PHILOSOPHORUM ALIQUOT EPISTOLAE

• 1147A

I hear that you are preparing to be the first of the Ionians to discourse openly among the Greeks concerning divine matters. But it would perhaps be a juster judgment to read among friends what you have written than to hand it about indiscriminately to any and all, since to them it will bring no profit. For my part, if I learn that it would be agreeable to you, I wish to be privy to the things you are writing. And if indeed you bid me, I will set out to you in good time. For we are not so senseless and dull, I and Solon of Athens, that, when we sailed to Crete for the sake of seeing it, and likewise made our way into Egypt to meet there with the priests and astronomers, we should not sail to you with equal zeal. For Solon himself will come too, if you consent. And you, held fast by love of that place of yours, cross but rarely into Ionia, nor are you touched by any longing for foreign 1147Bmen. But you apply yourself, as I hope, to the one business only of writing. Yet we, who write nothing, travel through Greece and Asia. Farewell.

If you depart from Athens, you will be able, as I for my part think, to dwell most conveniently at Miletus. For it is your colony, and you will suffer nothing grievous there. But if among the Milesians too you abhor tyranny — for everywhere alike you find tyrants hostile — yet to live with us among friends will be most pleasant. Bias has written to you that you set out for Priene: if you would more gladly dwell in that city, we too will fly there to you.

I am neither the only one of the Greeks to have seized the tyranny, nor 1147Chave I usurped a thing that was another's, seeing that I trace my descent from Cecrops. For I claim for myself by my own right what the Athenians once, when they had confirmed it by oath to Codrus and his line that they would render it, afterward took away. For the rest, I sin in nothing else against the gods or against men. The laws that you yourself gave the Athenians I command to be kept, and to live according to them; and indeed they are better kept than they could be if affairs were conducted by the rule of the multitude. For I permit no one to be wronged; and I, though a tyrant, differ from the common people in nothing but rank and honor, content with only those revenues that were owed also to those who reigned before me. In short, the individual Athenians set apart the tithes of their crops, not to be consumed for our uses, but for the public sacrifices and the common advantages; and if 1147Dat any time a war should press upon us, to be assigned to the expenses. With you, for my part, I am in no way angry, that you laid bare my mind and design — seeing that you laid it bare rather out of zeal for the commonwealth of the city than out of hatred of me; and besides, because you did not know what sort of 1148Aking I would prove to be. For had you learned this, you would perhaps have borne my endeavors too with an even mind, and would by no means have committed yourself to flight. Come home, then, in good faith, believing me even unsworn, that there is no danger to Solon from Pisistratus. For you know that no one, even from among my enemies, has suffered any evil at my hands. In short, if it should please you to enjoy our friendship, you will be among the first; for I perceive in you nothing of fraud or perfidy. But if for other reasons you are unwilling to dwell at Athens, you will do so at your own discretion; only do not depart your fatherland on our account. Farewell.

You write that very many lie in wait for you; yet you, even if you should take them all out of the way, will not even so gain your end. For someone will lie in wait for you from among those whom you least hold suspect — partly indeed fearing for himself, partly reproaching you because you dread everything, and there is nothing you do not fear, 1148Bpartly likewise desiring to gratify the city. It would therefore be best to abstain from the tyranny, that you might escape all causes of fear. But if you judge that you must cling to the tyranny at all costs, you must needs procure for yourself external forces and foreign auxiliaries, greater than the forces of the city, so that now none may be hostile to you, and you may drive no one into exile. Farewell.

