The two first books of Philostratus, concerning the life of Apollonius Tyaneus written originally in Greek, and now published in English : together with philological notes upon each chapter / by Charles Blount, Gent.

Illustrations on Chap. 10.

[1] TYana; a City of Cappadocia, famous for the Birth of Apollonius.

[2] Three and twenty years of Age, which by the Law rendred him above a Tu∣tor. The Ancients divided the Age of man into seven parts, which they resembled to the seven Planets: comparing our Infancy to the Moon, wherein we seem only to live and grow as the Plants; the second Age or Childhood to Mercury, wherein we are taught and instructed; the third Age or Youth to Venus, the days of Lust, Desire, or Vanity, at which time being wrapt in the third Heaven of Love, we there both see and do things not fitting to be utter'd; the fourth to the Sun, the most strong, flourishing and beautiful Age of man's Life; the fifth to Mars, in which we seek Honour and Victory, travelling to ambitious ends; the sixth to Iupiter, wherein we begin to take an account of our Times, to judge of our selves, and to perfect our undestanding; the seventh and last to Saturn, wherein our days are sad and overcast with old age, sickness, and infirmities. Ro∣deg. 10.61, 62. Macrobius in his first Book of Scipio's Dream, (chap. 6.) extolling the singular effects of the septenary Number, expresses the remarkable changes of Nature every seventh year in the course of man's Age: As casting of the Teeth in the first seven; springing of the Pubes in the second; of the Beard in the third; the utmost period of

Growth and Stature in the fourth; of Strength in the fifth; a Consistence in the sixth; and a Declination in the seventh. Philo Iudaeus (in that excellent Book of the Work∣manship of the World) affirms likewise, that at the end of every seventh year there is some notable change in the Body of man; and for better proof thereof, he produces the Authority of Hippocrates, and this Elogy of Solon's:

Impubes pueri septem volventibus annis, Claudunt enatis dentibus eloquium: Post alios totidem Divorum numine dextro, Occul••um pubis nascitur indicium. Annus ter septem prima Lanugine malas Vestiet aetatis robore conspicuus, &c.

The Ancients had great respect for Old Age, vainly judging of mens wisdom by the length of their Beards; in so much that they had their particular years prescribed for such and such undertakings: The Age of one and twenty, freed them from the Tyranny of Masters and Tutors; therefore Philostratus here tells us, that Apollonius's Brother being 23 years of Age, was exempt from the Jurisdiction of a Tutor. They had also their particular years wherein they were capacitated for Marriage, and publick imploys: the Iewish Talmud, as also the Civil Laws and Canons of the Church, allow a woman to be married at twelve; Hesiod, at fifteen; Xenophon, and the Comedian, at sixteen; Aristotle, at eighteen; and Plato, at twenty: of all which, I conceive the marrying at twelve to be the most unreasonable; first, because there is not one in a hundred but what is fitter for a Joynted ••aby, than to look after the concerns of a Family, at that Age: and secondly, because it seems very unfit that she who by the Law has not a Testamentary power to bequeath an old pair of Shoes, should yet at the same time have power to dispose of her own Person and Fortune in marriage. The Lex Papia, made by Tiberius, prohibited such men as were past sixty, or women above fifty, to marry, as be∣ing unapt for Generation; the chief end of marriage: which Law was repeal'd in part by Claudius, but more fully by Iustinian. The blessed Virgin, when she brought forth our Saviour Christ, was but fifteen. Secondly, for publick imploys, particular Ages were required, and that both in Church and State: Lancelot in his Institutions of Canon Law, saith, No man ought to be made a Bishop till he be 30 years of Age, for as much as we read that Christ was baptized, and preach'd not till that Age. St. Chrysostom was made a Bishop at 43 years of Age: Savil'•• Preface. Thomas Becket was made Archbishop of Canterbury at 44; Mat. Parker, Antiq. Brit. Venerable Bede (our Countryman, who lived 800 years since) was by his own Testimony made Deacon at nineteen. And Ori∣gen, by the Testimony of Eusebius, was made Catechist at 18 years of Age. In the next place, for publick imploys in State: The Gauls put their Sons in Arms, and prepared them to War, at fourteen. The Gracchian Law ordain'd, that none should be levied un∣der seventeen. The Athenian Laws only commanded men to follow the Wars from 18 to 40; but as well they, as the Romans, seldom exceeded 45, as both Dionysius and Po∣lybius speak. Seneca in his last Chapter de brevitate vitae, saith, that the Law doth not compel a Souldier to serve after 50, nor a Senator after 60. To which Law Pliny alludes, in his Epistle to Pomponias Bassus, in these words; Ipsae leges majorem annis 60, otio red∣dunt. Romulus, according to Plutarch, began his Reign at 12; Alexander had in a man∣ner conquer'd the World at 33; Augustus enter'd upon the Consulship at 20, and re∣ceiv'd Virilem Togam at 16▪ Su••••on. We read in Baronius, of a Pope not above 12 years of Age. Cicero pleaded in publick before the Senate at 23 years old. Some men are sooner ripe than others; and when I read a Book, I never examine the Author's age. He that writes a foolish Book, makes his Reader but little amends by prefixing in the Fron∣tispiece Aetatis suae 60: neither on the contrary is Nonage any sufficient Plea in an Au∣thor, since he that thinks himself old enough to write a Book, can hardly excuse the Folly that is in it by calling himself Child.

