The Metaphysics of Aristotle

of what kind they are to any one, and how it is appropriate for human nature to acquire this thing or avoid that—about all these particulars, when that little, sharp soul—so well-versed in legal matters—is required to give an account, he in his turn is affected even worse than the coryphaeusThe leader of a chorus; here, used to describe a philosopher or leader of a school of thought.. He becomes giddy from being suspended in such a lofty place of observation and being unaccustomed to look so high. He is terrified, filled with uncertainty, and speaks in a barbaric manner; so that he does not provoke laughter in the Thracian vulgar or any other undisciplined person (for they do not perceive his condition), but only in those whose education has been the opposite of a slave's. And such, Theodorus, is the condition of each: the one, whom we call a philosopher, is in reality nourished in truth and leisure; though he should not be blamed, he appears stupid and worthless when he engages in menial tasks, since he knows neither how to tie bundles of bedding, nor how to season food for banquets, nor how to compose flattering speeches. But the other character is able to accomplish all these menial tasks with speed and ease, yet knows not how to dress in a noble manner, nor how to celebrate—in harmonious language—the true life of the gods and blessed men.”

With respect to the arrangement of these books, I have retained the order in which they were disposed by antiquity and published by Aldus and Bessarion. This order, however, though scientifically accurate, certain philologists have presumed to censure. Petit and Dr. Gillies, in presenting to the public an arrangement totally different from that adopted by the earliest and best of Aristotle’s Greek interpreters, have sufficiently proved that they attempted to rectify what they did not understand. The arrangement of Dr. Gillies in particular is no less remarkable for the presumption