THE CHARACTERS Of the chief of the PHILOSOPHERS.
Hermes, i. e. Mercurius.
HErmes, i. e. Mercurius, called by Gyraldus, Triſmegiſtus, becauſe he was in three reſpects great; as a Philoſopher, as a Prieſt, and as a King. He was eſteemed as the wiſeſt of the Egyptians, and is thought by learned Suidas, to have flouriſhed in the World before Pharaoh: He calls him Termaximum, not upon that account as Gyraldus doth, but becauſe he ſpake ſomething that did intimate to him, he had ſome acknowledgment of the Trinity.
Lactantius expreſſeth this wiſe Ancient in his10 Book de Ira Dei, where he ſaith, Ob virtutem multarumque artium Scientiam, Triſmegiſtus nominatus, non modo Pla•one, verum etiam Pythagora, ſeptemque illis ſapientibus antiquior. Hermes named Triſmegiſtus, for his Vertue and Science of many Arts, not only more ancient then Plato, but Pythagoras alſo, and the ſeven wiſe Men. Lypſius tells us, That though he was an Egyptian, and a Heathen man, Tamen in eo multa eſſe myſteria & arcana noſtrae legis. Yet there are in him many myſteries and ſecrets of our Law. I'le let him paſs with thoſe Verſes of Joſeph Scaliger.
Pythagoras.
PYthagoras the Samian Philoſopher, was the Son of M•eſarchus a Jeweller, of whom it is ſayd, That in the Trojan War, his Name ſhould be Euphorbus, according to that of the Poet,
11But being there ſlain, and afterwards reviving, he was called thenceforward Pythagoras, whence aroſe that mad opinion of the Pythagorean〈…〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, whereby they report, that there is a migration of Souls out of one body into another, as they ſuit each with other in their Conſtitutions and Tempers; ſo that according to this principle, if a man of a fierce and fiery diſpoſition dies, then his Spirit goes into ſome wild and ravenous Beaſt, ſuch as is the Bear, or Lyon; and ſo their Bodies are inform'd with an humane Soul.
Now what a Chimaera this is, I need not ſtand to ſhew, it being in its ſelf abſurd, and monſtrous unto every eye. This Philoſopher is by Juſtinus in his Dialogue with Tryphon, joyn'd with the great Plato, and cal'd with him, Vir ſapiens, & quaſi murus praeſidiumque Philoſophiae. A Wiſe man, and as it were the Wall, and Bulwark of Philoſophy. Valerius Maximus in his ſeventh Book, ſtiles him perfectiſſimum opus ſapientiae, Wiſdomes moſt perfect Work. And Plutarch tells us, That the Decrees of him, and of Empedocles were the only Laws of the Ancient Graecians.
He was againſt any mans eating of things, wherein there was Blood, and Life, as is expreſſed by the Poet in the fifteenth Book of his Metamorphoſis. I'le conclude him with that of Lypſius, Ejus ſingula ſententiarum fruſta gemmas habent. All his Cruſts of Sentences have their Jewels.
Democritus.
DEmocritus, Sirnamed Abderites, and called (as Suidas ſaith) 〈…〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, quod inania hominam studia derideret; Becauſe he derided the vain Studies of men. Aelianus further calleth him〈…〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Wiſdome, and〈…〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and〈…〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, becauſe he was learned in Phyſicks, Ethicks, Mathematicks, and in all other liberall Arts, and Diſciplines. Epicurus in Laertius,〈…〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, A Cenſurer of toyes. Or elſe as Hadrianus Jun. would have it read,〈…〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, from the Greek word〈…〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
This Philoſopher placing himſelf in his Garden, ſcituate neer the City Walls, did there purpoſely put out the ſight of his Eyes, that he might be the better diſpoſed for Contemplation. His Opinion was, That all things were made of Atomes, and that there were more Worlds then one. He learned Theologie, and Aſtronomy from the Chaldeans. He bought himſelf to great want by reaſon of his tedious and frequent Travaile, which he undertook for no other end but to advantage his Knowledge by them. He was the firſt Anotamiſt.
Pliny calls him Virum ſagacem & vitae utiliſſimum. He lived untill he was very Aged, as being an hundred and nine years old when he dyed. He waſted himſelf in ſupplying the neceſſities of other men. His Father was ſo rich in Subſtance, that it is reported of him, that he entertained13 Xerxes huge and mighty numerous Hoſt with a ſumpteous Banquet.
Heraclitus.
HEraclitus the Epheſian Philoſopher had affections quite contrary to thoſe of Democritus, for he would weep at every Object, as the other laughed: He is by Suidas cal'd〈…〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,•bſcure, and dark, becauſe he ſo clouded all his Speeches, that the beſt eyed, and moſt judicious Philoſophers could very hardly diſcover the meaning of them.
Some ſay, that he never had any Maſter to inſtruct him, but that he learnt all he knew, by his own only labour and induſtry; however others affirm, that he was Schoold both by Xenocrates, and Hippaſus the Pythagorean. Declining in years, he fell into a Dropſie, but would not uſe the help of Phyſitians for the curing of him. At laſt, tumbling himſelf all over Head and Ears in Dung, he was torn in pieces by greedy Dogs, or as ſome others ſay, overwhelmed, and ſmothered in the Dirt.
Pliny ſayes of him, that for his rigour, and inflexible roughneſs of nature, he was called〈…〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, a man without paſſion: In Laertius we meet with this Epigram upon him.
14He was ſtiled by Epicurus〈…〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, an Ape, or Affectatour, as alſo〈…〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉mero bibus; he ſaid of himſelf, that when he was young, he knew nothing, and when he came to ripe years, he was ignorant of nothing. He flouriſht in the Reign of the laſt Darius the Perſian; he wrote many things in a Poeticall ſtrein, and way, and is often times cited by the great Peripatetick Ariſtotle; There were four others of this Name.
