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

MENEDEMVS.

CHAP. I.

His Country, Parents, Teachers.

a 1.1 MEnedemus was one of those Philosophers that continued the School of Phaedo, which hitherto was called Eleack, but from Menedemus was termed Eretriack: he was an Eretrian, Son of Clisthenes; Clisthenes was of the Family of the Theopropi∣dae; yet though noble by descent, Mechanick by profession and indigent; some affirm he was a maker of Tents (Hesychius Illustris terms him an Architect) adding that he taught both Arts to his son Menedemus, so that when Menedemus wrote a decree, an Alexinian Philosopher reproved him, saying, it becomes not a wise man to frame both Tents and decrees.

Menedemus being sent by the Eretrians with a command of Souldiers, to Megara, went from thence to Athens to hear Plato at the Academy, with whom he was so taken, that he gave over his Military employment.

By Asclepiades a Phlyasian, his intimate friend, he was carried to Stilpo at Megara, whom they both heard; Thence taking a journey to Elis, they met with Anchypillus and Moschus, who be∣longed to the School of Phaedo.

Some affirm he despised Plato and Xenocrates, and Paraebates the Cyrenaean; but admired Stilpo; concerning whom, being deman∣ded his opinion, he only answered that he was free.

CHAP. II.

His School and Philosophy.

BEing returned home to Eretria, he set up a School, and taught Philosophy there: the Elia.a 1.2 School being thus trans∣fer'd to Eretria, was from thence forward called Eretriack.

In his School there was no order of place, no seats round a∣bout it; but, as every man chanced to be sitting, or standing, or walking, in the same postures they heard him.

He held, that there was but one vertue and good, reprehen∣ding those who asserted more; whence of one who held there were many Gods, he demanded ironically how many? and whe∣ther he thought there were more then a hundred?

He was of a versatile wit, and in composure of his speech a difficult adversary; he turned himselfe every way, and found something to say for every thing: He was very litigious, as An∣tisthenes in his successions affirmes, and used this question, What is not the same, is different from that with which it is not the same? Yes, To benefit is not the same with good, therefore good doth not benefit. He took away negative propositions, leaving only the affirmative; and of these he admitted the simple only; but rejected those which were not simple, calling them conjoyn∣ed and complexe.

Heraclides saith, he was a Platonick, and derided Dialectick. Hexinus asking, whether he had given over beating his Father? I neither did beat him, saith he, nor have given over. The other replyed, Either say yes or no, to dissolve the ambiguity. It is ridiculous, saith he, to follow your Lawes, when a man may withstand them in the very entrance.

He writ not, or composed any thing, because (saith Antigonus Carystius) he was of no certain opinion: yet, in dispute he was so vehement, that he many times went away with black and blew eyes.

CHAP. III.

His manner of living.

a 1.3 HE contracted a strict friendship with Asclepiades, nothing inferiour to that of Pilades to Orestes: Asclepiades was the el∣der, whence there went a common saying, that he was the Poet, Menede••us the Player.

b 1.4 When they were yet both young Philosophers, and indi∣gent, they were cited to the Court of Areopagus, to give account

(c 1.5 according to Solon's Law) by what means (spending the whole day amongst Philosophers without any labour, and having no estate) they subsisted, and were in so good a condition: They de∣sired, that one of the Masters of the common Prison might be sent for; who, when he came, attested, that they went down every night into the Prison, where the common malefactours grownde, and did there grinde, and in pay of their labour, re∣ceived two drachmes: at which the Areopagites much wonder∣ing, bestowed as an honourable reward upon them two hun∣dred drachmes.

They had other Patrons that bestowed gifts upon them; Ar∣chepolides gave them three thousand pieces of silver; they both contended which should receive last, and in conclusion, neither accepted it. The chief persons that received them were Hippo∣nicus a Macedonian, and Aegetor a Lamiean: Aegetor gave each of them thirty Minae. Hipponicus gave Menedemus two thousand drachmes towards the marriage of his Daughters, which, as Heraclides saith, were three, by his Wife Oropia.

For Asclepiades and Menedemus took each of them a Wife; Asclepiades married the daughter, Menedemus the Mother: Asclepiades, his Wife dying, took the Wife of Menedemus; Me∣nedemus being made a chiefe Magistrate, married a rich Wife; notwithstanding, he allowed his first Wife an equall interest in the government of the House. Asclepiades having lived with Me∣nedemus in great plenty; yet, with great temperance, died old at Eretria. At that time, one, whom Asclepiades much loved, com∣ing late at night, intending to have feasted with him, the ser∣vants shut him out of dores: but, Menedemus bad them let him in, saying, Asclepiades would admit him even under ground.

