Lives of the sophists

 to follow, having scattered it like some mist. At once, therefore, the divine Plutarch records his own life, scattered throughout his books, and that

 not one man has written a biography, at least so far as we know but for one collecting from the signs given during the reading, such were the things

 And after these things he deals with many other matters, how one must take care of them. And he says that he also pursued and cast out a certain demon

 ungrudging. Therefore, he did few things by himself, apart from his companions and pupils, revering the divine but for the most part he was with his

 Golden locks gleamed about his back and his breast, and he seemed altogether as one bathing and having been bathed. And when his companions were aston

 of beauty. Thus that man also, choosing to praise him for the sake of the truth, on the one hand reveals the magnitude of the punishments and misfortu

 they neglected the plot. Therefore, just as in the time of the old and great Socrates, no one of all the Athenians (even though they were a democracy)

 But she happened to be skilled also in delivering women in their confinement. <and> as she was setting a cup before the Egyptian and pouring the spice

 his own hand and the things written, he found the oracle written on his hand. 6.4.4 And it is this: Threads are set on the threads of two Fates for yo

 with easy proofs, he orders him to come out, and he came out, having overthrown a tyrant with his speech and he immediately invited him to his table

 is your life as well, a gift as high as heaven and reaching the stars, leave this Sosipatra with us, her truer nurses and fathers, and for five years

 is it, child? And she, pausing for a little, said, But now I understand what was said. For as they, weeping, handed these things to me, they said, '

 he was doing, and revealed the signs that appeared. And as he fell gaping to the ground, and confessed that Sosipatra was openly a goddess, Rise up,

 I have no need to write their names for the account hastens on not to the base but to the good. Except for what one of her children (Antoninus was hi

 human. For collecting the bones and heads of those convicted of many crimes, whom the civil court had punished, they both declared them gods, and they

 he had arrived, and his body was weary and foremost among his school, and holding first place, were Maximus, on whose behalf this is being written, a

 the torches will light up, which the goddess carries in her hands and the light, flaring up on the torches, anticipated the words. We then, for the

 sent him gifts <and> an escort for the care of the temples of Hellas, he immediately summoned 7.3.10 Maximus and Chrysanthius. And the summons was one

 nevertheless unmoved, not lifted up by the imperial power, but bringing down the imperial power and leveling it to a more philosophical state. 7.4.8 B

 he contributed great good will to affairs, exposing his body to the foremost dangers, and being openly at odds with the praetorian prefect, so that no

 for immediately those who had conspired and been numbered and with everyone everywhere being seized and slaughtered, like hens at a festival and symp

 Pergamon, and the more honored of the companions were present 8.1.6 but the teacher, implanting a certain harmony and care for what is human in his s

 in imitation of the public theaters 9.1.6, but smaller and as is fitting for a house. For so great was the strife in Athens of the men and youths of t

 (And Tusciunus, who was present at the trial, and within the group of the accused, related these things to the author) Prohaeresius came forward into

 the sun makes the night longer by becoming more southerly (for it had entered Libra and the nights were about to lengthen) and the ship-captain, bein

 he was handsome, and one marveled at the power of his beauty, that for so great a body 10.3.2 it sufficed throughout for the most excellent form and

 for the sake of wealth, but for Prohaeresius argument alone was enough, just as the Homeric Hermes escorting Priam to the tent of Achilles10.3.17 even

 no one knew the future but when he said I will ask for another, more difficult thing, then, having been ordered 10.5.2 to speak, he says, let not

 being of a most distinguished rank, to grasp, and to draw into sight the phantom conceived from ancient images, 10.6.4 he hurried to Greece. And havin

 transferring their astonishment to his appearance and what they saw, they were amazed at both the beauty and height of his body, as if looking up with

 very quickly leaped into political life. 10.8.1 But when Julian was emperor, being excluded <ἐν> from his position of teaching (for he was thought to

 they say. HIMERIUS: Bithynia bore this man, but the one writing these things did not know him and yet he was living in those times. But having crosse

 to Libanius 16.1.10 and of those thought worthy of his company he departed unstung but his character was immediately recognized for what it was, and

 blaming the greatness of that man's nature, but himself testifying to his own 17.1.3 hyperattention and precision regarding petty words as if unaware

 he was a distinguished child, having partaken of all education which both contributes to and perfects virtue. 21.1.2 And advancing in age, he became a

 precision, and to confess openly that when they met with Ionicus, they learned in practice the things said by the ancients, and brought them out for u

 having something contentious and stubborn in his nature, resisting the signs that had appeared from the gods, he would ask for and demand 23.2.2 other

 of those present, a stir arose, and it seemed good to him to contribute something to what was being said, everything was full of silence, as if no peo

