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

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Title: The history of philosophy, in eight parts by Thomas Stanley.
Author: Stanley, Thomas, 1625-1678.
Publication: London :: Printed for Humphrey Moseley and Thomas Dring :; 1656.
Rights/Permissions: To the extent possible under law, the Text Creation Partnership has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above, according to the terms of the CC0 1.0 Public Domain Dedication (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/). This waiver does not extend to any page images or other supplementary files associated with this work, which may be protected by copyright or other license restrictions. Please go to http://www.textcreationpartnership.org/ for more information.
Subject terms: Philosophy, Ancient -- Early works to 1800.; Philosophy -- History.
Link to this Item: http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A61287.0001.001
Cite this Item: "The history of philosophy, in eight parts by Thomas Stanley." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A61287.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 16, 2024.

Pages

Page 125

CLEANTHES

CAP. I.

His Life

CLeanthes was of Assus an Aeolian City (forti∣fied,* 1.1 as Stralo describes it, both by Nature and Art) sonne of Phanias. He was first ac∣cording to Antisthenes a wrastler, and come∣ing to Athens, having no more then four Drachms, he apply'd himself first to Crates, then to Zene, whom he heard constantly, and persevered in his Philosophy and Opinions. He was much commended for his laboriousnesse, in as much as being poor, he went by night to the Gardens to draw water, and in the day time studied Philosophy. Hence he was called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The drawer of Water.

Being cited to the Court to give an account how he lived, be∣ing so healthfull and lusty, hee produced the Gardener, under whom he drew water, and a woman for whom he ground meal, to witnesse how he subsisted. The Areopagites wondring hereat, allotted him 10. minae, which Zeno would not suffer him to accept. Antigonus gave him 3000. minae. On a time leading some young men to a spectacle, the wind blew back his Cloak, and discovered that he had no Coat; whereupon the Athenians much applauded him, and, as Demetrius the Magnesian ••aith, bestowed a Coat upon him.

Antigonus,* 1.2 who was his Auditor, asked him why he drew wa∣ter, he answer'd, Do I only draw water? Do I not also dig and water the ground, and all for the sake of Philosophy? For Zeno brought him up to this, and bad him bring him an obolus gained by his labour. Upon a time he brought in his gains before all his Disciples, saying, Cleanthes, If he would, could maintain another Cleanthes; but they who have wherewithall to maintain themselves, would be supply'd by others; yet study philosophy nothing the more diligently. Hence Cleanthes was called a second Hercules. He was very laborious, but dull and slow.

Page 126

He used to write the dictates of Zeno in shells, and the shoul∣der-blades of Oxen, for want of money to buy paper. He was his auditor 19. years.

For these reasons, though Zeno had many other eminent Dis∣ciples, yet he succeeded him in the School.

CHAP. II.

His Apophthegmes.

a 1.3 HIs Fellow-Disciples derided him, he took it patiently, and being called Asse, answered, he onely could bear Zeno's burthen.

Another time being reproached as timerous, therefore, saith he, I sin little.

Preferring his own Poverty before the plenty of the rich; whilst they, saith he, Play at Ball, I manure a hard barren soil.

He often chid himself, being all alone, which Aristo overhea∣ring; whom, saith he, do you chide, he smiling, answered, a grey∣headed old fellow without wit.

To one that said Arcesilaus abrogated the offices of life; peace, saith he, dispraise him not, for though he take away offices in discourse, he commends them in his actions; To whom Arcesilaus saying, I cannot endure flattery; I do indeed flatter, replies Clean∣thes, when I say, you speak one thing and do another.

To one that asked what he should teach his Son, he answer'd in the words of Electra;

Peace, peace, a little step.

A Lacedemonian saying, that labour was good, hee laughed, answering,

My son, thou of a gen'rous race art come.

Disputing with a young man, he asked him whether hee did feel; the other answers he did, he replyed, why then do I not feel that you feel?

Sosythius the Poet saying in the publick Theatre when Cleanthes was present;

Those whom Cleanthes madnesse leads away; hee sate still, not changing his countenance; whereupon the Auditors applauding him, turned out Sosythius, who afterwards coming to Cleanthes, told him he was sorry that he had reproached him; Cleanthes an∣swer'd, it were unsit I should behold unconcerned Bacchus and Her∣cules derided by the Poets, and be angry' at a little word against my self.

