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

for immediately those who had conspired and been numbered; and with everyone everywhere being seized and slaughtered, like hens at a festival and symposium providing a common feast, Maximus too was seized, and came to Antioch, 7.6.6 where the emperor was staying; but being ashamed of his murder, since everything was proved at the trial, and that he had condemned those who made the attempt, and that he had accurately foretold everything, as if punishing some god in the body of Maximus, they sent out with him to Asia a certain murderous and butcherly soul, Festus, deeming Asia worthy of such a man. 7.6.7 And he, upon arriving, did what he was ordered and added more on his own account, bestowing a lavish supply to the swinish and rabid part of his soul; for after first slaughtering many, both guilty and innocent, he slaughtered the great Maximus on top of them. 7.6.8 And so the prophecy had that end, but the remaining parts also came to pass. 7.6.9 For the emperor disappeared in a great battle with the Scythians in a strange manner, so that not even a bone was found for burial; and the divinity added something else even greater; for that Festus (and the writer was present and knew these things accurately) was relieved of his office, and after traveling to the newly reigning Theodosius, then returned (for he had made a marriage from Asia befitting a tyrant), and while displaying his luxury and his escape from the charges, he announced a lavish festival for those in positions of honor and 7.6.10 distinguished by noble birth. It was the third day of the Calends, which the Romans thus call the days of January, and everyone, after paying homage to him, promised to attend the feast. 7.6.11 But he went to the temple of the Nemeses (although he had never claimed to worship the gods, but had killed all those he punished for this very reason), but having gone nevertheless, he reported a dream to them 7.6.12 and wept as he related the vision. The dream was this: he said that Maximus, throwing a halter around his neck, was dragging him to Hades to be judged before Pluto. Those present, though afraid and referring it to the man's whole life, each wiped away his tears and urged him to pray to the two Goddesses; and he obeyed and prayed. 7.6.13 But as he was going out, both of his feet giving way under him, his body slipped backwards, and he lay speechless; and being carried away, he died immediately, and this seemed to be an excellent work of Providence. PRISCUS. Concerning Priscus, most things were according to the necessity that befell him; and it has been said before where he was from; but the following is recorded as characteristic of his nature: he was exceedingly reserved and profound, possessed of a consummate memory, and had summarized all the doctrines of the ancients 8.1.2 and had them on the tip of his tongue; and being most handsome and tall to look at, he might have seemed uneducated because he was slow to enter into conversation, but he guarded the doctrines like some treasure, and said that those who readily uttered their voice about them were profligate. 8.1.3 For he said that one who is defeated in discussions is not civilized, but rather, by resisting the power of truth and being broken down by pleasures and love of the body, becomes savage, and is made and rendered at once a hater of reason and a hater of philosophy. 8.1.4 For this reason, therefore, he kept silent for the most part. And he was slow and stately in his character, and he maintained this character not only when he was with companions and pupils, 8.1.5 but his dignity had grown old with him from his youth. Chrysanthius, at any rate, used to say to <the> one writing these things, that the manner of Aedesius was common and popular, and after the labors that were concerned with discourses, he would go out for a walk according to