Neither, in truth, were my laws going to profit the Athenians much; nor, when you had made them ancient, were you of any advantage to the city. For God, and the givers of laws, cannot by themselves aid cities, but those who lead the multitude, into whatever opinion they wish. For to these, 1148Cif they administer the matter rightly, God and the laws are useful; but if ill, they profit nothing. Nor indeed did my laws and ordinances, which I wrote, avail anything; but those who transgressed them brought great harm upon the commonwealth — they who did not withstand Pisistratus, that he should not seize the tyranny. Nor was any faith placed in me foretelling what would come. He was reckoned more trustworthy, flattering the Athenians, than I speaking the truth. So, having laid down my arms before the senate-house, I said that I was wiser than those who did not perceive that Pisistratus was straining after the tyranny, and braver than those who feared to assert the freedom of the commonwealth; but they construed it as Solon's madness. At last, having thus called my fatherland to witness, I departed: O Fatherland, here indeed is that Solon, ready and prepared 1148Dto bring you aid both by deed and by word; but to these men I even seem to be mad. And so, forsaking you, I set out, alone of all men the enemy of Pisistratus; but they are ready both to favor and to obey him. For you know the man, my friend — with what cunning, with what wit, with what art he seized the tyranny. 1149AFor he began winningly to entice the common people, then even inflicted wounds upon himself; and coming forth in public, and crying aloud that he had received these from enemies, he begged that they give him as guards four hundred of the most robust young men. And they, though I indeed struggled and cried out against it, consented. Now these were armed with stout cudgels; and so, hemmed about by these, he overthrew the state of the commonwealth. And while those men strive with vain hope to free their poor, that they might not serve for hire, all together were sent under the yoke, and serve Pisistratus alone.

I believe indeed that I shall suffer no evil from you. For before the tyranny I was your friend, and not even now am I more hostile than any other of the Athenians who do not love the tyranny. Whether, moreover, 1149Bit be more useful to them to be ruled by the command of one, or for the affair to be administered publicly, let each determine according to his own judgment. Certainly I confess you to be the most excellent of all tyrants. But I recognize that it is not useful for me to return to Athens, lest anyone justly reproach me — I who long ago had handed over to the Athenians the commonwealth to be administered on equal terms, and, being present, had of my own accord declined the tyranny offered to me — should now, returning, seem by a sudden repentance to approve your deed.

I marvelously embrace your goodwill toward us; and by the immortal gods, had I not long since resolved with myself to have my seat where the commonwealth is free, I would rather pass my life with you, in your kingdom, than at Athens, while Pisistratus violently exercises the tyranny. 1149CBut there we live more sweetly, according to our principle, where there are laws equal and common to all. Yet I will come to you, that I may for a while enjoy at least your hospitality.

You bid me be free of military service, and live in exile — as though you yourself were going to be in safety. And yet I think that not even his own affairs are safe for a monarch; and I judge that tyrant happy to whom it has fallen to die in his own house without bloodshed.

You bid me come into Lydia to behold your wealth. Though I have by no means beheld it, I in no way doubt that the son of Alyattes is the most opulent of all kings, and most crammed with gold. Nor indeed shall we have anything more, if we come to you at Sardis. For gold we ourselves do not lack, being content with a modest provision of life, 1149Das much as suffices for me and my friends. Yet I will come, that I may become the intimate of a man so very kindly and hospitable. Farewell.

You have indeed very many friends, and each of them has a house; but I judge that Lindus will be most convenient for Solon to dwell in, a free city. And it is a maritime island, where, if you should wish to tarry, you will dread no evil from Pisistratus, and your friends will flock to you from every side. Farewell.

I render immortal thanks to Pythian Apollo, that my letters have found you gathered into one, and will themselves, as I trust, lead you through to Corinth. And so I await 1150Ayou. Certainly you yourselves will see how courteously I receive you. As, therefore, last year at Sardis, you came into Lydia, so now I pray that it may not irk you to set out to me also, the tyrant of Corinth; for the Corinthians will see you, not without rejoicing, coming to the house of Periander.

To us indeed the crime committed against my wife was not according to our wish; but you, if of your own accord you do anything to my son who is ungrateful, do wrong. Either, therefore, restrain your savagery against my son, or I will bring him aid; for he too has paid the penalty long enough.

To your herald indeed I dissembled nothing, but leading him into the standing corn, and striking the more eminent ears with my staff, I beat them down, he following after; and to you, if 1150Byou should ask, he would report whatever he saw or heard from me. Do you therefore act thus, if indeed you desire to hold the tyranny in safety and to be established firmly in it. Take away the leading men of the city, whether they seem friends or enemies; for to a tyrant even friends are often suspect.

