The history of philosophy, in eight parts by Thomas Stanley.

CHAP. V.

How he lived with Philip and Alexander.

ABout this time Philip King of Macedonia, Father of Alexan∣der, taking care for the Education of his Son, now growing towards mans estate, and unwilling (saitha 1.1 Plutarch) to com∣mit his Education to Professors of Musick, or any other of the liberall Sciences, as knowing him fit for higher designes, sent to Aristotle the most famous and learned of Philosophers, to come and instruct him.b 1.2 Agellius recites his Epistle, which was to this effect.

Philip to Aristotle, health.

KNow that I have a Son, I render the Gods many thanks; not so much for his birth, as that he was born in your time, for I hope that being educated and instructed by you, he will become worthy both of us, and the Kingdom which he shall inherit.

Aristotle at this request of Philip, went to Macedonia to him, in the 4^th year of the 108. Olympiad, asc 2.1 Apollodorus and Dio••ystus Halicarnassaeus affirm, at what time Alexander was fifteen yeares old.

d 2.2 He lived there infinitely esteem'd and beloved of Philip and O∣lympia his Wife, Alexander's Mother,e 2.3 They caused his Statue to be made and set up in honour of him. Philip had a kindnesse to particular for him that he allo'wd him in manner an equal share in the Government of the Kingdom, which interest, Ammo∣nius saith, he employed to the advantage as well of private per∣sons, as of the publick, as appeareth (saith the Latine Interpre∣ter of his life) by his Epistles to Philip.f 2.4 Plutarch affirm••s, that Phi∣lip as a recompence to Aristotle, reedified the Town where hee was born, Stagira, which he had before laid wast. He likewise assign'd him a School and study, near Mieza a Town of Macedo∣nia not far from thence, where, unto this day (saith Plu••arch) they shew the stony seats and shady walks of Aristotle.

g 2.5 He instructed Alexander in the deepest parts of Learning, not only in Ethick and Politicks, but his most reserved and solid Doctrines call'd Acroatick and Epoptick; never communicated to the Vulgar.

That he taught him likewise the Art of Medicine, Plutarch ar∣gueth, for as much as Alexander was not only exceedingly de∣lighted with the Theory thereof, but practised it successfully up∣on many of his friends, to whom he prescribed Receipts and diets, as appeareth, saith he, by his Epistle.

h 2.6 Perceiving Alexander to be much taken with Homer's Iliads, as conceiving, and calling it the best••••stitution of military Vertue, he took much pains in correcting and restoring the text, and then gave it to Alexander, which copy ••he infinitely prised.

He writ a Book to Alexander, intituled; Of a Kingdom, menti∣oned by Laertius and Ammonius, wherein he instructed him how to rule.

i 2.7 So much did he incline the mind of Alexander to do good••, that he used to say, if any day pass'd wherein he had not con∣ferred some benefit, I have not reign'd to day.

k 2.8 Alexander so much affected him, that he professed he admi∣red and loved him no lesse then his Father, because his Father, he said, only gave him being, but Aristotle well-being.

The love which Philip and Alexander bore him was so great, that Theocritus the Chian cast the same aspersion upon it, as he did on his friendship with Hermias.

In the first year of the 111th Olympiad; Pythodorus being Archon, Philip dyed, and was succeeded by his Son Alexander, whose active spirit, soon after his coming to the Crown, designed an expediti∣on against the King of Persia. Hereupon Aristotle having now lived with Alexander eight years, (though Justine saith but five, which some interpret of the time before Philips death, but not without some violence, for that was above seven) preferring the quiet of a Contemplative life before the troubles of War, took leave of him, returned to Athens, leaving in his room Callisthenes an O∣lynthian, his Kinsman (Son of his Cozen Hero) and Disciple; l 2.9 whom before his departure observing to speak with too much liberty and obstinacy to the King, he reproved in these words,

Son, if thou thus employ thy tongue, Thy thread of life cannot be long.

And so it came to passe not long after upon this occasion. Hermo∣laus Son of Sopolis, a youth of a noble Family that studied Philoso∣phy under Callisthenes, hunting the Wild Bore with Alexander, prevented the King by casting his dart first at him, for which he was by the Kings command punished with many stripes. Trou∣bled at the ignominy thereof, he conspired with Sostratus, Anti∣pater, and some other companions of his to murther Alexander▪ which treason being discovered by Epimenes one of the Conspi∣rators, they were all put to death. Aristobulus and Ptolemaeus Son of Lagus affirms they accused Callisthenes, as him who instigated them to this attempt. Hereupon Callisthenes was put into an iron Cage, and so carried up and down in a miserable fordid conditi∣on, and at last, as Laertius relates (though others otherwise) thrown to Lyons and devoured.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Vit. Alexan••••.
• b 1.2

  Lib. 9. cap. 3.
• c 2.1

  Laert.
• d 2.2

  Ammon.
• e 2.3

  Vet. Interp.
• f 2.4

  Vit. Alexand.
• g 2.5

  Plut.
• h 2.6

  Plut.
• i 2.7

  Vet. Interp.
• k 2.8

  Plut. vit. Alex.
• l 2.9

  Laert.