Socrates.
SOcrates the Athenian Philoſopher was the Son of Soproniſcus, and Phanarota, his Father being a Statuary, and his Mother a Midwife. He had two Wives, whereof one was named Xantippe, a Woman of an unquiet, turbulent, and reſtleſs Spirit; of whom its nois'd, that whilſt her labouring husband was reading of his grave Lectures, and in ſerious conference with his Diſciples, ſhe would frequently break in upon them, and overturn the Tables, on purpoſe to vex him; whence the good man was called, as we read in Seneca, Perpeſſitius Senex, per omnia aſpera jactatus; Invictus tamen.
It was his frequent ſaying; Quae ſupra nos, nibil ad nos. Thoſe things which are above us, are nothing to us: The Delphick Oracle ſpake thus of him, as it is noted in Ariſtophanes his Nubibus. 〈…〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,15〈…〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Sophacles is wiſe, Euripides wiſer; but of all men, Socrates is the wiſeſt.
Eunapius cals him〈…〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, A living Image of Wiſdome. Valerius Maximus, Humanae ſapientiae quaſi quoddam terreſtre oraculum. As it were an earthly Oracle of humane wiſdome. Heinſius, Solem ſapientiae: only Zeno of all men adventures to diſparage him, in calling him, Scurram Atticum.
Quintilian affirms, that he was the firſt Philoſopher that brought down Wiſdome from Heaven, and placed it here on earth in the habitations of men. He learned to play upon the Harp, when he was ſomewhat aged, he was compeld to drink a draught of Poyſon, and ſo he dyed. I'le add but his Character from Maximus Tyrius: Homo (ſaies he) & corpore puriſſimus, & animo optimus, & vivendi ratione perfectiſſimus, & in dicendo ſuaviſſimus, qui pie cum Deo, & ſancte cum hominibus verſabatur. A man moſt pure in body, and beſt in mind, moſt perfect in his way of living, and moſt ſweet in his expreſſions, one that lived piouſly with God, and holily with Men.
Plato.
PLato the Prince of the Academick Sect, was the Son of Ariſton, and Parectonia, ſo cal'd (as Appuleius ſaith, A corpori•habitudine, from the habitude of his Body; for he had broad Sholders, whereas before, he was named Aristocles. Being young, he acquired the Art of Limning, and ſpent alſo ſome time then in compoſing of Poems and Tragedies: when he grew in years he followed Socrates, from whom he ſuckt his Rudiments of Philoſophy; wherein he ſo outſtript all others of his time: that (as Cicero ſaies) he was accounted Deus Philoſophorum, the God of the Philoſophers, and cal'd (as in the Epigram) 〈…〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
Tully further in his Book de Divinatione, telleth us, That being a Child, and lying in his Cradle, a Swarm of Bees ligted upon his Lips, and thence it was anſwered, That he ſhould prove the ſweeteſt of all Oratours: His Eloquence was thus foreſeen in his Infancy, and to it doth that Epigram of Owens relate.
What ſayes Antimachus of him in Cicero's Brutus; Plato unus mihi inſtar omnium millium, Plato alone is•o me as many thouſands. Maximus Tyrius is bold to affirm, That Nature herſelf17 never ſaw any thing more eloquent, no, not ſo much as great Homer excepted; Panoetius therefore ſtiles him the Homer of Philoſophers: Pliny, Sapientiae Antiſtitem, The Preſident of Wiſdome. Salvian, Romanum Catonem, The Roman Cato. Et alium Italiae Socratem; And another Socrates of Italy.
He is further compared by a Philoſopher to Moſes, and cal'd〈…〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Moſes ſpeaking in the Artick Dialect. Lipſius ſaith, That he uttered many things worthy of the Gods, and that, though he ſometime ſpake, yet he did not think with the Multitude. He was named Philoſychus, becauſe he extreamly loved to ſeed on Figgs; he lived his whole life a Batchelour, and as ſome ſay, He dyed Morbo pediculari, Of the louſie Diſeaſe.
Epicurus.
EPicurus the Head of that Sect, called the Epicurian, was an Athenian Philoſopher, of whom it is reported, That he ſhould place Mans chiefeſt happineſs in Pleaſure, yet not with Ariſtippus, in that of the Body, but in that of the Mind. Seneca tells us, that he did Sancta, & recta praecipere, Command things holy and juſt, and that he did Male audire Infamis immerito. They further write of him, That he ſhould deny the Divine Providence, as though18 all things of the World were upheld and maintained without it: what ever theſe ſay of him, yet Lucretius moſt highly extolleth him, doubting not to affirm, That this Epicurus hath as far dim'd the light of other Philoſophers, as the Sun doth out-ſhine the other Planets.
He was a man of moſt continent life, notwithſtanding that his placing of mans chief good in Pleaſure hath cauſed this; that all voluptuous men are from his Name cal'd Epicurians: He writ very much, whereupon he is in Diogenes Laertius cal'd〈…〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Suidas ſaith, That he was ſeven years old at Plato's death; and that when he was a young man, he could with much ado get out of his Bed, and that his Eyes were ſo weak, that he could not bear the Sunſhine.
Timocrates cal'd his Philoſophy〈…〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, A nocturnall and ſecret Conventicle; he cared not for Logick, aſſerting that Philoſophy might be comprehended in ſimple, and naked words.
Zeno.
