xenophon, shewed the Letter to Socrates, and asked his Advice; who sent him to Delphos to consult the Oracle. Thither Xenophon went, in obedience to Socrates, and enquires of the Dei∣ty, not whether he should go to Cyrus,

but after what manner. For which, tho' Socrates modestly blamed him, yet he ad∣vised him to go. Thereupon he went, and ingratiated himself in such a manner with the young Prince, that he became no less his Friend than Proxenus. As for what happened in the ascent of Cyrus, and the return of the Greeks, he himself has given us a perfect account with his own Pen. But he hated Meno, the Pharsalian, at the time of the Ascent, Commander of the Foreign Troops, who among other Re∣proaches, upbraided him with his Excess of Male-Venery. Moreover he was wont to scoff at Apollonides, and tell him, that his Ears were bored.

After the Ascent, his misfortunes in Pontus, and the violation of the Leagues he had made with Seuthus, King of the Odrysians, he marched into Asia, and join'd with Agesilaus, King of the Lace∣demonians, and listing under his Command the Souldiers that he brought along with him, he became his familiar Acquaintance; at what time because he seemed to take part with the Lacedemonians, he was Con∣demn'd and Exil'd by the Athenians. Marching then to Ephesus, and being full of Money, he delivered the one half of his Gold to Megabyztes, the Priest of Dia∣na, to keep till his Return; but if he

never came back, for the consecration of a Statue to the Goddess. Of the other half he sent a good part in Presents and Offerings to Delphos. From thence he accompany'd Agesilaus into Greece, being call'd home to command in the Theban War; at what time the Lacedemonians kindly entertain'd him, and afforded him all necessary Accommodations. After that, taking his leave of Agesilaus, who retir'd to Scilluntes, in the Territory of Elea, not far distant from the City; whi∣ther a certain ordinary Woman, called Philesia, as Dentetrius the Magnesian re∣lates, together with two Children, Gryl∣lus and Diodorus, which were also said to be Twins, as Dinarchus reports in his Book of Divorce against Xenophon. Soon after Megabyzus, coming to attend the public Solemnities of the Place, he re∣ceiv'd his Money, with which he purcha∣sed a piece of Land, and consecrated the same to the Goddess, lying upon the Ri∣ver Selenus, which bare the same name, with that which ran by the Walls of Eph••∣sus. There he spent his time in Hunting, feasting his Friends, and writing Histories: Though Dinarchus affirms, that his House and Lands were the free gift of the Lace∣demonians. Philopidas also the Spartan, sent him several Dardanian Captives, of

which he dispos'd as he thought fit him∣self: At what time the Eleans marching against Scilluntes, while the Lacedaemoni∣ans delay'd their assistance, took the Country. But then the Sons of Xenophon privately withdrew themselves with a small retinue, and came to Lepreum. Xe∣nophon himself also first retir'd to Elis, then to Lepreum, to his Sons, and thence all to∣gether getting safe to Corinth, there settl'd themselves. At the same time the Athe∣nians having resolv'd to assist the Lacedae∣monians, he sent his Sons to Athens to serve in the Wars. For they had been both bred up at Sparta, as Diocles relates in his Lives of the Philosophers. As for Diodo∣rus, he escap'd out of the Battel, without performing any remarkable Atchievment. But Gryllus, serving among the Cavalry (for it was at the Battle of Mantinea) af∣ter he had behav'd himself with a more than ordinary courage, dy'd valiantly in the Throng of his Enemies, as Euphorus relates in the five and twentieth Book of his History, Ctephisodotus then leading the Horse, and Agesilaus commanding the Foot: And the same Fate befalling the Theban General; for Epaminondas was slain in the same fight.

It is reported, That when the news of the defeat was brought to Xenophon, he

was then offering Sacrifices with a Crown upon his Head; at what time, when he heard that his Son Gryllus was slain, he laid aside his Crown; but afterwards, finding by the continuance of the Rela∣tion that he had bravely fought, and dy'd honourably, he put on his Crown again. Some report; that he did not so much as shed a Tear, only sigh'd out these words, I know that my Son was not Immortal. Ari∣stotle also tells us, That an infinite number of Persons wrote the Praises of Gryllus, and bestow'd Epitaphs upon him, partly to celebrate his Name, and partly to gra∣tifie his Father. Hermippus moreover as∣serts, That Socrates wrote an Encomium of Gryllus, which Timon thus derides;

A sorry Duad, or a Leash, perhaps, Of Doggrel Distichs he together scrapes, To claw kind Xenophon, or else to please His Friend and Scholar, bawling Aeschines.

Xenophon flourish'd in the fourth year of the ninety fourth Olympiad; and he accompany'd Cyrus in his Expedition at what time Xenaretus govern'd Athens, a year before the death of Socrates. He dy'd (according to Stesiclides in his Epi∣tome of the Archontes and Olympiaes) in the first year of the hundred and fifth O∣lympiad,

during the Government of Calli∣demides, at what time Philip the Son of Amyntas reign'd in Macedon. And De∣metrius the Magnesian affirms, That he was far strick'n in years at the time of his de∣cease: A person of great Vertue, and a∣mong his other Excellencies, a great Lo∣ver of Horsemanship, Hunting, and War∣like Discipline, as is manifest by his Wri∣tings.

He was very Religious, a constant Of∣ferer of Sacrifices; one who was able to judge of Religion, and an exact Emula∣tor of Socrates in every thing. He wrote about forty several Treatises; the Ascent of Cyrus; annexing a Prologue to every particular Book, but not any to the Whole; the Education of Cyrus; the Transactions of the Greeks, and several Commenta∣ries; his Symposium, and Oeconomics. He wrote also of Horsemanship, and of Hun∣ting; an Apology for Socrates; of Seeds; Hiero, or the Tyrant; Agesilaus; the Com∣mon-wealth of Athens, and Lacedaemon: Which latter Demetrius the Magnesian de∣nies to be Xenophon's. It is reported also, that when it was in his power to have stifl'd the Works of Thucydides, he was the first who made 'em public to the World, for the honour of the Author. He was call'd the Athenian Muse, for the

sweetness of his Style. For which he was envy'd by Plato, as we shall declare in his Life. Nor could we our selves refrain his commendations in the following Epi∣grams.

By Cyrus call'd to assist his bold Ascent, The valiant Xenophon not only went; But back returning he so bravely fought, As one that for Immortal honour sought: Then writing his bold acts, he plainly shew'd How much to Socrates his Valour ow'd.

Then this upon his Death.

Tho' Thee, Great Xenophon, thy Native Soil For Cyrus sake condemn'd to long Exile, More kindly far by Corinth entertain'd, A happy life thou lead'st, where mildness reign'd.

In some other Authors I have read, that he flourish'd about the Eighty ninth O∣lympiad, together with the rest of the So∣craetics. On the other side, Ister asserts, that he was banish'd by the Decree of Eu∣bulus, but that afterwards the same person gave his Voice for his return home.

Of his name there were seven in all: Himself the first: The second an Atheni∣an, the Brother of Pythostratus, who wrote

a Poem, entitl'd Theseis; as also the Life of Epaminondas, and Pelopidas. The third was a Physician of Coos; A fourth, who compil'd the History of Hannibal: The fifth, a Collector of Fabulous Prodi∣gies: The sixth a Parian, and a famous Statuary: The seventh, a writer of Co∣medies, after the Ancient strain.