 All were present, and he who is writing these things was present but Justus, standing over it, and fixing the gaze of his eyes (for the victim lay in

 shook souls into fear, he alone remained unshaken, so that 23.6.2 one might have conjectured * that the man was not even on earth. At those times inde

But she happened to be skilled also in delivering women in their confinement. <and> as she was setting a cup before the Egyptian and pouring the spiced wine, someone running up from the neighbors said, speaking into her ear, "But your friend and kinswoman is in danger in her birth pangs," for so it was, "unless you come more quickly." 6.3.4 And she, having heard these things, and leaving the Egyptian, gaping, before adding the hot water, and having delivered that woman from her pangs, and having performed all that is done at childbirths, was present immediately with the stranger, having washed her 6.3.5 hands. And when she found him indignant and boiling with anger, the woman announced the cause of the delay. And when the excellent Egyptian heard and saw the hour, he thirsted more keenly to declare what had come from the gods than to cure the suffering of his body, 6.3.6 and speaking in a loud voice; "But go, O woman; tell the mother that she has all but given birth to a king." And having declared this, he both filled himself abundantly from the cup, and 6.3.7 left for the woman to know his name, who he was. And the one who was born was Ablabius, and he became such a plaything of Fortune, which innovates in all things, that he was thus more powerful than the emperor, so that he even killed Sopater, bringing an accusation more simple-minded than the Socratic one, as if <treating> the then reigning emperor like a disorderly 6.3.8 populace. Constantine, therefore, was punished even by honoring Ablabius, and how he died has been written in the works about him. But to Ablabius he left his son Constantius, who had ruled jointly with him and succeeded to his father's rule together with his brothers Constantine and Constans. But in the works concerning the most divine 6.3.9 Julian these things have been told more accurately. And Constantius, having succeeded to the empire and having been allotted what he was allotted—and these were the parts extending from Illyria to the east—immediately relieved Ablabius of his office, and formed another circle of companions 6.3.10 around himself. And Ablabius, having long ago prepared his estates around Bithynia, which had royal retreats and places of leisure, passed his time in abundance, while all 6.3.11 men wondered that he did not wish to be emperor. But Constantius, having sent not a few swordsmen against him from his father's city nearby, commanded the first ones to deliver a letter. And they did obeisance to him, just as the Romans are accustomed to do obeisance to an emperor, those handing over the letter; and he, receiving the letter very haughtily and released from all fear, demanded the purple robe from those who had come, becoming now more imperious, and he was fearsome 6.3.12 to those who saw him. But they said to him, that they themselves were bringing the letter, but that before the doors were those entrusted with these matters. 6.3.13 And he called for those men, thinking great things and elated in his mind; but they, having been allowed to enter, were a multitude and all were swordsmen, and instead of the purple robe they brought upon him "the purple death," having cut him to pieces like a butcher, just like some animal at a banquet. And in this way the all-fortunate Ablabius paid the penalty to Sopater. 6.4.1 With these things having thus transpired and Providence not abandoning humankind, the most glorious of those left behind, Aedesius, remained. And having recourse through prayer to a certain oracle in which he especially believed (and this was through a dream), the god appeared in response to his prayer, and uttered the following in hexameter 6.4.2 verse; but he, just having uncovered his eyelids and still being terrified, remembered the meaning of what was said, but the extraordinary and sublime quality of the verses escaped him and slipped away. Therefore he called his servant, wishing to wash his sight and face with water, and the servant said to him, "But your left hand on the outside 6.4.3 is full of letters." And he saw and understood that the matter was divine, and having done obeisance to the