ZEno the Head of the Stoick Sect, was had in ſo great eſteem and admiration with the Athenians, (as Laertius hath reported) that they would dare to commit the cuſtody, and truſt of their City Keys to him, honouring him19 moreover with a Golden Crown, and a brazen Image. This man one day hearing a Youth to prate idlely and fooliſhly, ſpake thus unto him, Ideo duas habemus aures, os autem unum, ut ſcilicet multa audiamus, pauca vero loquamur. Therefore have we two Ears, and but one Mouth, that we might hear many things, and ſpeak but few.
Cicero tells us, That this was the Philoſopher which did diſtinguiſh with his hand, thoſe two Arts of Logick, and Rhetorick, Nam cum compreſserat digitos, pugnumque fecerat, dialecticam a•ebat ejuſmodi eſse, cum autem diduxerat, & manum dilataverat, palmae illius ſimilem eloquentiam eſſe dicebat. When he contracted his Fingers, and clenched his hand, then it reſembled Logick, but when thoſe Fingers were ſpread abroad, and when he had opened his hand, then did he repreſent Rhetorick, or Eloquence.
Its further ſayd, to his great praiſe, and honour, that he did verba vertere in opera, Even live, as he ſpake, there being no diſ-harmony betwixt his Converſation and Doctrines. So that his Life was propoſed to the Athenians, as a Pattern for them to imitate. He is ſtiled by a learned man〈…〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, A ſevere Philoſopher, and one that uttered very ſublime things. And he is called by Laertius, Aegiptius palmes; for the talneſs and procerity of his lean, and ſlender Body.
Chryſippus.
CHryſippus the Son of Apollonius, or as others will have it, Apollonides, and the Diſciple of Zeno, was an eminent Stoick: His Opinions were repugnant to many of his Contemporaries; He was ſo excellent a Logician, that it was an ordinary expreſſion in the World concerning him; That it there were any uſe of Logick amongſt the Gods, they then uſed none other then that of Chryſippus.
He is called by Carneades,〈…〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, for the ſmalneſs of his Body, who ſpeaks further in the praiſe of him: Niſi Chryſippus eſſet, ego non•ſſem, Unleſs Chryſippus had been, I had not been. Heinſius calls him very wittily Retiarium Chryſippum, As if like to a Net, he was apt to catch all men; for his voluminouſneſs, and multitude of Books, he was thought to emulate Epicurus, and therefore was well named by Carneades, Librorum ejus paraſitus, His Books paraſite.
I meet not with any contemptuous or ſcornfull affront put on him, but only with one from Zeno, who playing upon his Name, very diſdainfully cal'd him Cheſippum, which word is derived from the Greek term〈…〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and ſignifies an immodeſt Act, Cacare. Laertius ſayes of him, How that next to Cleanthes, he was the principall Member of the Stoick School.
Cleanthes.
CLeanthes a Stoick Philoſopher, was the Diſciple of Grates, and Succeſſor to Zeno, whoſe Philoſophy he ever adhered to, and propagated it to all, that he could converſe with. Suidas ſaith of him, that he was ſo〈…〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Such a great Pains-taker, that he attained the name of another Hercules.
Being very poor, and not able to ſupply himſelf with dayly Food, he would ſuffer his Labour to be hired all Night, and to be uſed in drawing of water, and when the day was come, he would ſpend the greateſt part of that either in his private Studies, or in Conferences with Diſciples: yet becauſe he wrought ſo hard when he came to his handy Labour, therefore inſtead of Cleanthes, they would very often call him Phreanthes, which being in e•pteted, (ſayes Laertius) ſignifies one that is an Emptier of Wells.
Cicero calls him notwithſtanding, Stoicum majorum Gentium, & Zenon is auditorem, A Stoick of the higheſt Rank, and the Auditor of Zeno. He was ſo poor, that when he was the Schollar of the forementioned Zeno, not being able to buy Paper for his own uſe, he would write the Inſtructions which he received from his Maſter, in Shells, and Bones.
Anaxagoras.
ANaxagoras the Diſciple of Mileſius, and the Son of Hegeſibulus, was called (as Plutarch ſayes) 〈…〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, becauſe he aſſerted that〈…〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉and〈…〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Matter, and Mind, were the Maintainers, and Preſervers of all things. Suidas reports, that he was very rich, but left all his Lands to be devoured by Cattell, whence Apollonius Tyaneus took occaſion to ſay handſomly, Anaxagoram potius ovibus, quam hominibus philoſophatum fuiſſe. That Anaxagoras rather philoſophiz'd to Sheep then Men. At length, the queſtion being asked him by his Friends, why he took no more care of his Country, He forthwith ſtretching forth his Arm to Heaven-ward, raplyed (as it is in Laertius) Patriam eam eſſe, That that was his Country: At laſt returning home, and finding every thing out of order, his Lands unmanur'd, and untilled, and his Houſes ruinated, he brake out into theſe, or ſuch like words, Non eſſem ego ſalvus, niſi iſtae periiſſent. I had not been ſafe, if they had not periſhed.
This Philoſopher was the firſt man that found out the Lunary Ecclipſe (as Plutarch affirms in the life of Nicias) for Nicias his Soldiders at the fight of one, were therewith all terrified, and looked upon it, as a Sign of the Gods diſpleaſure, not knowing that there was a naturall cauſe of it.
23Laertims alſo writes, that he was the firſt too that undertook to publiſh to the World the Works he had compoſed. It was his opinion of God, That he was Infinita mens, quae per ſeipſam movetur, as Polydore Virgil hath recorded it, Cicero hath ſtiled him, Virum ſummum in maximaerum rerum ſcientia, A man moſt eminently knowing in the moſt tranſcendent things.
Carneades Cyrenaeus.
