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

CHAP. IV.

His Scholers and Auditors.

THese are remembred as his Scholars and Auditors. * 1.1 Pericles Son of Xantippas being instructed by Anaxagoras, could easily reduce the exercise of his mind from secret obstru∣sive things to publick popular causes▪* 1.2 Pericles much esteemed him, was by him instructed in natural Philosophy, and besides o∣ther virtues fre'd from superstitious fears arising from ignorance of physicall causes; whereof there is this instance; the head of a Ram with but one horn being brought to Pericles, was by the South sayers interpreted prodigious: Anaxagoras opening it, showed that the brain filled not its naturall place, but contract∣ed by degrees in an ovall form toward that part where the horn grew. Afterwards Anaxagoras neglected and decrepit with age in a melancholy resentment thereof lay down and co∣ver'd his face, resolving to starve himself, which▪ Pericles hea∣ring,

came immediately to him bewailing, not Anaxagoras, but himself, who should lose so excellent a Counsellor: Anaxago∣ras uncovering his face said, They, Pericles, who would use a Lamp, must apply it with oil.

Archela••s Son of Apollodorus was Disciple to Anaxagoras, and, as Laertius affirms, called the naturall Philosopher for first bring∣ing that kind of learning to Athens, but how that consists with his relation to Anaxagoras, who, as he acknowledgeth, studied naturall Philosophy thirty years in Athens, Casaubone justly questions.

Euripides,* 1.3 as the writer of his life affirms, son of Mnesar∣chus, born at the first time of Xe••xes's expedition into Greece, the same day that the Grecians overthrew the Persians, was first a Painter, then an Auditor of Anaxagoras; but seeing him perse∣cuted for his opin••ons, lastly converted himself to Tragick poesy.

Socrates, Son of Sophroniscus, was according to Aristoxenus an Auditor of Anaxagoras till he left the City, and thereupon ap∣plyed himself to Archelaus, which Porphyrius reckons above the 17th. year of his age, or rather the ninteenth.

Democritus also is by some affirmed, being younger then Anax∣agoras forty years, to have applyed himself to him, but Laertius affirms he could not endure Democritus, & shunn'd his conversa∣tion; Phavorinus likewise attests, that because he would not ad∣mit him, Democritus profess'd himself his Enemy, and denyed his opinions of the Sun and Moon, but said they were ancient, and that he stole them, as likewise his description of the world, and assertion concerning the mind.

Me••rodorus of Lampsacum is likewise mentioned by Laertius as friend to Anaxagoras.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Cicer.
• * 1.2

  Plut. vit. Pericl.
• * 1.3

  His words (because never published) these: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉▪ 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