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 METROCLES

METROCLES was his Disciple and Brother to Hipparchia; who being formerly a Hearer of Theophrastus the Peripatetick, was of so abasht a Tem∣per, that he happening once in the midst of an Exercise to break Wind backwards, he went home and lock'd himself up, re∣solving never to come abroad any more Which when Crates had understood by 〈…〉〈…〉 Friend, he went at his request to give him a visit, having first filled his Belly with Lentile Pottage for the nonce. He then be∣gan to perswade him by many Argu∣ments that he had committed no absurdi∣ty at all: For it would have been like a Prodigy, if he had not discharged th•• Wind according to its natural Course. And in the close of all he let fly himself, and thereby put him in heart again, co••∣forting him by the Similitude of the two Facts. From that time forward he be∣came his Auditour, and was a very abl•• Man in Philosophy. As he was once bu••t∣ing his own Writings (as Hecato tells 〈…〉〈…〉

in the first Book of his Sayings) he re∣hearsed over the following Verse.

These are the Phantomes of my younger Dreams.

As who should say, they are but meer Whimsies. Some say, that as he was commit∣ing to the Flames the Lectures of Theo∣phrastus, he said over this Verse.

Vulcan come quick * 1.1 Thetis hath work for thee.

He was wont to say, there were some things that might be purchased with Mo∣••y, as a House: and others that must be bought with long time and hard La∣bour, as Learning? Also that a great Estate was a mischievous thing to one that could not wisely manage it, He died of old Age stifling himself. His Disciples were Theombrotus and Cleomenes: Theom∣brotus's was Demetrius of Alexandria, and Cleomenes's Timarchus of Alexandria, and Echecles of Ephesus: Of which Echecles was also a Hearer of Theombrotus, and of him Menedemus, of whom we shall treat hereafter. Menippus of Sinope was also a Man of note among them.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Meric Ca∣saubon thinks Thetis here al∣ludes to the first Syllable of Theophrastus: But I believe he m••••nt Water by Thetis, and that he insiua∣ated the Weak∣ness and insi∣pidness of those Writings he committed to Vulcans Disci∣pline.