CArneades Cyrenaeus called by Suidas, Novae, Academiae Autor, The Author of a new Academy, was a great Admirer of the Chryſippaean Philoſophy, and opponent to the Principles of the Stoick Zeno: They ſay, that he made uſe of the Art of Memory.
Cicero, Gellius, and Quintillian write, that he was ſent with others in an Embaſſie, by the men of Athens to Rome, but as ſoon as Cato had eſpyed him, he informed the Senate, that he was a very dangerous man, and that it concerned them to be wary of dealing with him, leaſt his eloquent and winning Tongue ſhould ſo maſter them, as to make them grant whatſoever he demanded.
Tully extolls the Abilities of this man, in this following Character; Carneadis vis incredibilis illa dicendi, & varietas perquam eſſet optanda24 nobis qui nullam unquam in illis ſuis diſputationibus rem defendit, quam non probarit, nullam oppugnavit, quam non everterit; How well were it to be wiſhed, that we had that incredible faculty of Carneades his Eloquence, who never undertook a Cauſe, but did maintaine, never impugned one, but over-threw it. Whence it was, ſayes Cicero, that it was called Vis Carneadea aut Ariſtotelia: Either a Carneadean, or Ariſtotelian Ability.
Valerius Maximus cals him Laborioſum ſapientiae militem, Wiſdomes laborious and painfull Soldier: and if Pliny may be thought worthy of Credit; It was the Cenſor Catoes opinion, and ſaying, That it was a very difficult thing to diſcern the truth, when this Philoſopher was diſputing. He lived ninety yeares, and as the forementioned Hiſtorian ſaith of him; Idem illi vivendi, ac Philoſophandi finis fuit.
Ariſtoteles.
ARiſtoteles the Stagyrite, the Son of Nicomachus was the Maſter of great Alexander of Macedon, whoſe Works were had in that reveeence with Choſroes the King of the Perſians, that he had gotten them all by heart. He was Plato's Auditor at Athens for the ſpace of ten years, and ſo profited in the Study of Philoſophy, that one would think, the Characters which the Learned afforded him, are Hyperbolicall,25 and yet ſome there be, that think, that they do not tranſcend the mans merit.
Cicero calls him, Aureum eloquentiae flumen, A golden River of Eloquence. Plutarch, Virum eloquentiſſimum, & peritum flectendi animos quaqua vellet, A man moſt eloquent and skilfull to incline, and draw mens Minds whitherſoever he pleaſed.
Averroes informs us, that he invented three of the Sciences, Logicam, Naturalem, & Divinam, and in another place the ſame Author ſayes, Ariſtoteles est regula, & exemplar, quod natura Invenit ad demonſtrandam ultimam perfectionem humanam; Ariſtotle is that Rule, and Sample which Nature hath found out to demonſtrate mans ultimate Perfection.
He is called by Suidas〈…〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉Natures Scribe: and in the Greek Anthology,〈…〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; To Arnobius, he is Pater peripateticorum, The Father of Peripateticks. To Julius Scaliger, Summus acprimus omnium ſcienti•rum dictator, The chief and prime Dictator of all Sciences. And as the ſame Author further ſpeaketh, Neque ipſo, Pindaro minor, neither inferiour to Pindar himſelf. Laſtly, He is to Lipſius, Summus rerum omnium Jude•, The chief Judge of all matters.
It is noys'd, that he withſtood the learnedſt of men, divine Plato, whence Aelian takes an occaſion to bring in great Plato, calling his Schollar moſt unthankfull, who like a wanton Calf filled with the Mothers Milk, lifts up its26 Heel againſt its own Damme. He died in the ſixty eighth of his Age, in the ſame yeare as did Demoſthenes.
Diogenes Synopenſis.
Diogenes Synopenſis, the Diſciple of the Philoſopher Antiſthenes, who would have him to be his Maſter, even againſt his will, for when he refuſed to take upon him the charge of Schollars, Diogenes would not be put off, nor recede from him; and when he threatned to ſtrike him with his Staff, the Cynick moſt willingly ſubmitted his Pate to it, ſaying withall, Nullus tam dirus baculus eſt, qui me a tuo poſſit obſequio ſeperare. There is no ſtick ſo hard, as to be able to ſeperate me from your Service.
He was familiarly and frequently called〈…〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, a Dog, and being demanded, why he was ſo named, his anſwer was to this purpoſe, Quod iis blandior, qui dant, in eos vero qui non dant, oblatro, malos autem mordeo; Becauſe I flatter and fawn on thoſe which give, and bark at ſuch as give not; and for the wicked ones I bite them. So that that Verſe which the Poet Horace applies to ſordid Avidienus, may very well ſuit with this Diogenes.
27For as it is in Diogenes Laertius,
Suidas ſaith, That this Philoſopher was eminent for his Valour, and Courage, as others were for other Vertues. Xenocrates for mildneſs, Theophraſtus for Gravity, Zeno for Auſterity, and Plato for Majeſty: The latter of which called this Diogenes〈…〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Diſtracted Socrates.
Being Courted once by Great Alexander, and deſired to ask of him any thing he liked. In anſwer, He wiſhed, that the King would not take that from him, which he could not give him. Alexander being ſo great a Potentate, wondred greatly what that might be, and forth with he underſtood that it was the comfort of the Sun-beans, for indeed the King ſtood betwixt him and the Sun.
Theophraſtus.
THeophraſtus, a Philoſopher of the City Ereſſe, whence called Ereſſeus, was the Diſciple of great Ariſtotle, who departing from his School to Chalcis, left this man behind to be his Succeſſor.
