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

CHAP. VI.

His Death.

ZEno having continued according toa 1.1 Apollonius Master of his School fifty eight years, and attained to the ninety eighth of his age, by the computation of Laertius andb 1.2 Lucian (for that he lived but seventy two years, as some affirm upon the testimony of c 1.3 Persaeus, seems to be a mistake, seeing that his Letter to Antigo∣nus was written in his 80•••• year)d 1.4 in all which time he was never molested by any sicknesse, died upon this occasion. Going out of the School, he fell and broke his finger, whereupon striking the Ground with his hand, he said, as Nio••e in the Tragedy, I come, why do you call me? or as others, why do you drive me? and going out, e 1.5 some say, he immediately strangled himself;f 1.6 others, that by little and little he famish'd himself.

g 1.7 When the news of his death came to Antig••nus, he broke forth into these words, What a spectacle have I lost! and being de∣manded why he so much admired him, because, said he, though I best owed many great things upon him, he was never therewith exalted nor dejected. He sent immediately Thraso on Embassie to the A∣thenians, requesting, that they would build him a Tomb in the Ceramick, which the Athenians performed, honouring him with this Decree.

A DECREE.

ARrhenides being Archon, the Tribe of Acamantis having the first place in the Phrytanae••••m, the tenth day of Maimacterion, the three and twentieth of the sitting of the Phrytanaeum, the Congregation of Presidents

decreed thus, Hippo Son of Cratistoteles a Xympetean, and the rest of the Presidents, Thraso Son of Thraso, an Anacaean; declared;

Whereas Zeno Son of Mnaseas a Cittiean, hath professed Philosophy many years in this City, and in all other things performed the office of a good man, encouraging those young men, who applyed themselves to him, to Vertue and Tempe∣rance, leading himself a life suitable to the Doctrine which he professed, a Pattern to the best to imitate; The People have thought fit (good Fortune go along with it) to do ho∣nour to Zeno Son of Mnaseas the Cittiean, and to crown him with a Crown of Gold according to the Law, in reward of his Vertue and Temperance, and to build a Tomb for him publickly in the Ceramick. For, the making of which Crown, and building of the Tomb, the People shall make choice of five men of the Athenians to take charge thereof. This De∣cree the Scribe of the People shall write upon two Pillars, one whereof shall be placed in the Academy, the other in the Lyceum. The charge of the Pillars, he who is Overseer of the Publick works shall undertake to defray, by way of rate, that all may know, the Athenian People honour good men both alive and dead. To take care of the building are ap∣pointed, Thraso an Anacaean, Philocles, a Pyrean, Phae∣drus, an Anaphistian, Medon, an Acarnean, Micythus a Sympalletean.

The Athenians caused likewise his Satue in Brasse to be set up, as did also the Cittieans his Countrymen. Antipater the Sidonian bestow'd this Epitaph upon him.

Here Zeno lies, who tall Olympus s••al'd, Not heaping Pelion on Ossa's head, Nor by Herculean labours so prevail'd, But found out Vertue's path which thither led.

Another Epigram was written upon him by Xenodotus the Sto∣ick, disciple of Diogenes.

Zeno thy years to hoary age were spent; Not with vain riches, but with self-content:

A stout and constant Sect deriv'd from thee The Mother of nought-dreading liberty: Phoenicia, whence thou issuedst who can slight? Thence Cadmus too, who first taught Greece to write.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Laert.
• b 1.2

  De long••v. the numericall l••tter in Suid••s is corrupt.
• c 1.3

  Laert.
• d 1.4

  Laert.
• e 1.5

  Laert.
• f 1.6

  Suid.
• g 1.7

  Laert.