PHÆDRUS.
Page 72. Several of the conceptions in this Myth.
I CANNOT help maintaining what is here said, notwithstanding what Boeckh adduces (Heid. Jahrb. I. 1). I can neither discover the coincidence with Philolaus, nor put such firm faith in the genuineness of the fragment ascribed to him. But this is a subject which can only be discussed in another place1.
P. 73. We are not to look for too much.
Ast, in his commentary, has construed this passage very literally. It is, however, too profound for my apprehension how the poetic life above is indeed removed from all real representation of the true and beautiful, when below it forms the fourth kind of real life, and thus appears co-ordinate with the poetical and gymnastic life. Again, I know not in what sense a higher conception of the true and beautiful can be said to belong to the χρηματιστικός than to the γεωργικός. And thus I leave it to others to enjoy this philosophy.
LYSIS.
P. 78. To have had the Lysis in his mind.
Whoever reads, with a view to comparing the passages with this dialogue, Eth. Nicom. viii. c. 1. 2. 10. (p. 59. A.D. p. 63. B.) Magn. Mor. ii. c. 11. (p. 111. E. and 112. C.) and Eudem. vii. 2. 5. (p. 162. B. C. p. 165. B. Ed. Casaub. 1590.) will scarcely continue to doubt of this, although Aristotle neither names Plato nor the dialogue, and one might feel some suprise, if he really had it in view, that this is not done more frequently and thoroughly.
PROTAGORAS.
P. 82. Perished.
I learnt this from an investigation regularly instituted into this family by Heindorf out of the fourth speech of Andocides. Athenæus, Deipnosophist. v. p. 218, does not adduce this authority, but only concludes from the comedy of Eupolis, brought forward Ol. 89. 3, and in which the extravagance of Callias is exposed, that Hipponicus must have died not very long before this time.
P. 83. To justify Plato.
See Bibl. of anc. Phil. v. 122. Every thing else that this author says about the chronology of the dialogue is very bad, and betrays but little study of the Protagoras, and some ignorance of the history.
P. 84. Absent abroad.
When it is said that Protagoras lodges with Callias, this does not make much against the supposition, as Callias was at an age to superintend his father’s house. There is perhaps more difficulty in that subsequent passage which says that Hipponicus had formerly used the chamber as a store-room; which is intended certainly to give us to understand that Callias had introduced more liberal manners than his father. But, perhaps this too might be explained by supposing a somewhat long absence, which, at a time when there were always Athenian armies in the field, is not inconceivable.
P. 85. Banished from Athens.
This is clear from Diog. Laert. ix. 54. where his accuser Pythodorus is called one of the four hundred, with whom Menagius over-hastily asserts that he is unacquainted. Meanwhile there is a possibility that this accusation may have taken place at a later period, and Pythodorus may only be designated from his participation in this revolution—a possibility however which can scarcely be supported by any probable fact.