Suidas ſaith, that at the beginning, his Name was Tyrtamus, but afterwards he was called by Ariſtotle, Euphraſtus, and at length by ſome others Theophraſtus; his Philoſophy indeed being Heavenly and Divine; It was a familiar ſpeech of his, that a learned man could never be Amicorum inops, Without Friends: the ſame, Seneca hath delivered of the wiſe man. They ſay, that he had two thouſand Schollars, the like not being affirmed of any Philoſopher, either before, or after him.
Caſaubon ſaith of him, That he was, Vir digniſſimus qui eo ſeculo viveret, quod tulit Socratem, vidit Platonem, Ariſtotelem generi humano dedit, Triumviros conſtituendae philoſophiae divinitus ſine dubio excitatos: A man moſt worthy to live in that Age, that brought Socrates into the World; Saw Plato, and gave Ariſtotle to Mankind, the Trium•iri that were raiſed by Divine Providence, for the conſtitution of Philoſophy.
Therefore he ſaith further of him, Seeing he was, as it were, bred in the very Boſome of thoſe, It is no wonder, if he arrived to that29 deptſt of Learning, and vein of Eloquence, that nothing could ſeem to proceed from him, which was not every way thought perfect by all that were ſtudious of Wiſdome.
He is ſtiled by Scaliger in his Poetices, Divina vir eloquentia, A man of divine Eloquence: and by Aegllius, Suavitate homo inſigni, linguae, pariter ac vitae; One, both for Tongue, ana Life, of eminent Sweetneſs: Plutarch affirms, how that the Roman Orator M. Tullius was wont to call him his Deliciae; his Works are commemorated by Diogenes: He died very aged.
Lucius Annaeus Seneca.
LƲcius Annaeus Seneca, of Corduba in Spain, was a Stoick Philoſopher; and the Maſter of Domitius Nero, by whom he was very ill recompenſed for all his Learned and good Inſtructions; for that ſame Monſter of men compelled him to open his own Veins, and to let out his own blood, and that only out of a ſuſpition, that he had been one of Piſo's Conſpiracy.
He was called as Gyraldus well obſerves, Moralis, The Moraliſt, whom Fabius in his tenth Book ſtiles Egregium vitiorum inſectatorem, An eminent Scourger of the Vices: Quamvis in philoſophia parum diligentem, Although not ſo diligent in his Philoſophy, as the ſame Author30 there notes: But Pontanus in his Obſervations upon Macrobius his Saturnals, names him Romana philoſophiae Syrenem, The Syren of the Latine Philoſophy. And Lipſius, Magnum inter magnos virum, & ſapientiae fontem: Great amongſt the great ones, and the Fountain of Wiſdome: He further calls him an Author amongſt all others moſt praiſe worthy, and for the Study of Vertue almoſt a Chriſtian; his matter was ſo ſweet to him, that he could not chuſe but break thus out. Pura, & coelo digna mens, & ad coelum alios ſubducens O pure Mind, and worthy of Heaven and drawing others to Heaven. Eraſmus could ſay this alſo of the man, Si legas illum ut paganum, ſcripſit Chriſtiane, ſi ut chriſtianum, ſcripſit paganice. If thou readeſt him as a Pagan, he writ like a Chriſtian: If thou readeſt him as a Chriſtian, he writ like a Pagan.
Cauſſinus his Judgment of him was, That he had not his equall for Wit, and that he is rather to be admired, then commended. They ſay, that Quintillian and Agellius did for ſomething or other diſlike of him: but learned Lipſius ſheweth that they did it without a cauſe, ſo that he concludes thus of him; Soli Caligulae, cui nihil boni placere poterat, diſplicuit: He was diſpleaſing only to Caligula, whom no good thing could ever pleaſe. Thoſe Fathers, Tertullian, Augustine, and Jerome ſpeak very honourably of the man.
Plinius Secundus.
PLinius Secundus of Verona, flouriſhed when Veſpaſian was Emperour, to whoſe ſtate affaires he was very ſerviceable, as appears by Suetonius, who in theſe following words applauds his Faithfulneſs; Equeſtribus militiis induſtrie functus, procurationes quoque ſplendidiſſimas atque continuas ſumma Integritate adminiſtravit, & tamen liberalibus ſtudiis tantam operam dedit, ut non temere quis plura in otio ſcripſerit.
His Life was very diligently written by his Grandſon Caecilius, whoſe Epiſtles we have now extant with a Panegyrick, in honour of Trajanus. But as for this man, his chiefeſt work, is his naturall Hiſtory; upon the account whereof, we have him ſtiled by one of the Learned, Naturae Bibliothecarium; in which Work of his Cauſſinus takes notice of ſome diſparity, for ſayes he in the third Book, de Eloquentia, Plinius non ubique ſui ſimilis, plaeraque enim acute ſcripſit, nonnulla neglecta & inculta: Pliny is not every where like himſelf, many things he hath writ acutely, others with more neglect, and with leſs Ornament.
However there are others of the Learned, who highly extoll him, as Heinſius; Jam de Caio Plinio quid dicam? qui naturam univerſam & utrumque mundum plane inuſitata ante caeteris audacia, paucis voluminibus incluſit: qui imperio Romano,32 cui univerſus terrae orbis conceſſiſſet, coelum quoque adjecit. Now what ſhall I ſay of Caius Plinius? who included the whole Univerſe in a few Volumes, a boldneſs that others before him did not dare to ſhew; who added Heaven alſo to the Roman Empire, to which the whole World had before ſubmitted.
His Grandſon in one of his Epiſtles attributes to him, Acre Ingenium, Incredibile studium, & ſummam vigilantiam, A quick Wit, an incredible ſtudiouſneſs, and a wonderfull Vigilancy. Dempſter the Grammariam heaps upon him many worthy Epethites. Scriptor diligentiſſimus, eloquentiſſimus, veraciſsimus, incomparabilis, unus omnium Inſtar. A Writer moſt diligent, moſt eloquent, moſt true, incomparable, and one in eſteem that is worth all. He is ſaid to have been conſumed in the flames that iſſued out of the Mountain Veſuvius, whilſt too careleſly he was enquiring into, and ſeeking out the cauſes of it.