Menedemus was much given to entertainments, and, because the Country was unwholesome, made many Feasts: what order he observed therein is thus delivered by Antigonus Carystius, and out of him (though not cited) by Laertius. He dined but with one or two companions at the most; if any came to him, they were admitted after dinner was ended; if they came sooner then the set time, they walked short turnes before the doore, and deman∣ded of the servants what course was carried in; if they told them fish-broth (with which they begun their dinner) they went a∣way; if any flesh, they went into a room prepared for that pur∣pose. In Summer time, Menedemus had the Couches or Beds of his Dining-room covered with flags and rushes, in Winter with sheep-skinns. Every guest brought a Cushion; the Cup they had was no bigger then a large spoon: instead of sweet-meats they had Lupines and Beanes: sometimes such fruit as the season afforded; in Summer, Pomgranats, in Springe, Pulse, in Winter, Figs. This Lycophron the Chalcidian confirmes in his satyricall Comedy upon Menedemus, where Silenus speaks thus to the Satires.

Sons impious of a pious Father, I (You see) with your delights and sports comply: But never by the Gods at such a Feast In Caria, Rhodes, or Lydia was a guest. How plentifull!

And not long after,

A little pot halfe full of water clear, Rated at farthings five, a boy did bear To every guest; about vile Lupines went, With which the beggar's table's scarce content.

Whilst they drank (after the feast) Menedemus proposed que∣stions, and instead of a desert gave them discourse, which excited all to temperance and continence: these continued sometimes till the crowing of the Cock broke them off, much against the will of his guests, who never thought they had enough of them.

CHAP. IV.

His civill employments.

a 1.6 HE was first contemned by his Country-men, and called dog and fool; but at last so much honoured by them, that they committed the government of the Common-wealth to his charge,b 1.7 and paid him yearly two hundred Talents, whereof he sent back fifty.

After he applyed himselfe to civill businesse, he was so thoughtfull, that going to put Incense into a Censer, he put it besides. Crates reproaching him for undertaking publick employ∣ments, he sent him to Prison; whereupon as he chanced to pass by, Crates rose up, and saluted him with the title of Agamemnonian, leader of the City.

He was sent Ambassadour from the Eretrians to Ptolomy, and to Lysimachus (much honoured wheresoever he came) and to Deme∣trius, c 1.8 all three Kings of Macedonia, of whom, Demetrius first raign∣ed, then Lysimachus, and after him (Pyrrhus intervening) Ptolomy.

Some accused him to Demetrius, that he would betray his City to Ptolomy, of which charge he acquitted himselfe by an Epistle, beginning thus, Menedemus to king Demetrius, health. I hear that you are informed many things concerning us, &c. advising him to take heed of one of those that were his enemies, named Aeschylus. When he was on Embassy to Demetrius, he spoke very earnestly and effectually concerning Oropus.

Antigonus also, King of Macedonia, loved him exceedingly, and profest himselfe his Disciple: In his behalfe he made a De∣cree, clear and void of assentation, beginning thus; For as much as King Antigonus, having overcome the Barbarians in fight, retur∣neth into his own Country, having good successe in all his undertakings: The Senate and people have thought good, &c.

CHAP. V.

His Vertues and Apothegmes.

MENEDEMUS was of exceeding gravity, for which Crates deriding him, said,

Asclepiad the Phliasian, and the proud Eretrian, and Timon.

He supercilious bumbast speech begins. In this severity he was so awfull, that Eurylochus being invited by Antigonus, together with Clippides, a youth of Cyzicum, refused to go, fearing Mene∣demus should know it.

In reproof he was bitter and bold, of which Laertius instanceth his sayings to a young man over-confident, to Hierocles, &c. to an Adulterer boasting, &c. to a young man crying, &c.

Antigonus asking his advice, whether he should go to a luxu∣rious banquet; not speaking whether he should go or not, he bad him send them word, that he was a Kings son.

One who intruded himselfe upon him, and discoursed very absurdly, he asked, if he had a farm; he answered, many: Go then, saith he, and look after them, le••t in losing you rusticity you lose them also.

To one asking, whether a good Man may take a Wife, he said, Do you think I am good or not? The other assenting; But, I (saith he) have taken one.

