Lives of the Ancient Philosophers (Volume 2)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1803 edition. Excerpt: ...ufed every method to allure him to his Court. Diogenes told him, that he had rather be obliged to live an 'bread only, in Athens, than to live in fplendour Diogenes confidered it as an abridgement of his liberty, for which there can be no equivalent. This is implied in the faying as related by Laertius. He muft be unhappy, faid Diogenes, for he muft dine and fup, only when Alexander pleafes. fplendour at his palace. Perdiccas, one day, threatened to kill him, if he did not come to pay him a vifit. You will have very little merit in that, faid Diogenes: it is what the moft infignificant venomous animal can do. But, be affured, that, in order to live happily, Diogenes (lands in no need either of Perdiccas, or of his grandeur.--Thanks to the gods! he exclaimed, who are fo liberal in beftowing life upon men: But, alas! all the enjoyments connected with it are wholly taken up in feafts and perfumes! He, one day, faw a man getting his fan dais put on by a flave.-- You will have him next blowing your nofe, faid he. What is the ufe of your hands? On another occafion, feeing judges conducting to punifhment, a man who had robbed the public treafury of a fmall trifle: There! faid he, you fee great robbers conducting a little one to prifon. A rich man ignorant, he faid, is a Iheep with a golden fleece.--He began to fcratch himfelf, one day, in a pu Vol. II. K blic.;. i to DIOGENES. '%, blic market. Would to Heaven! faid, he, that, by Scratching my belly, I might expel hunger when I pleafed. Upon entering a bath, he obferved a young man performing many feats, clever, but not decent. The better you do, faid he, the more you are to be blamed. On another occafion, when traverfing a ftreet, he faw above the door...