δὲ ἐτύγχανε μὲν ἱκανὴ καὶ μαιώσασθαι γυναῖκας ἐπὶ τῷ λοχεύεσθαι. <καὶ> προθεμένης αὐτῆς κύλικα τῷ Αἰγυπτίῳ καὶ τὸν ἠρτυμένον οἶνον καταχεομένης, προσδραμοῦσά τις ἐκ γειτόνων "ἀλλὰ κινδυνεύει σοι" εἶπεν λέγουσα πρὸς τὸ οὖς "ἐπὶ ταῖς ὠδῖσιν ἡ φίλη καὶ συγγενής," καὶ γὰρ οὕτως εἶχεν, "εἰ μὴ θᾶττον ἀφί6.3.4 κοιο." καὶ ἡ μὲν ταῦτα ἀκούσασα, καὶ καταλιποῦσα τὸν Αἰγύπτιον, πρὶν τὸ θερμὸν ὕδωρ ἐπιβαλεῖν, κεχηνότα, κἀκείνην ἀπολύσασα τῶν ὠδίνων, καὶ συντελέσασά γε ὅσα ἐπὶ ταῖς λοχείαις γίνεται, παρῆν αὐτίκα, διακαθήρασα τὰς 6.3.5 χεῖρας, πρὸς τὸν ξένον. ὡς δὲ ἀγανακτοῦντα κατέλαβε καὶ τῷ θυμῷ περιζέοντα, τὴν αἰτίαν ἀπήγγειλεν ἡ γυνὴ τῆς βραδυτῆτος. ὡς δὲ ἤκουσεν ὁ βέλτιστος Αἰγύπτιος καὶ πρὸς τὴν ὥραν εἶδεν, ὀξέως μᾶλλον ἐδίψησεν ἐξειπεῖν τὸ παρὰ τῶν θεῶν ἐπελθὸν ἢ τὸ τοῦ σώματος θεραπεῦσαι 6.3.6 πάθος, καὶ μέγα φθεγξάμενος· "ἀλλ' ἄπιθί γε, ὦ γύναι· φράζε τῇ τεκούσῃ ὅτι μικροῦ βασιλέα τέτοκε." καὶ τοῦτο δηλώσας, ἑαυτόν τε ἐπλήρωσεν ἀφθόνως τῆς κύλικος, καὶ 6.3.7 τὸ ὄνομα ὅστις εἴη κατέλιπε τῇ γυναικὶ εἰδέναι. καὶ ὁ τεχθεὶς ἦν Ἀβλάβιος, καὶ τοσοῦτον ἐγένετο παίγνιον τῆς εἰς ἅπαντα νεωτεριζούσης Τύχης, ὥστε οὕτω πλείονα ἐδύνατο τοῦ βασιλεύοντος, ὥστε καὶ Σώπατρον ἀπέκτεινεν, αἰτίαν ἐπενεγκὼν τῆς Σωκρατικῆς εὐηθεστέραν, ὥσπερ ἀτάκτῳ 6.3.8 δήμῳ τῷ τότε βασιλεύοντι <χρώμενος>. Κωνσταντῖνος μὲν οὖν καὶ Ἀβλάβιον τιμῶν ἐκολάζετο, καὶ ὅπως γε ἐτελεύτα ἐν τοῖς περὶ ἐκείνου γέγραπται. Ἀβλαβίῳ δὲ τὸν παῖδα κατέλιπε Κωνστάντιον, συμβασιλεύσαντα μὲν αὐτῷ, διαδεξάμενον δὲ τὴν ἀρχὴν τοῦ πατρὸς σὺν Κωνσταντίνῳ καὶ Κώνσταντι τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς. ἐν δὲ τοῖς κατὰ τὸν θειότατον 6.3.9 Ἰουλιανὸν ἀκριβέστερον ταῦτα εἴρηται. διαδεξάμενος δὲ ὁ Κωνστάντιος τὴν βασιλείαν καὶ κληρωθεὶς ὅσα γε ἐκληρώθη, ταῦτα δὲ ἦν τὰ ἐξ Ἰλλυριῶν εἰς τὴν ἑῴαν καθήκοντα, τὸν μὲν Ἀβλάβιον αὐτίκα παραλύει