CHAP. I.
His Country, Parents, and first Studies.
THE Sect of Stoicks had its originall from the Cynicks, Zeno was the Author thereof, who having first been a Scholer of Crates, and af∣terwards a hearer of other Philosophers, at last instituted this new Sect.a 1.1 Hee was born at Cittium, a Greek Sea-Town in the Isle of Cyprus,b 1.2 with a lock'd Haven, inhabited by Phoenicians,c 1.3 whence he somtimes was ter∣med the Phoenician. His Father was called Mnaseas, by some Deme∣as, a Merchant, whence was objected to Zeno, the obscurity of his Birth and Country, as beingd 1.4 a stranger; and of mean Paren∣tage, whereof he was so far from being ashamed, thate 1.5 he refu∣sed to be made a Citizen of Athens, as conceiving it an undervalu∣ing of his own Country; in so much asf 1.6 when he contributed to a Bath in Athens, and his name was inscribed upon a Pillar with the Title of Philosopher, he desired they would adde a Cittiean.
g 1.7 Zeno (as Hecaton and Apollonius Tyrius relate,) enquiring of the Oracle what course he should take to lead the best kind of life, was answer'd, that he should converse with the dead, where∣upon he addicted himself to the reading of antient Authors.
h 1.8 Herein he was not a little furthered by his Father, who, as Demetrius saith, trading frequently to Athens, brought him as yet but very young, many Socraticall Books, which excited in him a great affection to learning.
i 1.9 Being now 17. (or as Persaeus 22) years old, hee took a voy∣age to Athens, carried thither as well by his particular inclinati∣on to Philosophy, as by his businesse, which was to fell some Purple that he had brought out of Phoenicia. He took along with him a hundred Talents, and having sold his Merchandise, apply∣ed himself to Philosophy, yet continued to lend his money out to Merchants upon interest, so to improve his stock.
Some affirm his Ship was cast away in the Piraeum, which news being brought him to Athens, he seemed nothing at all moved,