OF PLATO

...an understanding of similarity is implanted in all living things. Because of this, they also perceive those things which are of their own kind. Furthermore, Epicharmus A 5th-century BC philosopher and the "father of comedy" from Sicily. says something like this: Wisdom does not consist in one thing only, but all things that live also have a notion of it. For the hen, if you wish to observe, does not bring forth living chicks, but first sits upon the eggs and animates them with heat. Nature alone knows how this wisdom is held; indeed, she is the one who teaches it. And again: It is surely no wonder, if I may speak thus, that they please themselves and seem to themselves to be born quite excellently. For a dog seems most beautiful to a dog, an ox to an ox, and an ass to an ass; likewise, each seems to excel in its own beauty. Alcimus pursues these and similar matters in four books, warning how much profit Plato gained for himself from Epicharmus. That Epicharmus himself was not ignorant of this may be conjectured from those things which he said, foreseeing and as if divining that there would be an imitator of him: "As I think, or rather as I hold for certain, there will yet be a memory of my deeds and my speeches; and someone, having received them, will strip away the meter original: "metro soluto" in which they now stand, and adding color, will compose a purple robe with the beauty of his words; and being himself invincible, he will easily surpass others." It seems that Plato was also the first to bring the books of Sophron the mime-writer Sophron of Syracuse wrote "mimes," which were rhythmic prose sketches of daily life. to Athens, which had previously been neglected, and to draw characters original: "gestum"; the Greek "ἠθοποιῆσαι" suggests character-building or moral sketching. from them; these books were even found under his head Meaning they were found on his deathbed or under his pillow.. He sailed three times to Sicily; the first time, indeed, so that he might see the island and the craters A reference to the volcanic craters of Mount Etna., at which time Dionysius the tyrant, son of Hermocrates, compelled Plato to speak with him. When Plato there discussed tyranny, saying that it was not enough for a ruler to do what was useful for himself alone unless he also excelled in virtue, they say the tyrant was offended and spoke angrily: "Your words are those of idle old men." And he replied, "And yours smack of tyranny." At this, the tyrant grew indignant; at first, he wished to kill him, but then, having been pleaded with by Dion and Aristomenes, he did not do so. Instead, he handed him over to Polides the Lacedaemonian A Spartan diplomat or naval commander., who had come to him as an ambassador at that time, so that he might be sold. He took him to Aegina An island near Athens that was at war with the city at the time. and sold him. At that time, Charmander, the son of Charmandrides, accused him of a capital crime. For according to a law proclaimed among them, it was a capital offense if any Athenian set foot on that island; and he himself had proposed that law, as Favorinus records in his Universal History. However, when someone said in jest that it was a "philosopher" who had landed, they acquitted him and let him go. Most people assert that he was brought into the assembly where, though he was watched, he said nothing at all, being ready to accept with a prompt mind whatever might happen. They decreed that he should by no means be killed, but only sold in the manner of captives. It happened that Anniceris of Cyrene was present; he ransomed him for twenty minae A unit of currency; 20 minae was a significant sum, roughly the price of several high-skilled slaves., or as others prefer, thirty, and sent him back to his friends in Athens. They immediately sent the money back to Anniceris, but he refused to accept it at all, asserting that they were not the only ones worthy of caring for Plato. Others say that Dion sent that money, and that Plato would not accept it, but instead bought himself a small garden in the Academy. There is a story that Polides was defeated by Chabrias and afterwards drowned at Helice, the divinity indicating that he suffered these things for the sake of the philosopher, as Favorinus mentions in the first book of his Commentaries. Yet Dionysius himself did not remain quiet; when he learned what had happened to Plato, he wrote to him, begging him not to speak ill...

...the contemplation of similarity is innate in all animals. Therefore, they perceive those of their own kind. How then does Epicharmus say it? "Eumagus, wisdom is not in one thing only, but as many things as live also have mind. For if you wish to observe the female race of poultry, it does not bring forth living offspring, but hatches them and makes them have life. Nature alone knows how this wisdom is. For she has been taught by it." And again: "It is nothing wonderful for me to speak thus, and for them to please themselves and seem to have been born beautifully. For a dog seems most beautiful to a dog, and an ox to an ox, and an ass to an ass, and a pig to a pig." These and such things Alcimus records through four books, marking out the benefit Plato received from Epicharmus. And that Epicharmus himself was not ignorant of his own wisdom can be learned from these things, in which he prophesies the one who will emulate him: "As I think—for I think this is clear—that a memory of these my words will exist hereafter. And someone, taking them and stripping off the meter which they now have, and giving them a garment and embroidering them with beautiful words, being himself hard to wrestle with original: "δυσπάλαιστος"; meaning difficult to defeat in argument., will show the others to be no wrestlers at all." It seems that Plato also was the first to bring the books of Sophron the mime-writer, which were neglected, to Athens, and to sketch characters from them; which were even found under his head. He sailed three times to Sicily: the first time for a view of the island and the craters, when also Dionysius the son of Hermocrates, being tyrant, forced him to meet with him. But he, discoursing about tyranny, and saying that the "stronger" is not just what is advantageous to oneself alone, unless one also excels in virtue, clashed with him. For being angry, Dionysius said: "Your words smell of old age." And he said: "And yours of tyranny." From this the tyrant was vexed; at first he was moved to kill him; then being entreated by Dion and Aristomenes, he did not do this, but handed him over to Polides the Lacedaemonian, who had arrived at that time on an embassy, to sell him. And he, bringing him to Aegina, put him up for sale. Then Charmander the son of Charmandrides brought a capital charge against him, according to the law established among them, that the first Athenian to land on the island should die without trial. He was the one who had set the law, as Favorinus says in his Universal History. But when someone said (though as a joke) that the one who landed was a philosopher, they released him. Some say he was brought into the assembly, and being watched, he did not utter a single sound; but he was ready to receive what happened. They decided not to kill him, but judged to sell him in the manner of captives. By chance Anniceris the Cyrenaic was present and ransomed him for twenty minae (others say thirty) and sent him to Athens to his companions. They immediately sent out the silver, which he did not accept, saying that they were not the only ones worthy to care for Plato. Some say Dion sent the silver, and that Plato did not accept it, but bought the little garden in the Academy for himself. There is a story that Polides was defeated by Chabrias and after these things was drowned in Helice, the divinity being angry with him because of the philosopher; which Favorinus also says in the first book of his Memorabilia. Nevertheless, Dionysius did not remain still; but having learned [of the ransom], he wrote to Plato, asking him not to speak ill of him. And he wrote back to Plato This likely means "he wrote back to Dionysius." that he did not have so much leisure that he would even remember Dionysius.