I, O king of the Lydians, have come into Greece, to learn the manners and pursuits and institutions of the Greeks. But I have no need of gold, and it is enough for me that I may return to the Scythians better and more learned. Yet I will come to you at Sardis, making very much of becoming intimate and friend to you.

Take heart, O friend. For if Pisistratus were bearing down upon Athenians accustomed to servitude, or ill-instructed, 1150Che would assuredly have held a lasting rule. But he has compelled to servitude men in no way base or cowardly; and they, mindful of Solon's admonitions, groaning for shame, will by no means bear to serve the tyranny any longer. For even though Pisistratus has seized the city, yet I do not expect the rule to be carried down to his children. For it is exceedingly difficult for free men, and for those instructed by excellent laws, to endure under servitude. But you, do not, I pray, let yourself be driven as a wanderer, but make haste to come to us into Crete, where no tyrant is troublesome to anyone. But if perchance his friends should fall in with you on the road, as happens, I fear lest something ill befall you.

May you die well, when your fated day shall come upon you. 1150DA sickness had assailed me when I received your letter; I was beset by lice, and was shaken all over by fever. And so I have charged certain of my household that, when they have buried me, they carry to you what I have written. But you, if indeed you approve it together with the rest of the sages, then at last hand it over to be read; but if you disapprove it, do not publish it. To me certainly it was not yet quite pleasing; there is in it indeed no sure warranty of things. For I neither undertook this, nor professed that I knew what is true. Perhaps I have reserved certain things concerning Theology; the rest one must understand. For all things I rather judge than lay open. But as the sickness grows stronger day by day, I admit to me neither any of the physicians nor of my friends at all. But to those standing before my doors, 1151Aand asking in what state I am, I showed, by letting a finger through the door's bar, with what pestilent evil I am held; and I bade them assemble on the morrow for the solemn funeral rites of Pherecydes. Farewell.

Thales, having been carried through, from the flower of his age to old age, by the pursuits of virtue and humane learning, has met a renowned death. For when, as was his custom, he had gone out in the morning, together with his little maidservant, into the courtyard of his house to inspect the stars, forgetful of how the lay of the place stood, while he securely explores the heaven, he fell into a pit lying below. Such an end do the Milesians relate of this observer of the stars. But we, who are held by love of letters, remember so great a man continually, and rest most of all upon his teaching, and always make Thales 1151Bthe beginning of our discourse.

You acted more prudently for us, in that you might live in quiet — you who migrated from Samos to Crotona. For the Aeacidae are hostile to others, and tyrants lord it over the Milesians. Likewise the king of the Medes bears down sharply upon us, unless we are willing to be tributaries. Although the Ionians seem to be fighting with the Medes for the freedom of all. For so do they press us on every side that there is no hope of safety for us. With what mind, then, could Anaximenes search out the secrets of heaven, upon whom lies the perpetual fear either of death or of servitude? But you are pleasing to the Crotoniates and to the rest of the Italians, and held in esteem, whom the studious also from Sicily approach.

1151CWe, all the intimates of Plato, have sent Lamiscus and Photidas, to receive that man from you by the right of our ancient friendship. Rightly, therefore, will you have acted, if you remember with how great zeal you demanded of us the coming of Plato to you, that we should urge him to come, promising that you would do all things, and would permit him freely to come and to depart. Be mindful, therefore, how much you made of his coming, and that at that time you loved him more than the rest. But if any quarrel has arisen, it befits you to act more humanely, and to restore him to us unharmed. For if you do these things, you will cultivate justice, and will gratify us.

I have handed my testament to Diogenes to be carried to you. For since I am rather often sick, and am not rightly 1151Dwell in body, it has pleased me to make a testament: so that, if anything unforeseen should happen, I may depart from life without wrong to you — you who, alone of all men, have attended me with the greatest affection. And since you have always been the most faithful of all who are here, be diligent both to keep it carefully, both for your age's sake and for our close bond's sake. Take care, therefore, mindful of how much I commit to your trust, that what is deposited with you wholly may, as far as in you lies, and that my affairs be honorably arranged.

