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

CHAP. I.

Pittacus his life.

* 1.1 PITTACUS was of Mitelene (the chief City of Lesbos) son of Caicus,* 1.2 or (rather) Hyr••ha∣dius, a Thracian, his Mother a Lesbian, born in the thirtie two Olympiad.

Laertius saith, he flourished in the fortie two Olympiad;* 1.3 at that time he gave testi∣mony of his great courage and love to his Country, in killing (assisted by the brethren of Alcaeus the Po∣et) Melanchrus, tyrant of Lesbos and Mitelene.

* 1.4 Pittacus grown eminent by this action, was by the Mitele∣naeans made ••enerall, and* 1.5 sent with a fleet against the A••henians, with whom they had a long contest concerning the Achillaean field; the ground of their difference this:* 1.6 Pisistratus took Sige∣um by force from the Mitelaeans, and setled there (as King) Hegesistra∣tus his naturall Son, by an Argive woman, who kept it, not without much dispute; for betwixt the Mitelenaeans and Athenians there was a long war, those sallying out of the Achillaean Town, these out of Sigae∣um: * 1.7 those lay claim to the Town, as built by Archaeanactes of Mitelene, of the stones of old Troy (for the Lesbians challenged the greatest part of Troas as their hereditary right, where they had built many houses, some, saith Strabo, standing at this day, others demolished)* 1.8 these opposed their claim; alledging the Aeolians had no more right to this Ilian country, then themselves or any other of the Greeks, who assisted Menelaus in the recovery of Hellen.* 1.9 The Athenians sent thither as Generall Phryno, a tall robust person, who had been victor in all the Olympick exercises; perhaps the same whom Eusebius names in the thirtie six Olympiad.* 1.10 Pitta∣cus having been severall times worsted in ba••tle, at last challenged Phryno to single combat, and met him, being armed ••ith the ••eapons of a fisherman, hiding a net under his s••ield, wherewith catching Phryno suddenly, he sle•• him with his trident and ••agger, and by his dea••h re∣covered the field. From this stratagem of Pittacus, was derived the like kind of fighting amongst the Roman gladiatours, called Retiarii (described by* 1.11 Lipsius) as is expresly observed by Polyaenus and* 1.12 Festus.

* 1.13 But this war ended not so; untill at last both parties refer∣red

themselves to Periander,* 1.14 choosing him Umpire; he awar∣ded that each side should keep what they were in possession of, whereby Sigeum fell to the Athenians.* 1.15 Demetrius argues Ti∣maeus of falshood, for affirming Periander built Achilleum (a small town, where was the tomb of Achilles) in opposition to the Athenians, of Ilian stones, and thereby to have aided Pittacus: but neither was it built of such stones (saith Strabo) nor was Periander the founder: how could he be chosen arbitratour, whose actions had declared him an enemie?

* 1.16 Hereupon Pittacus was highly honoured by the Mitelenae∣ans, who (* 1.17 being infested by banished persons, under the leading of Antimenides, and Alcaeus the Poet)* 1.18 either in obligation to his merit, or confidence in his equity, by their free votes (* 1.19 though Alcaeus denie it) instated him in the Tyrannie;* 1.20 with many accla∣mations of praise, and a great concourse of people (as is manifest from Alcaeus, who for that reason reprehends them.)* 1.21 They also with generall consent offered him great gifts, and bad him take of that field which he recovered from the Citizens as much as he would. He darting his spear, demanded only so much as that had passed over, which he dedicated to Apollo, called (even to the time of Plutarch, and Laertius) the Pittacaean field:* 1.22 Sosicrates averres, he took part of it for himselfe, saying, the halfe was more then the whole:* 1.23 Thus he diverted his mind from the gift, con∣ceiving it not fitting to diminish the glory of the vertue, by the greatnesse of the reward.

Being possest of this power, he shewed the moderation wherewith his breast was furnished, towards Alcaeus the Poet, who had behaved himselfe pertinaciously against him, with bitter hate and scurrilous wit (whereof see many instances in Laertius) Pittacus only inform'd him how able he was to oppresse him.