Plutarchus.
PLutarchus of Choeronea in Boeotia, called by Eunapius,〈…〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, divine Plutarch. As alſo,〈…〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. The Venus and Harp of all Philoſophy. He was in great repute, when Trojanus, and Adrian were Emperours. Suidas ſaith, That he was honoured33 with Conſular Titles and Dignities by the former of the two Princes, and that he was ſent by him into Illyria with very great Authority, the Magiſtrates being there required not to act or determine any thing without Commiſſion from their Deputy.
Heinſius in one of his Orations ſtiles him, Compendium eruditionis, Prudentiae Theſaurum, Antiquitatum utriuſque generis, Quendam Delium Apollinem. An Epitome of Learning, a Treaſury of Prudence, and for Antiquities of either kind a certain Delius Apollo. Lipſius calls him, Meliorem omnino, quam acutiorem Doctorem. Rather a better, then more acute Doctor.
Friſclinus did ſo admire his Works, that it was his Judgment of them; that in Caſe all other Authors were loſt, yet they might be repaired, and made good again by theſe Writings of Plutarch.
I'le let him paſs with his Encomium from Bodinus, Eſt in eo, quod miremur, liberum de re quaque judicium ut non tam Hiſtoricus, quam principum Cenſor eſſe videatur; ſic tamen exiſtimo, ſi quis Idoneus eſt earum rerum arbiter, aut Plutarchum eſſe, aut neminem, quid enim tantam ſapientiam latere po•uit? There is that in him, we may admire, a free Judgment in every matter, that he ſeems not ſo much to be an Hiſtorian as a Cenſurer of Princes; ſo then I think, if there be any fit Arbiter, or Judge of thoſe things, its either Plutarch, or no man, for what is there in the34 World, that can be concealed and hid from ſo tranſcendent Prudence and Wiſdom.
Apollonius Tyaneus.
APollonius Tyaneus, a Pythagorean Philoſopher, ſtiled by Vopiſcus, Celeberrimae famae authoritatiſque vir, A man of moſt tranſcent Fame, and Authority, as alſo by the ſame Author, Amicus verus Deorum, pro numine frequentandus. A t•••Friend of the Gods, and to be honoured as a Deity, had his life written by Philoſtratus, and before him, by one Damis the ſole Companion of his tedious Travels.
Sidonius in his Epiſtle extols him, as a man that was endued with all Vertues; Erat cupidus ſcientiae, continens pecuniae, inter epulas abſtemius, inter purpuratos lin•eatus, inter alabaſtra cenſorius. He was deſirous of Science, continent of money, in Banquets abſtemious, amidſt purpled Ones mean habited, and among the Alabaſtred cenſorious.
This man being at Epheſus in that very houre that the Emperour Domitian was murthered. As he was diſputing in a Throng of people, on a ſudden, he caſt his Eyes downward, and became mute; but preſently he burſt out into theſe, or the like words, Euge Stephane pulchre, percute peccatorem, pulſaſti, vulneraſti, & interfecisti. 35Alluding therein to the ruine and deſtruction of that cruell and bloody Emperour.
This man hath excellent Characters given him by the learned. Paulinus, ſayes of him, Quod invenit ubique, quod diſceret, & ſemper proficeret, That he every where met with ſomething that he might learn, and that he alwaies profited. Caſaubon affirms, that the Criticks called him〈…〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Faultleſs and Inculpable, in whome indeed there appeared more of Ca•e, then Wit.
Eunapius ſpeaks him to have been as it were of a middle Nature betwixt the Gods and Mortals. Juſtinus Martyr notes him to have been〈…〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉ſcientiſſimum, eoque ſtupendae mirabilitatis effectorem celeberrimum. Suidas preferred him before Simonides for ſtrength of Memory, calling him Virum admirandum ac divinum. Caelius Rhodiginus ſayes, that he was skilfull in the underſtanding of the Beaſts Language; it was his daily wiſh and prayer unto his Gods, that he might know the good ones, and avoid the evill.
Epicteus.
EPictetus a Stoick Philoſopher of Hieropolis in Phrygia, who going from thence to Rome, bound himſelf in Service to Epaphroditus, one of Nero's, principal Life-guard, and there lived untill the Reign of Domitian, whoſe Miſ-government, when he could not well digeſt, he left the City, and return'd again to Hierapolis: he fell lame by a Diſtillation, which had gotten into one of his Legs, and that lameneſs he intimated in this following Epigram, being of his Compoſing.
Lipſius calls him Philoſophum optimi ſenſus, A Philoſopher of the beſt ſenſe: and in another place, Virum totum a ſe, & a Deo, nihil a Fortuna. A man wholly of himſelf, and of God, having nothing as from Fortune. Lucian tells us in one of his Dialogues, That one gave three thouſand Drachmaes for this mans earthen Candleſtick, or Lanthorn, hoping that if he might but read by that at Night, he might attain to Epictetus Wiſdome, and be like that excellant old man.
37This Philoſopher was had in high eſteem with the two Antonies; his Enchiridion was writ in Greek, but afterwards Latiniz'd by Angelus Politianus. The Criticks have ſpoken very highly in the praiſes of it. What ſaith Lipſius? Enchiridion ſane egregium, & Stoicae philophiae velut anima, His Enchiridion is truly admirable, and as it were, the very Soul of the Stoick Philoſophy.
