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

CHAP. XI.

Of his writings.

Some a••••irme (saith laertius) that he lest nothing behind him in wri∣ting. Others that he writ,

Of naturall Philosophy: Saint* 1.1 Augustine saith, that Thales, to pro∣pagate his doctrine to succession, searched into the secrets of nature, and committing his opinions to monuments and Letters, grew famous.

Of Nautick Astrology (mentioned by* 1.2 Simplicius) which is by some ascribed to Phocus, a Samian.

Of the Tropicks and Aequinoctialls: which two treatises Laertius, saith, he composed, as judging the rest easie to be understood. These

seem to be those Astrologicall writings which * Lobon, an Ar∣give, who writ concerning the Poets, affirmeth to have exten∣ded to two hundred verses.

Of Meteors: a treatise in verse, mentioned by Suidas.

The history of his own times: if we may give credit to* 1.3 Iohannes Antiochenus, who saith, These things Thales, Castor, and Polybi∣us most wise Authors, committed to writing, and after them Herodotus the historian: but perhaps this may be no more probable, then that Polybiu•• and Castor should precede Herodotus.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, of which those that are cited by Laertius, we have in∣serted among his morall sentences, for such they were, tending to the instruction of the common people, a kind of loose verse, comming nere prose, whence Demosthenes makes two kinds of Poets, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 (as Casaubon observes) those that write in meeter, and (if we may so tearm it) those that write in blank verse. Whatsoever Latertius in the lives of the seven wise∣men produceth in this kind, seemeth not to be taken out of any Poet, but to have been written by the wise-men themselves: Epistles, of which two only are extant, preserved by Laertius.

Thales to Pherecydes.

I Hear, that you first of the Ionians, are about to publish a discourse to the Greeks concerning Religion, and ** 2.1 iustly you conceive that your worke ought rather to be laid in a publick library, then transmitted to un∣certain persons: if therefore it may any way pleasure you, I will willingly conser with you about that which you have written, and if you desire, will visite you at Syrus; for neither myselfe, nor Solon the Athentan should deserve the titles of wise-men, if we, who said to Creet to informe our selves of matters there, and into Aegypt, to conser with Priests and A∣stronomers, should not likewise make a journey to you: Solon also, if you think fit, will come. You who affect home seldome passe into Ionia, nor care to enioy the society of strangers; we, who write nothing, spend our time in travelling through Greece and Asia.

Thales to Solon.

IF you leave Athens, you may, in my opinion, settle your selfe (with those you take along with you) at Miletus, for here is nothing to trouble you. If you dislike that we Milesians are governed by a ••yrant (for you are averse to all Monarchs, even elective) yet may you please your selfe in the society and conversation of me your friend. Bias likewise hath sent to in∣vite you to Priene; if to abide at Priene please you better, we will also come and dwell there with you.

Notes

• * 1.1

  De civi••. dei.
• * 1.2

  Laert:
• * 1.3

  Lib. 6. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 2.1

  But the inter∣preters render this to another effect.