γὰρ αὐτίκα οἵ τε συστησάμενοι καὶ ἀρθμήσαντες· πάντων δὲ πανταχοῦ ἁρπαζομένων καὶ κατακοπτομένων, ὥσπερ ἀλεκτορίδων ἐν ἑορτῇ καὶ συμποσίῳ κοινὴν εὐωχίαν ἔχοντι, καὶ ὁ Μάξιμος συνηρπάσθη μέν, καὶ εἰς τὴν Ἀντιόχειαν ἦλ7.6.6 θεν, ἔνθα ὁ βασιλεὺς διέτριβεν· αἰσχυνθέντες δὲ αὐτοῦ τὸν φόνον, ὡς πάντα ἐπὶ τῆς κρίσεως ἠλέγχθη, καὶ ὅτι κατέγνω τῶν ἐγχειρησάντων, καὶ ὅτι προεῖπεν ἀκριβῶς ἅπαντα, καθάπερ ἐν τῷ Μαξίμου σώματι θεόν τινα κολάζοντες, φονικήν τινα καὶ μαγειρώδη ψυχὴν τὸν Φῆστον ἐπὶ τὴν Ἀσίαν αὐτῷ συνεξέπεμψαν, τὴν Ἀσίαν τοιούτου τινὸς ἀξιώσαντες. 7.6.7 ὁ δὲ παραγενόμενος τὸ προσταχθὲν ἔπραξε καὶ παρ' ἑαυτοῦ προσέθηκεν, ἄφθονόν τινα χορηγίαν τῷ συώδει καὶ λελυσσηκότι τῆς ψυχῆς νέμων· πολλοὺς γὰρ προκατακόψας αἰτίους τε καὶ ἀναιτίους, καὶ τὸν μέγαν Μάξιμον αὐτοῖς ἐπέσφαξε. 7.6.8 κἀκεῖνο μὲν εἶχεν ἡ μαντεία τέλος, ἀπέβαινε δὲ καὶ τὰ λειπό7.6.9 μενα. ὅ τε γὰρ βασιλεὺς ἐν μεγάλῃ τῶν Σκυθῶν μάχῃ ξένον τινὰ ἠφανίσθη τρόπον, ὥστε οὐδὲ ὀστέον εἰς ἀναίρεσιν εὑρέθη· προσεπέθηκε δὲ ὁ δαίμων καὶ ἕτερόν τι μεῖζον· ὁ γὰρ Φῆστος ἐκεῖνος (καὶ ταῦτα δὲ ἀκριβῶς ὁ γράφων παρὼν συνηπίστατο) παραλυθεὶς τῆς ἀρχῆς, καὶ ἀποδημήσας πρὸς τὸν νεωστὶ βασιλεύοντα Θεοδόσιον, εἶτα ἐπανελθών (ἐγε γαμήκει γὰρ ἐκ τῆς Ἀσίας γάμον τυραννίδι πρέποντα), καὶ τὴν τρυφὴν ἐπιδεικνύμενος καὶ τὸ διαπεφευγέναι τὰ ἐγκλήματα, ἑορτήν τε ἐπήγγελλε πολυτελῆ τοῖς ἐν ἀξιώματι καὶ 7.6.10 κατὰ εὐγένειαν προβεβηκόσι. ἡ τρίτη δὲ ἦν ἡμέρα τῶν καλανδῶν, ἃς οὕτως Ἰανουαρίας ἡμέρας Ῥωμαῖοι προσονομάζουσι, καὶ προσκυνήσαντες πάντες αὐτῷ ὑπέσχοντο τὴν εὐωχίαν. 7.6.11 ὁ δὲ παρῆλθε μὲν εἰς τὸ τῶν Νεμέσεων ἱερόν (καί τοί γε οὐδέποτε φήσας θεραπεύειν θεούς, ἀλλ' οὓς ἐκόλασεν ἅπαντας διὰ τοῦτο ἀνῃρηκώς), παρελθὼν δὲ ὅμως, αὐτοῖς ὄναρ 7.6.12 ἀπήγγειλε καὶ κατεδάκρυε τὴν ὄψιν διηγούμενος. τὸ δὲ ὄνειρον ἦν· τὸν Μάξιμον ἔφασκεν τραχηλάγχην ἐπιβαλόμενον ἕλκειν αὐτὸν εἰς τὸν ᾅδην, ὡς δικασόμενον ἐπὶ τοῦ Πλουτέως. οἱ δὲ παρόντες, καίπερ δεδιότες καὶ πρὸς τὸν ὅλον τοῦ ἀνδρὸς ἀναφέροντες βίον, τά τε δάκρυα ἀπέψηχεν ἕκαστος, καὶ ταῖν Θεαῖν ἐκέλευον εὔχεσθαι· ὁ δὲ ἐπείθετο καὶ ηὔχετο. 7.6.13 ἐξιόντι δὲ αὐτῷ, τοῖν ποδοῖν ἀμφοῖν ὑπενεχθέντων, ἐπὶ τὰ νῶτα ἐξολισθαίνει τὸ σῶμα, καὶ ἄναυδος ἔκειτο· καὶ ἀπενεχθεὶς αὐτίκα ἐτελεύτησε, καὶ τοῦτο ἔδοξεν εἶναι τῆς Προνοίας ἔργον ἄριστον. ΠΡΙΣΚΟΣ. Περὶ δὲ Πρίσκου τὰ μὲν πολλὰ κατὰ τὴν περιπεσοῦσαν ἀνάγκην· καὶ πρότερον εἴρηται ὅθεν γε ἦν· ἴδιον δὲ κατὰ τὸ ἦθος αὐτοῦ τοιοῦτον ἀπομνημονεύεται· κρυψίνους τε ἦν ἄγαν καὶ βαθυγνώμων, μνήμης τε εἰς ἄκρον ἀφιγμένος, καὶ τὰς δόξας ἁπάσας τῶν παλαιῶν συνῃρηκὼς 8.1.2 καὶ ἐπὶ στόματος ἔχων· κάλλιστος δὲ ὢν καὶ μέγας ὀφθῆναι, καὶ ἀπαίδευτος ἂν ἔδοξεν εἶναι διὰ τὸ μόλις χωρεῖν ἐς διάλεξιν, ἀλλ' ὡς θησαυρόν γέ τινα ἐφύλαττε τὰ δόγματα, καὶ τοὺς εὐκόλως περὶ αὐτῶν προϊεμένους φωνὴν ἀσώτους 8.1.3 ἔφασκεν. οὐ γὰρ νικώμενον ἐν ταῖς διαλέξεσιν ἐξημεροῦσθαι μᾶλλον ἔφασκεν, ἀλλὰ πρὸς τὴν δύναμιν τῆς ἀληθείας ἀντιβαίνοντα, ταῖς δὲ ἡδοναῖς καὶ τῷ φιλοσωμάτῳ κατακλώμενον ἀγριοῦσθαι, καὶ μισόλογόν τε ἅμα καὶ μισοφιλόσοφον 8.1.4 ἀποτελεῖσθαι καὶ διαπράττεσθαι. διὰ ταύτην οὖν τὴν αἰτίαν ἐπεῖχε τὰ πολλά. καὶ βραδὺς ἦν καὶ ὀγκώδης κατὰ τὸ ἦθος, καὶ τὸ ἦθος ἐφύλαττεν οὐ μόνον ὅτε ἑταίροις καὶ ὁμιληταῖς 8.1.5 συνῆν, ἀλλ' ἐκ νεότητος αὐτῷ τὸ ἀξίωμα συνεγήρασεν. ὁ γοῦν Χρυσάνθιος πρὸς <τὸν> ταῦτα γράφοντα ἔλεγεν, ὡς ὁ μὲν Αἰδεσίου τρόπος κοινὸς ἦν καὶ δημοτικός, καὶ μετά γε τοὺς ἄθλους ὅσοι περὶ λόγους ἦσαν, πρὸς περίπατον ἐξῄει κατὰ