[3] Lycaeum was the name of a School which Cicero erected at his Mannor of Tuscu∣lum; calling it so, after the name of Aristotle's School near Athens, which stood without the Walls in a Grove. L••ertius speaking of Aristotle's arrival at Athens, says, that the Academy being prepossess'd by Xenocr••tes, Aristotle made choice of the Lyceum; which,

as Suidas writes, was situated in the Suburbs of Athens, and first built by Pericles for the exercising of Souldiers. In this place he taught and discours'd of Philosophy to such as frequented him, walking continually every day till the hour of anointing, which the Greeks usually did before Meals; from whence he and his Followers are called Peripateticks:

In{que} Academiâ umbriferâ nitido{que} Lycaeo Fuderunt claras divini pectoris artes. Cic. Acad.

So that in imitation of this Lyceum at Athens, Apollonius erected such another at Aegas.

[4] Anaxagoras the Clazomeni••n; of whom I have written at large in my Notes upon the second Chapter of this first Book, Note 3. pag. 6, 7.

[5] Crates the Theban, Son of Ascandas, was a Cynick, and one of the most eminent of Diogenes's disciples, as both Laertius and Suidas write: however, Hippolytus saith, he was not the disciple of Diogenes, but of Bryso the Achaean. The original of the Cynicks was from Antisthenes the disciple of Socrates, who after the death of his Master Socrates, made choice of the Cynosarges, a School at Athens just without the Gates. The chief Professors of Cynicism were Antisthenes, Diogenes, Crates, and Demetrius. However, Cra∣tes had many eminent Auditors, as his Wife Hipparchia, her Brother Metrocles, Menippu•• the Phoenician, and Zeno the Father of the Stoicks, from whence sprang that great frater∣nity and communion betwixt the Cynicks and the Stoicks; in so much that (as Laertjus says, lib. 6.) the Stoicks themselves acknowledged Cynicism to be a short way to Virtue. Nevertheless he that well examines this Sect, together with the Manners and Behaviours of those who professed it, will find that Philosophy appears so fantastical in no dress as in Cynicism; differing in its pride, ill-nature, moroseness and slovneliness, from all other Sects of Philosophy, just as a rigid Calvinist differs from all other Professors of Christia∣nity. And this was the chief motive that induced Zeno to quit the Cynick Sect▪ for being commanded by Crates to do some undecent actions, his modesty made him refuse, and quit Crates's School: whose Cynick impudence was so great, that we read how Crates lay with his own Wife in publick, before a great number of people.