Another ſaies, that its a Book, more heavy for weight, then great for Bulk, daily to be embrac'd, and kiſs'd, and never to be out of mens hands. I'le end him, with that of Dempſter, Epicteti Enchiridion moribus utile, diſſertationes graves, prudentiae plenae; Epictetus his Enchiridion is profitable for manners, his Diſputations grave, full of prudence.
Arianus.
ARianus of Nicomedia the Diſciple of Epictetus, ſir-named〈…〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, The new Zenophon, or Zenophon the Junior; becauſe he ſet forth the Diſſertations of Epictetus, as the other had done of Cyrus. Suidas ſaith, That he lived at Rome, in the Raigns of Adrian, and Marcus Antonius then Emperours, by whom he was promoted to Conſular Honours for his excellent Erudition, as is reported by Heliconius.
38Lipſius ſaies, That he had Epictetus his Diſcourſes, In via, Domo, Schola, In his Way, Houſe, School, as being never out of his Hands, and Mouth, and Heart. Bodinus ſtiles him, Virum ſummo ingenio, ſummaque doctrina praeditum, A man endued with an admirable Wit, and with very great Learning, as indeed appears by thoſe his Commentaries upon the Renowned Epictetus.
Voſſius admiring the ſweetneſs of his Tongue, doth alſo call him Alterum Zenophonta, Another Zenophon: for he writ Hiſtory as well as Philoſophy, having deſcribed the Warlike Feats, and Martiall Affairs of Great Alexander, whereupon he is called by Coelius Rhodiginus, Historicus〈…〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, A truth-loving Hiſtorian. There is a certain Grammarian that chargeth him with Arrogancy, as one that gloried mightily in his own Writings, and that would be accounted among the Greek Hiſtorians, as was Great Alexander amongſt the Martial Captains: There was another of the Name, a Poet, with whoſe Verſes, Suetonius writes, that Tiberius Caeſar was extreamly well delighted and pleaſed.
Plotinus.
PLotinus named Lycopolita by learned Suidas, as being an Egyptian, and an Inhabitant of the City Lycus, who (as the ſame Author relates it) was E Bajulo philoſophus. He was the Schollar or Diſciple of Ammonius, and the Maſter of Porphyrus: He was a man of a ſpare and lean body, ſubject unto many Corporal Infirmities, and among the reſt, to the Falling-ſickneſs.
He lived in the Raigns of Galenus, Tacitus, and Probus the Roman Emperours; Eunapius who writ the Lives of the Sophiſters, calls him Magnum Plotinum, The great Plotinus. Theodoret, one of the Greek Fathers ſaith, That he was Origenis Auditor, One of Origen's Auditours; and he affirms moreover, that he well underſtood the Traditions of the Rabbins.
The forementioned Eunapius further teſtifieth that this mans Speech was ſo obſcure, and Aenigmaticall, Quod a populari captu disjunctior videbatur; That it ſeemed to be much ſeparated from, and far above the popular Capacity.
Lipſius in the fourth Century of his Miſcellanies, ſtiles him Virum ſapientia inclytum, A man famous for his Wiſdome.
Porphyrius.
POrphyrius a Philoſopher of Tyre, the chiefe City of the ancient Phoenicians, was at the beginnig called by the name of Malchus, which in the Syrian Language ſignifieth King: wherupon Suidas ſaith, that his Name was Baſilius. However he was called by his worthy and learned Maſter Longinus, by the name of Porphyrius, and that from the Purple in his Garment, which is indeed an Enſigne of Majeſty.
This man taking his leave of Longinus, travelled to Rome, and there heard the Philoſopher Plotinus, where for his Companions, and Condiſciples, he had thoſe two men of Fame, Origen, and Amelius.
This Author doth ſeem in his Works to have delivered Contradictions; but the cauſe hereof, is thought to be his finall Retractation, as rejecting in the end thoſe Principles, which he did at the beginning cloſe with: In ſome of his Writings, he endeavours to cleer, that both Plato, and Ariſtotle were of one, and the ſame Sect. He writ againſt the Chriſtians; as for the time he lived in, it was in the Reign of Aurelian, and he continued to Tacitus, and Probus.
41Suidas in honour of his great Learning, gives him this enſuing Character;
〈…〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. A man that formed and expreſſed all kinds of Philoſophy. And againe,
〈…〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. One promiſcuouſly rowled in every Vertue.
Nicephorus in his tenth Book, ſpeaks him an Apoſtate from the Chriſtian Faith, and that Libanius the Sophiſter ſhould account of him as it were a God; Nazianzen alſo informes us, That Julian did glory in his fabulous Lyes, as though they had been the very Oracles of God. He fell ſick once at Lylibaeum in Sicilie, but recovering of that diſtemper, he died afterwards at Rome.
Maximus Tyrius.
MAximus Tyrius a Platonick Philoſopher, called by Heinſius in his Epiſtle Dedicatory before Horace, Vir magnus & Terrarum Domini praeceptor, A great man, and Tutor to the Emperour; for by Terrarum Domini is to be underſtood Marcus Antoninus then Reigning: what this man diſputed in the Greek Tongue at Rome, was afterwards Latiniz'd, or made Roman by learned Heinſius, who gives all his learned Diſputations this excellent Eulogy.
42Hujus viri diſputationes, quae ad nostram pervenerunt aetatem, tales ſunt, ut unum quidem ſi excipias Platonem, nemini dicendi venuſtate, pariter ac ſapientia concedant, neque quiſquam hodie legatur, qui tam accurate, ac feliciter indolem ac genium muſae expreſſerit Platonicae. The Diſputes of this man which are come to our Age, are ſuch, that if you do but except that one man Plato, they ſhall be inferiour to none in ſweetneſs of Speech and wiſdome. Neither can any one be now read, that hath ſo accurately, and happily expreſſed the Wit, Spirit, and Genius of the Platonick Muſe.
