Page 108
CHAP. VIII.
His writings.
DIonysius Halicarnassaeus saith, that Xenophon was a studious aemulatour of Herodotus, both in words and language: His stile (according to Cicero) soft and sw••et (melle dulcior) s•• ••••ffering from the noise of Oratours in the Forum: in his voice, the Mu∣ses seem to speak, whence he was sirnamed the Attick Muse; or according to others, the Attick Bee, a Title formerly conferr'd on Sophocles. His stile and manner of writting isat large discoursed upon by Aristides, Adrianensis in an expresse tract, erroneously ascribed to Hermogenes.
The Books of Xenophon (which Scipio Africanus had alwaies in his hand, and Cicero adviseth to read, as very profitable in many things) were (as reckoned by La••rtius) fortie, which seve∣rall persons distinguish severally; hte generall titles these.
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the li••e and discipline of Cyrus (as Cicero renders it) in eight books, written non ad historiae ••idem (though Diodorus Siculus seems to take it in that quality) sed ad effigiem justi imper••i; no•• as a faithfull History, but the description of an exact Prince: Whence Ausonius saith, in relating the vertues of Cyrus, he hath given rather a wish then a history, describing, not what he was, but what he ought to have been.
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; the going up of Cyrus the younger into Asia, in se∣ven Books; each of which (as Laertius observes) hath a Pro∣oem, the whole none: Masius suspects that Xenophon was not the Author of this book; the Bishop of Armach ascribes it to The∣mistogenes, though owned as Xenophons by Plutarch, Cicero, Diony∣sius Halycarnaessuus, Hermogenes, Laertius, Athenaeus, and others.
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; the Greek History, in seven books, continuing where Thucydides left; the same was done by Theopompus, but he went nor further then sixteen yeers, Xenophon to fortie eight.
Agesilaus, of which piece Cicero saith, that Agesilaus would not suffer his picture or statue to be made, this book alone surpasseth all pi∣ctures or images in his praise.
The Republick of the Lacedaemonians, and the Republick of the Athe∣nians, which denieth to be Xenophons.
The defence of Socrates, and them emorialls of Socrates, which perhaps is that history of Philosophers mentioned by Suidas.
Oeconomicks, the last book of the memorable discourses, wherewith Cicero was so much delighted, that in his younger yeers he translated it.
Symposium, accommodated to the fourth yeer of the eighty