This Theban Philosopher flourished about the 113^th Olympiad, A. M. 3620. Pasicles, the disciple to Euclid, was his Brother. Now the account which Laertius gives us of Crates, is this: Antisthenes (saith he) in his Successions relates, that being at a Tragedy where Telephus was represented, carrying a Basket in a sordid condition, he after that betook himself to the Cynical Philosophy, and selling all his Estate, (for he was very rich, having got together above two hundred Talents) he distributed it amongst the Citizens, and was so constant a Professor of this Philosophy, that Philemon the Comick Poet takes notice of it in these words, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. thus rendred by the ingenious Mr. Stanley in his Lives of the Philosophers:

By him in Summer a thick Coat was worn; In Winter time (so Temperate) a Torn.

Diocles (as also our Author Philostratus) reports, that Diogenes perswaded him to part with his Estate, and to throw all the Money he had left into the Sea; saying, Abite pessum malae cupiditates, ego vos mergam, ne ipse mergar a vobis; for he thought that none could have Riches and Virtue together. Some of his near Friends that came to disswade him from this course of Life, he beat away; being of a most resolute Spirit: his House was from Alexander, and his Wives from Philip. Furthermore Demetrius the Magnesian saith, he deposited some Money in the hands of a Banker, upon this condition, that if his Sons betook themselves to any Civil imployment, it should be repaid to them again; but if to Philosophy, that it should then be distributed amongst the people, for as much as a Philosopher stands in need of nothing. Eratosthenes likewise relates, that Crates ha∣ving a Son named Pasicles by his Wife Hipparchia, so soon as he arrived at mans estate, he brought him to the house of a young Maid that was his Slave, saying, this is an Here∣ditary Matrimony to you: but those who commit Adultery, are according to the Tra∣gedians punished with banishment or death; and those who keep Concubines, were ac∣cording to the Comedians, by luxury and drunkeness transported to madness. He was exceeding invective against all Common women, thereby (as some say) to exercise

himself to bear rayling from others. Beholding one time at Delphos a golden Image of Phryne the Curtezan, he cryed out, This is a Trophy of the Graecian Intemperance! Another time, being beaten black and blue in the Face by Nicrodomus the Lutenist, he pasted a piece of Paper on his Forehead, wherein was written, Nicrodomus did this. Also at Thebes, being beaten by the Master of the Gymnasium, or as others say at Corinth, by Euthicrates, he laughed, saying, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c.

He by the Foot him drew, And o're the Threshold threw. Mr. Stanly's Transl.

Alexander asking Crates, whether he would that his Countrey should be restored or no? Crates answer'd, To what end, seeing there will come perhaps another Alexander and destroy it. Again, The Athenian Magistrates blaming him for wearing a long Robe, I will shew you (saith he) Theophrastus in the same Attire; which they not believing, he brought them to a Barber's Shop, where Theophrastus was sitting to be trimm'd. Zeno in his Chrias saith, that he sowed a Sheeps-skin on his Cloak to appear the more deformed; however of himself he was very unhandsom, and always whilst he discours'd, laughd. In his old age he grew crooked, to which he alludes, when looking upon himself, and perceiving Death's approach, he said, — 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c.—.

— And dost thou go old Friend, To the next World, thou whom old age doth bend?

He died old, and was buried in Boeotia. The Epistles of Crates are extant, wherein (saith Laertius) he writes excellent Philosophy, in a style resembling Plato. He wrote like∣wise divers Tragedies full of deep Philosophy. Stanly his Lives of the Philosophers; Sui∣das; Laertii lib. 6. Stobae. Serm Plutarch. Mor. Gale's Court of the Gent. part 2. Crates is much commended by Plutarch, for that he had no sooner read upon that Monster Sar∣danapalus's Tomb these Verses,

(Haec habeo, quae edi, quaeque exsaturata Libido Hausit: at illa manent multa & praeclara relicta.) Chaerill. Poeta.