No wonder therefore if Caſaubonus ſtiles him Platonicorum mellitiſſimum, The ſweeteſt of Platonicks. Whereunto alſo that deſcription, that Heinſius hath made of him, doth very well accord. Scriptor ex Academia, Sapiens, Amaenus, Floridus, Facundus, & qui ubique patrem ſuum refert Platonem. An Academick Writer, Wiſe, Pleaſant, Florid, Eloquent, and one that every where expreſſeth his Father Plato.
Severinus Boethius.
SEverinus Boethius, a man of Conſular degree, and an excellent Ariſtotelian, whence Barthius could ſay, That ſcarce any Writer was ſo commendable in the Schools as he, becauſe he43 Latiniz'd ſo well Ariſtotles Doctrine of Diſputing.
Scaliger tels us, that Valla commended this Boethius, and this Boethius Valla; V•lla docet Boethium latine loqui, at Vallam Boetius bene ſapere. This Philoſopher was ſo good a Speaker, that a Critick could ſay of him Quod flumen Romani ſermonis apud illum fere ſolum remanſit. That the River of the Roman Tongue almoſt remained alone with him.
He was baniſhed by Theodoricus, when Zeno was Emperour, and afterwards Impriſoned, and laſt of all put to death with his Father-in-Law Symmachus one of the Senatours, and all for ſuſpition of a Conſpiracy for liberty.
Angelus Politianus extols him as a man eminent in all Sciences: Quis Boetio vel in dialecticis acutior? vel ſubtilior in Mathematicis? vel in philoſophia locupletior? vel in Theologia Sublimior? Who more acute then Boetius in Logicks? or more ſubtle in Mathematicks, or richer in Philoſophy? or more ſublime in Divinity.
And to all this I'le but add one thing more from Caſpar Barthius, and it relates to this Author, Ejus Ingenium neque ante ſe multos, neque peſt ſe aliquem toto Romani imperii tempore habuit ſimilem. His Wit had not many before him, nor any after like unto him, in all the time of the Roman Empire.
THE CHARACTERS Of thoſe two excellent Phyſitians, HIPPOCRATES, AND GALENUS.
HIppocrates Cous the Son of Heraclidas, and the Auditor of Democrates, was for his knowledge in Phyſick far prefer'd before his own Grandfather an eminent Doctor, and of his own name; for Suidas gives him this honourable Encomium,〈…〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. The Star and Light of Phyſick, which is moſt profitable for life. He was of great Repute with all that had ever heard of him.
Artaxerxes (as Suidas relates it) that mighty Emperour of the Perſians did ſollicite for, and woo his company by magnificent Largeſſes, and moſt high Advancements, as eſteeming his preſence equall almoſt to the Wealth of his whole Empire.
45Cornelius Celſus calls him Medicinae parentem virumque arte & Facundia inſignem, The Parent of Medicine, and a man famous for his Art and Eloquence, he is ſtiled by Agellius, Divina vir ſcientia, A man of Divine Knowledge: By Seneca, Maximus medicorum & hujus ſcientiae conditor, The greateſt of Phyſitians, and the Creator as it were of this Science.
Macrobius ſpeaking alſo of him, hath this very paſſage, Hippocratis proprium, ne fallere, aut falliſciat, 'Tis proper to Hippocrates, not to know, either to deceive, or to be deceived. There is an handſome Epigram in the Greek Anthology, and it runneth thus.
Cicero ſaith this of him, That he thought more ſick and languiſhing perſons were recovered by this Hippocrates, then were by Aeſculapius: I'le let him go, but with a word from Heinſius, Quid cum ſolo conferendum Hippocrate ulla vidit aetas. What hath any Age ſeen worthy to be compared with Hippocrates. There were more of the Name, one a Soldier mentioned by Thucidides. Another a Mathematician, ſpoken of by learned Plutarch.
Galenus.
GAlenus was of Pergamus, the Son of Nicon, that famous Geometrician and Architect. He is called by Caelius Rhodiginus, a Philoſopher, as well as a Phyſitian; who further ſaith of him, That in the common rumour and Fame of the World, he through his wonderfull Temperance, and Sobriety, prolonged his life to an hundred and forty years, and that he breathed alwaies Odoriferouſly. Whence, ſaith Rhodiginus, it became a Proverb, Vt Galeni valetudinem dicamus pro ea, quae ultra humanum captum nimis ſit proſpera, nimiſque inoffenſa. That we ſay, Galens Healthineſs, for that, which is too proſperous, and too inoffenſive beyond the naturall Capacity of men.
He flouriſhed in the Reigns of Marcus, and Commodus; as he compiled much in Phyſick, ſo he writ alſo much in Philoſophy, Rhetorick, and Grammer. The Learned have afforded him many eminent Eulogiums. By Diaconus, he is ſtiled, Medicus optimus, The beſt Phyſitian, by Caſaubon, Criticorum non minus, quam medicorum princeps, No leſs the Chief of Criticks, then of Phyſitians: By Dempſter, Medicorum, ex primo primus.
But of all others, Heinſius is moſt high upon his Merit, who calls him, and that without flattery, Mare eruditionis, Oceanum diſciplinarum,47 Omnium Ingenuarum artium promum, condum, & quaſi quandam Bibliothecam; A Sea of Learning, an Ocan of Diſciplines, a Butler or Drawer out of all ingenuous Arts, and as it were a certaine Library; He Compoſed a Dictionary in an Alphabetick way, upon the Learned Works of Hippocrates; How, and where he died, I certainly read not.