During his government, he made many Lawes, one whereof is mentioned by* 1.24 Cicero, forbidding any man to go to the funerall of such as he was not of kin to. Another by* 1.25 Aristotle, that whosoever being drunk, should strike any man, should pay double as much as if he had been sober; or as Laertius delivers it, whosoever offended, being drunk, should pay a double forfeit; which he did to restrain the Mi∣telenaens from drunkennesse, because their Island abounded in wine. His usuall exercise, even whilst he was King, (as Cle. archus affirmes) was to grind corn, esteeming it a healthfull ex∣ercise, much commending a mill, that in so little room, it affor∣ded exercise to many. There was a song,* 1.26 called for that reason 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, of which Thales* 1.27 affirmes he heard a she-slave in Lesbos sing the beginning as the ground, which was thus.

Grind, grind my Mill amain, For Pittacus the Lesbian King To grind doth not disdain.

Being well in years, he was constrained to take upon himself the leading of an Army, whereupon he said, it is hard to be good; which* 1.28 Simonides mentions, saying,

Hard to be truly honest, this The Pittaceian sentence is.

Plato also remembers it in his Protagoras (where Simonides re∣proves Pittacus for saying, it is hard to continue good, which he affirmes to be easie, but to become good, hard; wherein he differs from Laertius his expression of it.

* 1.29 He continued in the government of the Kingdom ten years, * 1.30 Valerius Maximus saith, only as long as the war with the Athenians concerning Sigeum lasted, but afterwards assoon as peace was obtained by victory (having in this time setled the affairs of the common∣wealth) he laid it down, notwithstanding the Mitelenaeans cried out to the contrary, lest he should continue Lord of the Citizens longer then the necessities of the Kingdome required, and lived ten years after a pri∣vate person.

He went to Sardis at what time (as some say, though others apply it to Bias) Croesus having made the Grecians in Asia tributary, had given order for the building of a Navy to invade the Islanders: as soon as he came thither, Croesus asked him what newes from Greece? He by his answer, diverted the King from going forward with his building ships: the Islanders, saith he, have bought a world of horses, intending an expedition against Sardis; and Croesus thinking he had spoken truth, answered, I wish the Gods would put it in their minds to come against the Lydians on horse-back; he replyed, it is not without reason, great King, that you wish and hope to catch the Islanders on horse-back in the conti∣nent; and what think you the Islanders wish more, then (hearing your preparation to set out a Navie against them) that they may catch the Lydians upon the Sea, and revenge the cause of those inland Grecians whom you have reduc'd to servitude. Croesus much delighted with this speech, and disswaded (for it seemed to him he spoke very ingeniously) from building a Navy, gave it over, and contracted amity with the Ionian Islands.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Laert. & Suid.
• * 1.2

  So the varican M. S: of Sui∣das, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 better then the printed editions, which read 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,
• * 1.3

  Suid.
• * 1.4

  Laert.
• * 1.5

  Strab.
• * 1.6

  Herod. 5. 94.
• * 1.7

  Strab. lib. 13.
• * 1.8

  Herod. conti∣nues.
• * 1.9

  Strab. Laert.
• * 1.10

  Strab. Laert.
• * 1.11

  Saturnal.
• * 1.12

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 Retiario:
• * 1.13

  Strab. Laert.
• * 1.14

  Herod. 5. 95:
• * 1.15

  Strab.
• * 1.16

  Laert.
• * 1.17

  Aristot. polit. 3. 14.
• * 1.18

  Val. Max. 6. 5
• * 1.19

  Plut. amator.
• * 1.20

  Aristot. pol. 3. 14.
• * 1.21

  Plut. de ••a∣ligd. Herod. Laert. Suid.
• * 1.22

  Laert.
• * 1.23

  Val. Max. 6. 5
• * 1.24

  De legib. 2.
• * 1.25

  F••lit. 2. 12.
• * 1.26

  Pollux.
• * 1.27

  Plut. Sympos. sept. sap.
• * 1.28

  Hence correct Suidas, who saith Simon.
• * 1.29

  Laert.
• * 1.30

  6. 5.