But he extempore made this addition to them;

(Haec habui, didici studio quae pulchra; Camaenae Me quibus instruxere.)—

I cannot present you with a true Character of this Philosopher's Vertue, without ren∣dring it morose and ill natured to the brisk and airy, affected to the complaisant, ful∣som and unclean to the nice, clownish to the well-bred, prodigal and extravagant to the covetous, and unimitable to the licentious and youthful; however, since his Vertue (which consisted in a self-denying temperance) was great, the custom and discipline of his Sect, may justly attone for all his other ill-bred errors. Now besides our Theban Phi∣losopher, (whom Philostratus here speaks of) there were other eminent men of the same Name, viz. Crates, an ancient Comick Poet of Athens, a Disciple of Polemon the Phi∣losopher: Suidas. And Crates the Grammarian, (under Ptolomy Philom. Contemporary with Aristophanes) sirnamed Criticus, or Homericus, for that he wrote fifty nine Books of Comment▪ upon Homer's Iliads and Odysses: Suidas. He also first brought the Study of Grammar to Rome, as Suetonius says; for being sent by King Attalus to the Senate, he made many Narrations upon the death of Ennius, during the time of his Embassy. There was likewise another Crates of Pergamus, that wrote a Book containing the wonderful Curiosities of many Countreys; of whom Pliny (lib. 7.2.) and Aelian (de Animal. 17.9.) make mention.

[6] Sophocles, the Prince of Tragick Poets, by Birth an Athenian, and Son of Sophilus, was born in the second year of the seventy first Olympiad, whilst Philippus was Archon, as Anonym. in descript. Olymp. and the Scholiasts upon Sophocles say. However, Suidas and others write, that he was born in the seventy third Olympiad, which account makes him to be seventeen years older than Socrates; about A. M. 3520. and Ant. Christ. 428. Suidas says, that he died six years after the death of Euripides, but yet is preferr'd be∣fore him, for the majesty of his Style, though not for the number of Sentences. He was

Co-partner with Euripides and Pericles in the Office of Praetor. He wrote, as Suidas in∣forms us, one hundred and twenty three Tragedies: and in his contention for the Lau∣rel with other Poets, he obtain'd no less than twenty four Victories, whereof there were three most eminent. The first was the Victory which he got in his youth over Aeschylus, for the which, (as some say) Aeschylus retiring into Sicily, did there die of grief. Plu∣tarch. in Cimone. The second was, when his own Sons accused him in his old age for want of Wit before the Judge; whereupon Sophocles producing a Tragedy which he had lately written, and asking the Judg's opinion, whether that seem'd to be the Work of an Idiot? The Judg did so highly esteem of it, that reproving his Sons very severely, he dismiss'd them with disgrace, and their old Father with honour. Cicero, Cato Maj. 20. The third and last Victory of Sophocles was that which cost him his life, as some say; for being very ancient, and having rehears'd a Tragedy at the publick place for tryal of Wit, after a long Dispute, remaining at last Victor by one voice, he died for joy that he had won. Valer. Maxim. lib. 9. ch. 12. From hence it was that Cicero (calling him the di∣vine Poet) says, That he wrote Tragedies to the very last period of his old age. Cicero, Cato Maj. 20. Nay, Pliny is so Romantick in his commendation of Sophocles, that he brings a Miracle to honour him after his death, saying, (lib. 7. ch. 29.) that when Sophocles, the Prince of all Tragical Poets, was dead in Athens, it being at the same time that the Ci∣ty was besieged by the Lacedaemonians, God Bacchus appear'd several times by way of vi∣sion in a Dream to Lysander their King, admonishing him to suffer that person in the World whom he most delighted in, to be interred: Whereupon the King enquiring, what person was lately departed this Life in Athens, by relation of the Citizens soon found it to be Sophocles whom the God meant, for that he was the last man that had died amongst them; therefore he permitted them to bury him in peace, and to perform his funeral Ob∣sequies without any molestation or trouble▪ Concerning Sophocles's rejoycing at his old age, as a means to extinguish his Lust, which Philostratus here mentions, the same is al∣so spoken of by Plutarch and Cicero, who say, that Sophocles being on a time demanded familiarly by one of his Friends, whether he could yet keep company with a Woman if need were; answer'd, God bless me, my good Friend, talk no more of that I pray, for I am long since free from those matters, and by the benefit of my old age, have escaped the servitude of such violent and furious Mistresses. Plut. Mor. de Avaritia, ac etiam de Senect. & Sympos. lib. 1. & Cicero, Cato Maj. 43. Sophocles writing a Tragedy upon the Story of Antigone, Daughter to Oedipus King of Thebes, was so happy and successful both in his Fancy and Expressions, that the Athenians bestow'd upon him as a reward, the Go∣vernment of Samos. From whence that Proverb came, Sophocles est, He is a happy Ora∣tor. Sophocles introduced many new things for the reforming of the Stage; such as leav∣ing out the action of the Poet, by reason of his own ill voice; (for before his time, the Poet himself always acted;) he invented white Shoes, which the Actors and Dancers wore; he augmented the Chorus of Youths to fifteen, which before were but twelve; and likewise fitted his Tragedies to the Natures of his Actors. Also Vossius writes, that he first made use of Tribus Histrionibus, by adding, as Eschylus a second, so he a third Actor, who was therefore called Tritagonista, viz. an Actor of the third and last part. Concerning his death, notwithstanding what has been said before, Lucian writes, that he was choaked with a Grape-stone; which opinion is likewise confirm'd by that Verse of S••tad. apud Stobaeum:

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

Suidas saith, that besides his Tragedies he wrote likewise Elegies, Pa••ans, and some Prose. Cicero tells us, that a great golden Platter being taken out of the Temple of Hercules by theft, the God appear'd unto Sophocles in a Dream, and told him who had done it; the first and second time he slighted the Vision; but upon its frequent soliciting him, he cre∣dited it so far, as to inform the Magistrate thereof: who commanding that person to be apprehended whom Sophocles had accused, he was no sooner charged with the Fact, but he voluntarily confess'd it, and brought back the Plate. Cicero de Divinat. lib. 1.50. Ca∣roli Stephans Edit. Sophocles▪ resided very much at Colonus, a place near Athens, from whence Oedipus living there an Exile was called Colon••us; at this place Neptune was worshipp'd▪ Cicero de Finib. lib. 5.2. Concerning the true Character of Sophocles, I find

the Ancients had a great Veneration for him: Pompey when he was betray'd to the Egyptian shore by Sempronius, no sooner discover'd his error, and grew jealous of his own ruine, but he (though too late) reflected on the great wisdom of Sophocles, and repeated to himself (saith Appian, lib. 2. de Civil. Bell. Rom) these Lines of his:

To Tyrants Courts, the Valiant and the Brave, Though free they enter, soon become their Slave. Sophocl.

Vell. Paterculus says, that one Age, and that not consisting of many years, did enoble the Tragick Buskin, by means of those Divine-spirited men Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides; lib. 1. Polemon the Athenian Philosopher, was so delighted with Sophocles, and with Homer, that he would frequently say they were both endued with equal wis∣dom; calling Homer, Heroical Sophocles; and Sophocles, Tragical Homer: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Diog. Laert. lib. 4. How much Vir∣gil esteem'd him, appears sufficiently in his Eclogues, when he says,

Solo Sophocleo tua Carmina digna Cothurno. Virg. Eclog. 8.

The wise Simonides terms him, the Flower of Poets: his stile was so sweet, that Suidas tells us he was called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the Bee: his Verses masculine and lofty, as may be inferr'd from this Line of Iuvenals;

Grande Sophocleo carmen bacchamur hiatu. Sat. 6.

He left behind him five Sons, viz. Iophontes, Leosthenes, Aristones, Stephanus, and Mene∣clides. Opsopaeus (in Greek Epigram 3. upon the Sepulchre of Sophocles) prefers Sophocles much before either Aeschylus or Euripides. We read in Plutarch, (de vitis X. Orator.) that Lycurgus enacted for a Law in Athens, That at the publick expence of the City, there should be erected Statues of Brass for Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides; also that their Tragedies should be exemplified, and fairly engross'd, for to be kept in the Cham∣ber of the City: that the publick Notary of the City should read them unto the Players, and that otherwise it were unlawful to Act them. Some think that Sophocles first intro∣duced upon the Stage 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or the Painting of Scenes; which Horace seems to aim at, when he says, Modicis instravit pulpita signis: but I rather find this Ornament to be first invented by Aeschylus, and afterwards perfected by Sophocles.