GALEN’S THERAPEUTIC METHOD

Ed. Chart. X. [4. 5.]               Ed. Bas. IV. (36.)

...raised at the looms original: "ἱστοῖς τραφεὶς" (histois trapheis). Galen repeatedly insults Thessalus by reminding readers that he was raised in a weaving or wool-working shop, a trade considered lowly by the social elite., he has defeated Demosthenes and Lysias and the other orators. He has defeated Plato and Socrates and the other philosophers. [5] He has also defeated Lycurgus and Solon and the other lawmakers. He has been crowned as the common victor over all mankind: orators, philosophers, and legislators alike.

If I were to mention geometers, grammarians, and musicians by name after such great victories, I would seem to insult the man. For where Lycurgus, Solon, Plato, Socrates, and Pythagoras have been defeated, would it be proper to remember Hipparchus A famous Greek astronomer and mathematician., Archimedes, Aristoxenus A philosopher and influential writer on music and rhythm., Aristarchus A celebrated grammarian and literary critic of Homer., and others of their kind? According to Thessalus, such men are worth nothing.

But what poet with a voice loud enough will exist for us to sing of these things? What Homer will we find now to praise this "Thessalian victory" in hexameter verse? Or what lyric poet like Pindar will sing loudly in dithyrambs original: "διθυράμβοις" (dithyrambois). A wild, passionate choral hymn originally sung in honor of the god Dionysus., as they once did for Dionysus, but now for Thessalus? Or perhaps we need none of these, but rather someone like Archilochus Archilochus was a Greek poet famous for his biting, aggressive, and satirical iambic poetry. Galen suggests that only a satirist can truly address Thessalus's arrogance., who writes in iambics...

...raised in the weaving shop original: "textrina sit altus". Latin translation of the Greek "ἱστοῖς τραφεὶς"., he has defeated Demosthenes, Lysias, and the rest of the orators. He has surpassed Plato, Socrates, and the other philosophers. He has snatched the palm of victory from Lycurgus, Solon, and the other legislators. Finally, he has been crowned the victor of the entire human race: of orators, philosophers, and legislators.

For if I should record even the geometers, grammarians, and musicians by name after such great victories, I would seem insulting to the man. For when Lycurgus, Solon, Plato, Socrates, and Pythagoras yield original: "dant manus". Literally "give their hands," a Latin idiom meaning to surrender or admit defeat., would it be honorable to remember Hipparchus, Archimedes, Aristoxenus, Aristarchus, and certain others of that kind? These are men, as Thessalus would say, of no value.

But what poet so grandiloquent will stand forth for us to sing of these things? Who will now be given as a Homer to celebrate this victory of Thessalus in hexameter tone? Or what lyric poet will sing loudly in dithyrambs like Pindar, who just as he once brought forth the praise of Bacchus Another name for Dionysus, the god of wine and theater., so now might bring forth the praise of Thessalus? Or do we require none of these, but rather those who write iambics...