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

CHAP. II.

His first Education, Exercises, and Studies.

a 1.1 WHilst Plato was yet an Infant carried in the armes of his Mother P••rictione, Aristo, his Father went to Hymettus (a mountaine in Attica, eminent for abundance of Bees and Honey) to sacrifice to the Muses or Nymphs, taking his Wife and child along with him; as they were busied in the divine rights, she laid the Child in a thicket of Mirtles hard by; to whom, as he slept (b 1.2 in cunis dormients) came a swarm of Bees, artists of Hymettian Hony, flying and buzzing about him, and (as it is reported) made a honey-combe in his mouth. This was taken for a pre••age of the singular sweetnesse of his discourse; his future eloquence fore∣seen in his Infancy.

His Parents (saithc 1.3 Alexander) named him after his Grand∣father, Aristocles:f 1.4 Speusippus (instituted in his domestick docu∣ments) extolleth his sharpnesse of apprehension, whilst yet a Child, and the admirable modesty of his disposition (g 1.5 which was such, that he was never, even all those years, seen to laugh immoderately) affirming, that the beginnings of his youth were season'd with labour and love of Study; which Vertues encreased and met with all the rest; when he came to mans estate.

h 1.6 Of Dionysius the Grammarian (mentioned in his 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) he received the first ••udiments of Learning. Of Aristo, an Argive, he learned the Art of Wrestling (at that time much in esteem, as being one of the Olympick Exercises) wherein he became so great a Proficient, that some affirm, he wrastled at the Isthmus, in the Pythian Games.

i 1.7 As in years and vertue, so likewise he encreased extraordi∣narily in outward proportion and shape, insomuch, that Aristo named him Plato (which implyeth Latitude) in allusion to the largenesse of his person; others say, to the widenesse of his shoul∣ders; Neanthes of his forehead: some, to his large Eloquence. Whatsoever the occasion were, this name wore out and displa∣ced the other. That he was called also Sarapis, is affirmed by k 1.8 ••esychius. There was not any imperfection throughout his person, except a gibbosity in the hinder part of his head, and (as Timotheus affirms) a kind ofl 1.9 Hesitation in his speech.

m 1.10 He learned also (as Dicearchus relates) to Paint: He addicted himselfe much to Poetry, and wrote many Poems: First, Dithy∣rambs; then Epick Poetry, which comparing with Homer, and finding far short of him, he burned. Then he betook himselfe to writing Tragedies: He made a compleat Tetralogie (four Drama's, as the manner was, when they contested, to be pre∣sented at four severall Festivalls, Lenaean, Panathenaean, Chy∣traean,

the fourth Satyricall) and gave it to the Players to be acted, intending to contest for the Palm upon the Olympick Theater: but the day before it should have been presented, chan∣cing to hear Socrates discourse at the Olympick Theat••r (n 1.11 before the Bacchanals) he was so taken with that Syren, that he not only forbore to contest at that time, but wholly gave over all Tra∣gick Poesy, and burned all his Poems, saying that of Homes,

Vulcan come hither, Plato needs thy aid.

From that time (the twentieth year of his age, which falls about the 4^th of the 92 Olympiad) he became a follower of So∣crates, and studied Philosophy.

Some affirm (of the truth of which report,o 1.12 Aelian justly doubts) he was driven by poverty to betake himselfe to the Warres, but intercepted by Socrates, and instructed in that which concerns M••n∣kind, he sold his armes, and through his perswasion, addicted himselfe to Philosophy.

That he fought for his Country is certain, express'd in his answer top 1.13 Crobylus the Sycophant:q 1.14 Aristoxenus and Aelian af∣firm, he was engaged thrice: First, at Tanagra; the second time at Corinth; and lastly at D••lium, where he fought best of all the Souldi∣ers. Thus Aristoxenus. But that this is false, may be easily evinced by computation of times. The first fight of the Athenians at Ta∣nag••a, was in the 4^t year of the 80•• Olympiad, 17 years before Plato was born: The second, in the first of the 89•• when he was but six years old. The fight at D••lium, was in the first of the 89^th, at what time 〈◊〉〈◊〉 was•• but foure years old; from the last words of Aristoxenus, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 (implying, that at Delium he had the prize for sigh••ing best) may be conjectured, that this was meant of Socrates, who was thrice personally engag'd, and ats 1.15 Delium should have had the prize for fighting best, but that his modesty procured it to be conferr'd upon Alcibiades.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Aelian. var. hist. 10. 21.
• b 1.2

  Cic. divinat. lib. 1.
• c 1.3

  Laert.
• f 1.4

  Apul. dogm. Plat.
• g 1.5

  Laert.
• h 1.6

  Laert.
• i 1.7

  Laert.
• k 1.8

  In verbo 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• l 1.9

  Laert. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. which (besides 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 smalness of voice, in which sence it is here taken by •• he Interpre∣ters and Fi∣cinus signifieth an imperfecti on of speech by stammering: Arist. Pr••b. 11. 30. unless there and here ••e sh••uld read 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• m 1.10

  ••aert. Suid.
• n 1.11

  Aesian. var. Hist. 2. 20.
• o 1.12

  Var. Hist.
• p 1.13

  Afterwards, cap. 11.
• q 1.14

  Laert.
• s 1.15

  See Socrates life, cap.