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CHAP. II.
His first Education.
* 1.1 PLutarch saith, that as soon as he was born, Sophroniscus his Father consulting the Oracle, was by it advis'd to suffer his Son to do what hee pleas'd, never compelling him to doe what he disliked, nor diverting him from that whereto he was enclined; to give thanks for him by Sacrifice to Iupiter Agoraeus and the Muses; to be no further sollicitous for him, he had one guide of his life within him, better then five hundred masters.
But his Father not observant of the Oracle's direction, apply'd him to his own trade of carving Statues, contrary to his inclina∣tion, whereupon* 1.2 some have argu'd him of disobedience, re∣porting that often times, when his Father bad him work, he re∣fused, and went away following his own will.
His Father dying, left him (according to* 1.3 Libanius) four score minae, which being entrusted with a friend for im∣provement, they miscarried. This losse (though it were of all his stock, and he thereby reduc'd to incredible poverty) Socrates past over with silence, but was thereupon necessitated to con∣tinue his trade for ordinary subsistence.* 1.4 This Suidas intimates when he saith he was first a Statuary.* 1.5 Duris,* 1.6 Pausanias, and the * Scholiast of Ar••stophanes affirm three statues of the Graces cloathed, (for so they were most antiently made, not naked) set up before the entrance into the Tower at Athens, were his work. Pausanias implieth as much of a statue of Mercury in the same place; which* 1.7 Pliny seems not to have understood, who saith, they were made by a certain person named Socrates, but not the painter. Hence Timon,
From these the fluent statuary came Honour'd through Greece, who did against the name Of Oratour abusiv••y declaim.
But being naturally averse from this profession, ••ee onely follow'd it when necessity enforc'd him: Aristoxenus saith, he wrought for money, and laid up what he got till it came to a little stock, which being spent, hee betook himself again to the same course.
These intermissions of his Trade were bestowed upon Phi∣losophy; whereunto he was naturally addicted, which being observed by Crito a rich Philosopher of Athens,* 1.8 hee took him from his shop, being much in love with his candor and ingenu∣ity, and instructed, or rather gave him the means▪ to be in∣structed by others; taking* 1.9 so much care of him, that he never