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

CHAP. XI.

His falling out with the Sophists, and with Anytus.

THe Sophists, Masters of language in those ••imes, saith* 1.1 Ci∣cero, (whereof were Gorgias of Leontium, Thrasymachus of Chalcedon, Protagoras o•• Abdera, Prodicus a Cian, Hippias an Elian, and many others) who profest in arrogant words to teach, how an inferiour cause (such was their phrase) might by speaking, be made superiour,* 1.2 and used a sweet fluent kind of Rhetorick, argute in sen∣tences, loftie in words, sitter for ostentation then pleading, for the Schooles and Academies, rather then the Forum) were so highly esteem'd, that* 1.3 wheresoev••r they came, they could perswade the young men to forsake all other conversation for theirs.* 1.4 These Socrates opposed, and often by his subtlety of disputing, refelling their principles* 1.5 with his accustomed interrogatories, demonstrated, that they were indeed much be∣neath the esteem they had gained, ••hat they themselves understood nothing of that which they undertook to teach others; he withdrew the young men from their empty conversation: These, who till then had been looked upon as Angels for wit and Eloquence, he proved to be vain affecters of words, ignorant of those things which they profest, and had more need to give mony to be taught, then to take (as they used) mony for teaching. The Athenians taken with these reproof's which Socrates gave them, derided them, and excited their children to the study of solid vertue.

Another quarrell Socrates had of long continuance, for it was the occasion of his death, but begun many years before, with Anytus, an Oratour by profession, privately maintained and enriched by Leather-sellers: He had put two of his sons to Socrates to be taught, but not being pleased, that whilst they were in that way, they had not learned so much, as to be able

thereby to get their living; he took them from Socrates, and put them to that trade which himselfe was ashamed to own; wherewith Socrates being much displeased in respect of the two youths, whose ruine he presaged, (and truly, for they fell af∣terwards into debaucheries which occasion'd it) spared not to reproach Anytus in discoursing to his Schollars,* 1.6 telling them,

That the Trade of dressing Leather was not sit to be spoken of amongst young men; for they who benefit themselves by any art, cherish and professe it, as Acumenus Physick, Damon and Connus Musl••ck; even Any us whilst his sons were his schol∣lars, was not ashamed of that which they learn'd, though it were not sufficient to maintain them by pleading; but for himselfe he gloryed that he walked invisible with Pluto's Helmet, or Giges Ring, concealing from the people the true means of his subsistence, which indeed was by dressing Lea∣ther, which was not just, to be ashamed of the trade, and not of the profit; for he ought to owne this, or to disclaim that.

Anytus (saith* 1.7 Aelian) to answer this reproach, studied all occasions and waies of revenge; but feared the Atheni∣ans, doubting if he should accuse Socrates, how they would take it, his name being in high esteem for many respects, chiefly for opposing the Sophists, who neither taught nor knew any solid learning. He* 1.8 adviseth with Melitus, a young man, an Oratour, unknown to Socrates, described by * Plato, with long plain hair, a high nose, and a thin beard,* 1.9 one that for a drachine might be bought into any thing, by whose coun∣sell * 1.10 He begins, by making tryall in lesser things, to sound how the At••enians would entertain a charge against his life; for to have accused him upon the very first, he conceived unsafe, as well for the reason already mentioned, as lest the friends and followers of Socrates should divert the anger of the Judges upon himselfe, for falsely accusing a person so far from being guilty of any wrong to the State, that he was the only ornament thereof. To this end he subbornes Aristophanes, a Comick Poet, whose only businesse was to raise mirth, to bring Socrates upon the Stage, taxing him with crimes which most men knew him free from, impertinent discourse, making an ill cause by argument seem good, intro∣ducing new and strange deities, whilst himselfe believed and reverenced none; hereby to insinuate an ill opinion of him, even into those who most frequented him. Aristophanes taking this Theme, interweaves it with much abusive mirth; the best of the Grecians was his subject, not Cleon the Lace∣daemonians, the Thebans, or Pericles himselfe, but a person dear to all the Gods, especially Apollo. At first (by reason of the novelty of the thing, the unusuall personating of Socrates

upon the Stage) the Athenians, who expected nothing lesse, were struck with wonder: Then, (being naturally envious apt to detract from the best persons, not only of such as bore office in the common-wealth, but any that were emi∣nent for learning or vertue) they begun to be taken with the Clouds, (so was the play named) and cried up the actour that personated Socrates with more applause, then ever any before, giving him with many shouts the victory, and sending word to the Judges that they should set down no name but that of Aristophanes. Socrates came seldome to the Theater, unlesse when Euripides contested with any new Tragaedian, there, or in the Pyraeum, then he went, for he affected the wisdome, goodnesse, and sweetnesse of his verse; sometimes Alcibiades and Critias would invite him to a Comedy, and in a manner compell him; for he was so far from esteeming Comedians, that he contemned them, as lying, abusive, and unprofitable; whereat they were much displeased: These (with other things suggested by Anytus and Melitus) were the ground of Aristophanes his Comaedy, who, it is likely, got a great summe of money by it, they being eager in prosecution of their de∣sign, and he prepared by want, and malice to receive their impression: In fine, the play got extraordinary credit, that of Cratinus being verified,

The Theater was then Fill'd with malitious men.

It being at that time the feast of Bacchus, a multitude of Grecians went to see the play: Socrates being personated on the Stage and often named, (nor was it much the Players should represent him, for the Potters frequently did it upon their stone-jugs) the strangers that were present (not know∣ing whom the Comedy abused) raised a humme and whis∣per, every one asking who that Socrates was? which he ob∣serving (for he came not thither by chance, but because he knew himselfe should be abused in the play, had chosen the most conspicuous seat in the Theater) to put the strangers out of doubt, he rose up, and all the while the play lasted, continued in that posture, (* 1.11 laughing)* 1.12 One that was pre∣sent asked him, if it did not vex him to see himselfe brought upon the Stage?

Not at all, (answered he) me thinks I am at a feast, where every one enjoyes me.* 1.13 This comedy was first acted when Isarchus was Archon, Cratinus victor in the first year of the eighty ninth Olympiad: Aristophanes being by some reprehen∣ded for it, to vindicate himselfe, caused it to be acted again the year following, Amintas being Archon, but with worse order then at first.

* 1.14 Amipsias also (another comick Poet) derided him thus in Tribone.

O Socrates, the best of few, the vainest Of many men; and art thou come amongst us? Where is thy gown? did not this great misfortune Befall thee by the leather-dresser's help.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Brut:
• * 1.2

  Cic. Orator.
• * 1.3

  Liban. Apol.
• * 1.4

  Cie. But.
• * 1.5

  Liban. Apol.
• * 1.6

  Socratic. Epist.
• * 1.7

  Var. hist.
• * 1.8

  Schol. Ari∣stoph.
• * 1.9

  Liban.
• * 1.10

  Aelian.
• * 1.11

  Aelian. var. hist. 5.
• * 1.12

  Plut. de edu∣cand. lib.
• * 1.13

  Schol. Aristoph
• * 1.14

  Lacrt.