I for my part reckon that I go before your life in fortune and glory; but in the liberal disciplines and studies, and in the perfect felicity which you possess, I feel myself far outdone by you. Wherefore I have resolved to entreat you, 1152Athat you set out to me, persuading myself of this, that you will by no means suffer my prayers to be made vain. Do you, therefore, strive by all means, that we may enjoy your company; knowing for certain that you will be the educator not of me only, but of all the Macedonians together. For he who educates the king of Macedonia, and imbues him with virtue, it is certain that he instructs also each of his subjects unto fortitude and probity. For of whatever sort the leader has been, of such sort must the subjects for the most part become. Farewell.

I embrace your so vehement zeal for learning, in that you resolve to grasp the true, useful, and necessary erudition — not the popular, and that which tends to the perverting of morals. For he who is held by the love and study of philosophy, and turns aside from that famous 1152Band vulgar pleasure which effeminates the minds of certain young men — it is manifest that he not only guards his nobility by nature, but has also the true institution of virtue. Moreover, if to a liberal and noble disposition there be added moderate exercise, and the abundance of a teacher be not wanting, it comes early to the perfect fruit of virtue. For my part, were old age not against me — for I am an octogenarian, and my body besides is weak — I would myself come to you, as you bid. But because this is not granted, I send to you certain of my companions, who are by no means inferior to me in the goods of the mind, and even surpass me in the advantages of the body. If you consort with these zealously, you will lack nothing that pertains to perfect blessedness.

1152CBut you, best of men, if you were in no way more excellent than Pythagoras, both in birth and in glory, would assuredly have migrated to us already from Miletus; but as it is, your fatherland's and forefathers' glory has held you back — which would have held me back too, if I were like Anaximenes. But you, if by augury you shall desert your cities, their adornment indeed will be taken from them, and the Medes will press upon them more hostilely. Nor indeed does it always befit one to trace out the reckonings of the stars and of heaven. It is better at times to turn to the cares and thoughts of one's fatherland. And yet I do not always have leisure for my own tales, but also at times for the wars in which the Italians are at variance among themselves.

You do indeed rightly, in that you have signified to us that you have recovered your strength from your ailment; and likewise have made us more certain concerning Damiscus. 1152DConcerning the Commentaries, moreover, we have taken care, and have come to the Lucanians, and there we met the descendants of Occellus. Whatever things, then, concerning kingship, laws, justice, and the generation of all things, we ourselves have, and of these we have sent certain of them. The rest cannot just now be found; when they have been found, they will be conveyed to you.

The Commentaries that were brought to us from you — it cannot be told how gladly we received them; and him who wrote them we admired above all. For that man has assuredly shown himself worthy of those great ancestors of his, most ancient and best of men. Now these men are said to have been Myraeans; and these were of those Trojans who migrated with Laomedon, good men, as the things handed down concerning 1153Athem signify. The Commentaries that are with me, concerning which you wrote, are not yet sufficiently wrought out, nor ever will be sufficiently; yet I have sent them. But concerning safekeeping we both agree; and so there is no need of exhortation. Farewell.

You have written a book On Nature, obscure and difficult in most parts, which, if it be expounded to the letter, seems to contain a certain force of speculation about the whole world, and about all the things that come to pass in it — things indeed that are established in the divine motion. In these very many have stuck fast, so that even those who have read much are in doubt, though the narration written by you seems correct. King Darius, therefore, son of Hystaspes, desires to be your hearer, 1153Band to become a partaker of Greek erudition. Come, therefore, as soon as possible into my sight, and to the royal 1154Ahouse. For the Greeks, being for the most part little given to regarding wise men, spurn the things that have been rightly wrought out by them — even though they be of such a kind as not to lack erudition and gravity. But with me there will be for you every honor, and every precedence, and daily anxious regard, and welcome converse, and a life approvable by your manners. Farewell.

However many mortals live upon the earth abstain from truth and justice, but strain insatiably after avarice and empty glory, for the sake of ruinous madness. But I, forgetful of all wickedness, and shunning the loathing of all domestic envy, which is wont to attend splendor, would never come into the soil of the Persians, 1154Bcontent with the few things that are according to my judgment.