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

CHAP. IX.

Vpon what occasion he left Athens, and went to Chalcis.

a 1.1 TWelve years Aristo••le professed Philosophy in the Lyceum, not molested by any; for though his eminence in Learning procured him many Aemulators and enemies, yet, the favour he had with Alexander, whilst he lived, awed them so much, that they durst not make any discovery of the ill will they bore him. No sooner was Alexander dead (according to Di••nysius Ha∣licarnassaeus) but some of them conspired against his life. To which end, Eurymedon, a Priest, or (according to Pha••orinus) Demophilus, accused him of impiety; that he introduced some Phi∣losophicall assertions, contrary to the Religion of the Athenians; that he celebrated Hermias as a God, with a hymne, and had caused his statue to be set up in the Delphian Temple, with an honourable inscrip∣tion. Some affirm hereupon he made an Oration in defence of himselfe, at the Court of Areopa••us, wherein he openly pro∣nounced this verse, made out of two inb 1.2 Homer.

Peares upon pears, and figs on figs grow here;

By 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, (figs on figs) reflecting upon the multitude of Sycop••a••ts which sprung up every day in the City. Hence Pha∣vor••nus saith, he was the first Philosopher that pleaded for him∣selfe, and there was an Oration to that purpose went about ma∣ny years after under his name. But, of the truth hereof, Athenae∣us maketh question.

c 1.3 Others affirm, that Aristotle perceiving the conspiracy that was against his life, stole privately out of Athens, and went to Chalcis, where he spent the rest of his daies, returning to his friends, who demanded the reason of his going, this answer, d 1.4 We left Athens, that we might not give the Athenians occasion to commit again the same wickednessee 1.5 they committed against Socrates, that they mi••ht not be guilty of a double crime against Philosophy. To Antipater he wrote the fore-mentioned verse,

Pears upon pears, and figs on figs grow here;

Giving him to understand how dangerous it was for him to live in Athens, since the Athenians were wholly addicted to Syco∣phantisme and calumny. This departure of Aristotle from Athens, Dionysius Halicarn••ssaeus placeth in the second year of the hundred and fourteenth Olympiad, Apollodorus a yeer latter, perhaps lesse rightly.

f 1.6 Being neer sixtie two yeers of age, very sickly, and without hope of living much longer, the whole company of his follow∣ers came to him, and besought him to make choice of a Succes∣sor, whom after his death they might look upon as the perfe∣cter of those studies whereinto he had brought them. There were at that time many excellent Scholars in his School, but especially two, Theophrastus and Menedemus, or rather as Pa∣tricius reads, Eudemus. These excelled the rest in Wit and Lear∣ning. The first was of Lesbos, Eudemus of Rhodes. Aristotle an∣swered them, he would do as they requested, when he saw it convenient. Soon after, the same persons being present who had made this request to him, he complained, the wine which he then drank did not agree with his health, but was unwhol∣some and harsh; and therefore desired they would send for other sorts, both R••odian and Lesbian, saying, he would make use of that which he should finde best for him. They go, seek, finde, bring. Aristotle first calls for the Rhodian, tasts it, a strong wine, saith he, and pleasant: then calls for the Lesbian, which having tasted, both, saith he, are good, but 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the Lesbian is the sweeter; whereby every one understood that his choice was not of the wine, but of his successour, which was Theophrastus of Lesbos, a man of extraordinary sweetnesse in discourse and con∣versation: Whence not long after, assoon as Aristotle was dead, all his Disciples applyed themselves to Theophrastus.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Laert.
• b 1.2

  Odyss. ••.
• c 1.3

  Laert.
• d 1.4

  Aelian. va••. hist.
• e 1.5

  Origen. contr: Celsum li••. ••.
• f 1.6

  Agell. 13. 6.