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

CHAP. V.

OF his triall, Death sentences and writings.

Of his tryal saith Laertius there are several reports Sotion in his treatise of the succession of Philosophers saith, he was accused by Cleon of impiety, for asserting the Sun to be a burning plate, but being defended by Pericles his Scholar, hee was fined five Talents and banish'd.

Satyrus, that he was cited to the Court by Thucydides, who was of the contrary faction of Pericles,* 1.1 accused not onely of impie∣ty, but of holding intelligence with the Persians, and in his ab∣sence condemned to death; when news was brought him at the same time both of the death of his Sons, which (according to Aelian) were two,* 1.2 all that he had, and his own condemnation of the latter he said,* 1.3 Nature long since condemned both them & me

to death; of his* 1.4 Sons (* 1.5 with a calm look)* 1.6 You tell me nothing new or unexpected; I knew that I beget them mortall, which some ••∣scribe to Solon, others to Xenophon, Demetrius Phalereus saith, hee buried them with his own hands.

* 1.7 Hermippus, he was imprison'd to be put to death, but Peri∣cles appearing before the Judges, asked if they knew any thing in his life that they could accuse, to which they answered no∣thing, but I, saith he, am his disciple, then be not tansported by Calumnies to kill the man, but believe me and set him at liber∣ty, so he was dismissed, but not able to brook the disgrace, hee kill'd himself.

* 1.8 Hieronymus saith, that Pericles brought him into the Court in poor garments extenuated with sicknesse, an object ••itter for compassion then Justice. And thus much saith Laertius of his Tryall.

Suidas, that he was cast into Prison by the Athenians for in∣troducing a new opinion concerning God, and banish'd the Ci∣ty, though Pericles undertook to plead his cause, and that going to Lampsacum he there starv'd himself to death.

Iosephus, that the Athenians believing the Sun to be God, which he affirm'd to be without sense and Knowledge, hee was by the votes of a few of them condemned to death.

But if we credit* 1.9 Plutarch, he was neither condemned nor ac∣cused but by Pericles, who fear'd the Ordinance of Diopithes, which cited those that held prophane or sublime Opinions sent out of the City.* 1.10 Yet else-where hee confesseth he was accused.

His departure from Athens, being 30. years after his coming thither, falls the third year of the 82. Olimpiad the 63. of his age. Thence he went to Lampsacum, where he continued the rest of his age, which extended to 22. years more, so little mind∣full of A••hens, or of his Country, as to one, who told him that he was deprived of the Athenians, he answered, no, but they of me; and* 1.11 to his friends, who when hee fell sick, asked, if hee would be carried to Clazomonae his Country, no said he, there is no need, the way to the grave is alike every where.* 1.12 Before he died the Magistrates of the City asked him, if he would they should do any thing for him, hee answered, that his onely re∣quest was that the boyes might have leave to play yearly on that day of the month, whereon he died; which custom (saith Laertius) is continued to this time. Those of Lampsacum buried him magnificently with this Epitaph.

Here lies, who through the truest paths did passe O'th world Celestiall, Anaxagoras.

Aelian mentions two altars erected to him, one inscribed to

the mind, the other to truth; Laertius concludes his life with this Epigram.

Fam'd Anaxagoras the Sun defin'd A burning plate, 'for which to die design'd, Sav'd by his Scholar Pericles; But he * 1.13 Abandon'd life to seek Philosophie.

* 1.14 He is observed never to have been seen either to laugh or smile.

* 1.15 Being demanded if the Mountains of Lampsacum would in time become Sea, he answered, yes, if time fail not first.

* 1.16 Beholding the tomb of Mausolus, he said, a sumptuous Mo∣nument was a sign the substance was turned into stone.

* 1.17 He first affirmed the poesy of Homer to consist of virtue and Justice, to which Metrodorus added, that the Poet was skil∣full in naturall Philosophy.

* 1.18 He conceived that there are two lessons of death, the time before our birth, and sleep.

Laertius and Clemens Alexandrinus assert him first of the Philo∣sophers that put forth a Book. He writ.

Of Natural Philosophy, out of which Aristotle cites these fragments, All these things were together: which was the beginning of the book: and, ••o be such is to be changed.* 1.19 Plato this, The mind is the disposer and cause of all things.* 1.20 Athenaeus this, what is commonly called the milk of the hen, is the white of the egge.* 1.21 Plato censures the book as not using the mind at all, nor assiging any cause of the order of things, but aeriall, aetheriall and aquatick Natures, and the like incredible things for causes.

The quadrature of the Circle: which treatise* 1.22 Plutarch saith hee composed during his imprisonment.

* 1.23 There were three more of the same name; the first an Ora∣tour, follower of Isocrates: the second a statuary, mentioned by Antigonus; the last a Grammarian, Scholar to Zenodotus.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Laert.
• * 1.2

  Cic. Tus••. qu••st. 3. Plut. de ira cohib.
• * 1.3

  Varr. hist. 3.
• * 1.4

  Plut. consol. ad Apol••on.
• * 1.5

  Simplic. in Epiclet.
• * 1.6

  Val. Max. 5. 10.
• * 1.7

  Laert.
• * 1.8

  Laert.
• * 1.9

  Vit. Pericl▪
• * 1.10

  De superstit.
• * 1.11

  Cic Tus••. quaest. 1.
• * 1.12

  Plut. instruct. polit.
• * 1.13

  Aelian.
• * 1.14

  Laert.
• * 1.15

  Lacrt.
• * 1.16

  Laert.
• * 1.17

  Laert.
• * 1.18

  Stob.
• * 1.19

  Phys. 1. 5. Plut. Georg.
• * 1.20

  Hip. mai.
• * 1.21

  Lib. 2.
• * 1.22

  De exsul.
• * 1.23

  Laert.