Not able to limit the prodigality of one who invited him to supper, he silently reproved him, eating nothing but Olives.

This freedome brought him into danger when he was in Cy∣prus with Nicocreon, together with his friend Asclepiades; for, the King having invited him with the rest of the Philosophers to a Monthly feast, Menedemus said, this convention if it be good, ought to be every day; if otherwise, this day is too much: The Tyrant answered, that he had set apart that day to converse with Philosophers. Menedemus persisting in his assertion, demon∣strated from what he had said of the sacrifice, that Philosophers ought to be heard at all times. Whereupon if one of the Musi∣cians had not helped them to escape, they had been put to death, whence the Ship being endangered by a storm, Asclepiades said, that the humanity of the Musician preserved them, the rough∣nesse of Menedemus had undone them.

He was negligent, and (as we said) carelesse in every thing that concerned the order of his School; likewise high-minded, and covetous of glory: insomuch that when he and Asclepiades first exercised the trade of building, Asclepiades was seen upon the house top carrying clay; but Menedemus, if he espied any man passing by, hid himselfe.

He was somewhat enclined to superstition; having eaten ••n a Cookes shope the flesh of something that had died of it selfe ig∣norantly with Asclepiades, as soon as he knew it, he grew sick, and looked pale, till Asclepiades reproved him, saying, He was not sick of the meat, but of phancy.

In all other respects he was a person of a great and free soul▪ in strength even in his old age equall to those who wrastled in exercise, strong made, swarthy of complexion, sat and corpulent; but of indifferent stature, as appears (saith Laertius) by his sta∣tue in Eretria, in the old Stadium, so exactly carved, that it ex∣presseth the naked proportion of his limbs.

He loved Aratus and Lycophron the Tragick Poet, and Antago∣ras the Rhodian, but above all he was studious of Homer; next of the Lyricks; then of Sophocles: In Satyres he assigned the second place to Achaeus; the first to Aeschylus, whence to those in the state who defended the contrary part, he said thus,

The swift in time outstript are by the slow, A Tortoise thus an Eagle may outgo.

These are verses of Achaeus; they therefore are mistaken, who say he read nothing but the Medea of Euripides, which is put a∣mong the Poems of Neophron the Sicyonian.

Of Bion, who spoke with much diligence against Prophets, he said, he murthered the dead.

To one who said, the greatest good is to enjoy those things which we desire; it is a much greater saith he, to desire those things which are fitting.

He was violent (as we said) in controversie, but most affable in conversation and action: Alexinus, whom in dispute he had of∣ten circumvented and bitterly derided, hee gratified in deed; taking care for the safe conduct of his Wife from Delphi to Chal∣cis, the way being much infested with Theeves.

He was an excellent friend, as is manifest from his affection to Asclepiades, of which we have already spoken, only to Persaeus, he was constantly a profest enemy, for it was known that when Antigonus for Menedemus his sake would have restored the Eretrians to their first liberty, Persaeus withstood it, whereupon at a Feast Menedemus openly enveigh'd against him, using amongst many others this expression; he is indeed a Philosopher, but of all men that are, were, or ever shall be the most wicked.

CHAP. VI.

His departure from Eretria, and Death.

THe friendship he held with Antigonus, made him suspect∣ed by his own Countrymen, as if he meant to betray the City to him; of which being accused by Aristodemus, he fled, and lived a while at Oropus in the Temple of Amphiaraus: thence some golden Cups chancing to be stoln, he was by a publick de∣cree of the Boeotians forbidden to stay there any longer, where∣upon he returned privately into his Country, and taking his Wife and Children along with him, went from thence to Anti∣gonus, where he died of grief.

But Heraclides on the contrary affirmeth, that whilst he was praefect of Eretrians, he often defended his Country against those who would have made Demetrius Tyrant thereof; Neither would he therefore have betray'd it to Antigonus; but that was falsly laid to his charge; he afterwards went to Antigonus, petitioning that he would restore his Country to their liberties; which An∣tigonus denying he out of grief fasted seven daies, and so died; The same relation is delivered by Antigonus Carystius. Heraclides saith, he lived 84. years.

FINIS.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Laert.
• a 1.2

  Laert.
• a 1.3

  Laert.
• b 1.4

  Athe••. Dei••n.
• c 1.5

  See life Solon.
• a 1.6

  Laert.
• b 1.7

  Laert.
• c 1.8

  Euseb.