τῆς ἀρχῆς, ἄλλο δὲ περὶ 6.3.10 αὑτὸν ἑταιρικὸν συνέστησε. καὶ ὁ μὲν Ἀβλάβιος τὰ περὶ Βιθυνίαν χωρία πάλαι παρεσκευασμένος, βασιλικάς τε καταφυγὰς καὶ ῥᾳθυμίας ἔχοντα, διέτριβεν ἐν ἀφθόνοις, πάντων 6.3.11 ἀνθρώπων θαυμαζόντων ὅτι βασιλεύειν οὐ βούλεται. ὁ δὲ Κωνστάντιος ἐγγύθεν ἐκ τῆς τοῦ πατρὸς πόλεως ξιφηφόρους τινὰς ἐπ' αὐτὸν ἐκπέμψας οὐκ ὀλίγους, τοῖς μὲν πρώτοις ἐκέλευσεν ἀποδιδόναι γράμματα. καὶ προσεκύνησάν γε αὐτόν, ὥσπερ νομίζουσιν Ῥωμαῖοι βασιλέα προσκυνεῖν, οἱ τὰ γράμματα ἐγχειρίζοντες· καὶ ὃς μάλα σοβαρῶς δεξάμενος τὰ γράμματα καὶ παντὸς ἀπολυθεὶς φόβου, τήν τε ἁλουργίδα τοὺς ἐλθόντας ἀπῄτει, βαρύτερος ἤδη γινόμενος, καὶ φοβε6.3.12 ρὸν ἦν τοῖς ὁρωμένοις. οἱ δὲ ἔφασαν πρὸς αὐτόν, αὐτοὶ μὲν τὰ γράμματα κομίζειν, πρὸ θυρῶν δὲ εἶναι τοὺς ταῦτα 6.3.13 πεπιστευμένους. καὶ ὁ μὲν ἐκείνους ἐκάλει μέγα φρονῶν καὶ τῇ γνώμῃ διηρμένος· οἱ δὲ συγχωρηθέντες εἰσελθεῖν πλῆθός τε ἦσαν καὶ ξιφηφόροι πάντες, καὶ ἀντὶ τῆς ἁλουργίδος ἐπῆγον αὐτῷ "τὸν πορφύρεον θάνατον," κρεουργηδόν, ὥσπερ τι τῶν ἐν ταῖς εὐωχίαις ζῷον, κατακόψαντες. καὶ ταῦτα ἔτισε Σωπάτρῳ δίκην ὁ πάντα εὐδαίμων Ἀβλάβιος. 6.4.1 Τούτων δὴ οὕτω κεχωρηκότων καὶ τῆς Προνοίας οὐκ ἀφιείσης τὸ ἀνθρώπινον, ὁ τῶν περιλειφθέντων ἐνδοξότατος Αἰδέσιος κατελίπετο. καταφυγὼν δὲ ἐπί τινα μαντείαν δι' εὐχῆς ᾗπερ ἐπίστευε μάλιστα (αὕτη δὲ ἦν δι' ὀνείρατος), ὁ μὲν θεὸς ἐφίστατο πρὸς τὴν εὐχήν, καὶ ἔχρησεν ἐν ἑξαμέτρῳ 6.4.2 τόνῳ τάδε· ὁ δέ, ἀνακαλύψας ἄρτι τὰ βλέφαρα καὶ περίφοβος ὢν ἔτι, τὸν μὲν νοῦν ἐμέμνητο τῶν εἰρημένων, τὸ δὲ ὑπερφυὲς καὶ οὐρανόμηκες τῶν ἐπῶν περιέφευγεν αὐτὸν καὶ διωλίσθαινε. τόν τε οὖν παῖδα καλεῖ, τὴν ὄψιν καὶ τὸ πρόσωπον ἀποσμῆσαι τῷ ὕδατι βουλόμενος, καὶ ὁ θερά πων πρὸς αὐτὸν ἔλεγεν, "ἀλλ' ἡ ἀριστερά γε χεὶρ ἔξωθεν 6.4.3 κατάπλεως ἐστὶ γραμμάτων." καὶ ὃς εἶδεν καὶ τὸ πρᾶγμα θεῖον εἶναι συνεφρόνησε, καὶ προσκυνήσας τὴν