Page 127

He compared the Peripateticks to Lutes, that make good Mu∣sick, but hear it not themselves.

Holding according to Zeno that the mind may be discerned in the countenance, some merry young men brought an effeminate youth to him rustically cloathed, desiring his opinion of that mans disposition. He bad him depart, which the other going to do, sneezed; Cleanthes presently cryed out, I have found out the man, he is effeminate.

To one that was all alone talking to himself, you discourse saith he, with a man that is not ill.

To one that was reproach'd him with his age, I would be gone, saith he, but when I consider that I am in health, fit to write and study, I ra∣ber choose to stay.

b 1.4 Cleanthes bad those who came to hear him, to fancy pleasure painted in a Tablet, richly habited and adorned, sitting upon a Throne, the Vertues standing about her, as her handmaids, do∣ing nothing else but wait on her commands, and whispering in her ear (if it can be phancied of a picture) to bid her take heed of doing any thing imprudently, that may offend the minds of men, or any thing that may occasion grief.

c 1.5 He said, whosoever sweareth, at the same time sweareth truly, or forsweareth himself: if he intend to do that which hee sweareth, though he do it not, he sweareth truly; if he intend it not he is forsworn.

d 1.6 One observing him silent, said to him, why do you hold your peace, it is pleasant to talk to friends; It is indeed, answer'd Cle∣anthes, but the more pleasant it is, the more we ought to allow them the freedom of it.

e 1.7 Hee said that unlearned men differed from Beasts in their figure.

f 1.8 Being demanded why amongst the Antients, when there were fewest Philosophers, there were more eminent then at this time; he answer'd, because then they minded the thing it self, now only in words.

To one that asked him,g 1.9 how a man might be rich, he answe∣red, by being poor in desire.

CHAP. III.

His Writings.

HEE left behind him (saith Laertius) these excellent Books.

Of time.
Of Zeno's Philosophy.
Explications of Heraclitus, 3.
...

Page 128

Of Sense 4.
Of Art.
To Democritus.
To Aristarchus.
To Erillus.
Of Appetite 2.
Archaeology.
Of God.
Of Gyants.
Of Hymenealls:
Of a Poet.
Of Office 3.
Of right consultation.
Of Gratitude.
Protreptick.
Of Vertues.
Of Ingenuity.
Of Gorgippus.
Of Envy.
Of Love.
Of Liberty.
The Art of Love
Of Honour.
Of Glory.
The Politiek••
Of Counsell.
Of Laws.
Of Iudging.
Of the reason of living.
Of speech 3.
Of the End.
Of honest things.
Of Actions.
Of Science.
Of a Kingdom.
Of Friendship.
Of a Symposium.
That the vertue of man and woman is the same.
That a wise man may use Sophismes.
Of Chria's.
Dissertations 2.
Of Pleasure.
Of Properties.
Of Inexplicables.
Of Dialectick.
Of Tropes.
Of Categoremes.
...

Page 129

Besides these, are mention'd
...a 1.10 Of Atoms.
Of Brasse.
...b 1.11 Of Sumptions.
Fabulous Traditions.
c 1.12 The Art of Rhetorick.

CHAP. IV.

His Death.

HE lived according to Laertius 80. years, according to Lucian, 99. The occasion of his death this, being troubled with a fore∣nesse of his gumms (Stobaeus saith, an Ulcer under his Tongue) he was enjoyned by the Physitians to fast two daies, which he did, and was wel; then they told him he might eat again, but he would not, saying, he was now gone a great way on his journey;a 1.13 would you have me, ••aith he, having past over the greatest part of my life, return back again, and begin it anew?b 1.14 Having fasted two daies more hee died.

c 1.15 Simplicius saith, he saw an exquisite statue of Cleanthes in Assus, an example of the magnificence of the Romance Senate, dedicated to his honour.

Notes

* 1.1

Laert.

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* 1.2

Laert. Flut.

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a 1.3

Laert.

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b 1.4

Cic de Fini••. lib. 2.

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c 1.5

Stob. Ser. 116.

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d 1.6

Set. 126.

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e 1.7

Set. 210.

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f 1.8

Set. 212.

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g 1.9

Ser. 229.

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a 1.10

Laert vit. Zen.

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b 1.11

Athen. deign.

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c 1.12

Cic. de fin. 1. 4.

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a 1.13

Stob.

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b 1.14

Laert.

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c 1.15

In Epi••••et.

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