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 AESCHINES.

Aeschines an Athenian, as some say, was the Son of Charinus, whose Trade it was to make Sawcidges; as o∣thers assert of Lysanias; industrious from his Infancy: And therefore he never for∣sook Socrates: Which occasion'd that saying of his Master, The Sawcidge-ma∣kers Son is the only person that ever knew how to give us respect.

This was he, as Idomeneus relates, and not Crito, who advis'd Socrates to make his escape out of Prison; though Plato, more a friend to Aristippus, will have Cri∣to to be the Author of that good Coun∣sel. However Aeschines was question'd for it, and eagerly prosecuted by Mene∣demus

the Eretrian, because he had di∣vulg'd several Dialogues under Socrates's name, and which he pretended to have receiv'd from Xantippe. Of which, those that bear the Title of Acephali, are very loose and extravagant, not savouring in the least of Socratic reserv'dness. And therefore Pisistratus the Ephesian denies 'em to have been compos'd by Aeschines. To which Perseus adds, That seven of those Dialogues, being the greatest part, were written by Pasipho of Eretrium, and by him foisted into the Works of Aeschi∣nes. On the other side, that Antisthenes, the lesser Cyrus, the lesser Hercules, Alcibia∣des and the Lives of several others were all written by Him. Now the Dialogues of Aeschines, describing the Life and Con∣versation of Socrates were seven; under the names of Miltiades, Callias, Axiochus, Aspasia, Alcibiades, Telauges, and Rhino.

Some there are who report, that being reduc'd to great want, he took a Voyage into Sicily, hoping to tast of Dionysius's bounty; and that being there despis'd by Plato, but recommended to the Ty∣rant by Aristippus, he produc'd his Dia∣logues, and was liberally rewarded by the generous Sicilian. From thence he re∣turn'd back with his Presents to Athens, but durst not spread his Philosophy, by

reason of the high esteem which the Athe∣nians had of Plato and Aristippus. There∣upon he gave money to certain persons to come to him and be his Hearers; and un∣dertook to Plead at the Bar, for such as would fee him in their Causes. Which occasion'd that Sarcasm of Timon upon him.

—And more officious to indite, Than ever needy Aeschines to write.

And it is reported, that in the extremi∣ty of his Poverty, Socrates merrily advis'd him to demand interest of himself for the Victuals he ow'd his Belly.

Neither had Aristippus a good opinion of his Dialogues; for as he was reading 'em at Megara, he cry'd out in a kind of a Passion, Cursed Rogue, what put thee into this humour?

Polycritus the Mendesian, in his first Book of the Acts of Dionysius, affirms, that he liv'd with the Tyrant, till he was ex∣pell'd his Country, and till the return of Dion to Syracuse; adding also that Carci∣nus the Comoedian was his associate all the time; and there is also extant an Epi∣stle of his to Dionysius.

However it were, most certain it is, that he was an exact and exquisite Orator, as

appears by the Oration which he made in defence of the Father of Phaeax, who was General of the Horse; and for that he strove to imitate Gorgias Leontinus, not without good Success. Nevertheless Ly∣sias wrote an Oration against him, which he entitl'd the Sycophant. Whence it is manifest, that he was a great Orator: Though it seems it was his hap to have but one familiar Friend, that we hear of, whose name was Aristotle, Surnam'd My∣thus.

Yet Panaetius could not be his Enemy, for he is the only person of all the Socra∣tics, who will allow so much as those Dia∣logues to be Legitimate, where the dis∣course is fram'd under the names of Plato, Xenophon, Antisthenes, and Aeschines; but very much questions those that go under the names of Phaedo, and Euclid; and for all the rest, he utterly rejects 'em.

Of this name there were eight in all: The first himself: Another, who wrote the Art of Rhetoric: The third an Orator, that oppos'd Demosthenes: The fourth an Arcadian, and Disciple of Isocrates: The fifth, a Mitylenaean, who was call'd the Scourge of Orators: The sixth, a Nea∣politan, an Academic Philosopher; and both the Scholar, and Male-Delight of Melanthus the Rhodian. The seventh, a

Milesian, and writer of Politicks: The eighth, a Statuary.