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

CHAP. I.

His Country, Parents, living with Plato.

a 1.1 XEnocrates was of Chalcedon, Son ofb 1.2 Agatho, or Agathenor. From the years of his life 82. which in all probability ended when Polemo succeeded in the School, the first year of the 116. Olympiad, it may be gathered that he was born in the fourth year of the 95. Olympiad. He heard Plato from his Childhood. He was dull of apprehension, whence Plato comparing him with Aristotle, said, one needs a spur, the other a bridle; what an ass & what an horse have I to yoke together! He was severe, and had a sad look, for which reason Plato oft said to him, Xenocrates, sacrifice to the Graces, which was an usuall phrase to me••ancholy people.c 1.3 Another time Plato sharply reprehended the roughnesse of his disposition, which hee took quietly, and unmoved; saying to one that instigated him to reply in his own defence, No, this is an advantage to me.

d 1.4 He accompanied Plato in his voyage to Sicily,e 1.5 where at a drinking Feast, with Dionysius, being honoured with a wreath of Gold, instead of a Garland of flowers, which were bestow'd up∣on the guests upon such occasions, when he went away, he put it upon the Statue of Mercury, where they used to leave their ordi∣nary Garments.

f 1.6 When Dionysius fell out with Plato, and threatned to find one that should cut off his head, Xenocrates made answer, not be∣fore he hath cut off this, shewing his own.

g 1.7 Aelian saith, that Xenocrates having taken a journey into his own Country, Aristotle with his Disciples came to Plato. S••eusip∣pus was at that time sick, and therefore could not be with Plato. Plato being fourscore years old, (which falls upon the fourth year of the 107. Olympiad, the year before his death) his memory through age much decay'd, Aristotle fell upon him with subtle sophisticall questions, whereupon Plato gave over walking in publick, and retired with his friends to his own house. At the end of the three months Xenocrates returning from his travel, finds Aristotle walking where he had left Plato, and seeing that he and

his friends when they went out of the School went not to Plato, but to some other part of the City, hee asked one there present, what was become of Plato, thinking he had been sick, the other an∣swer'd, he is not sick, but Aristotle hath molested him, & driven him out of the School, so that now he teacheth Philosophy in his own Garden. Xenocrates hearing this, went immediately to Plato, whom he found discoursing to his Disciples, persons of great worth and eminence. As soon as he had ended his discourse, he saluted Xeno∣crates, as he used, very kindly, and Xenocrates him. When the company was dismiss'd, Xenocrates, without speaking a word of it to Plato, getting his friends together, after he had chid Speusip∣pus for permitting Aristotle to possesse the School, made a head against Aristotle, and opposed him with his utmost force, untill at last he reinstated him in the School. Thus Aelian. But this story, which he acknowledgeth to have taken up on no better autho∣rity then vulgar report, disagrees with many circumstances of Aristotle's life, supported by far more credible Testimonies.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Laert.
• b 1.2

  Suid.
• c 1.3

  Aelian. 14. 9.
• d 1.4

  Laert.
• e 1.5

  Ath. Deipn.
• f 1.6

  Laert.
• g 1.7

  Va••▪ hist. 3. 19.