Page:Great Men and Famous Women Volume 7.djvu/25

 PLATO 9 He was especially revolted by their treatment of Socrates, whom they not only interdicted from continuing his habitual colloquy with young men, but even tried to implicate in nefarious murders, by ordering him along with others to arrest Leon the Salaminian, one of their intended victims ; an order which Socrates, at the peril of his life, disobeyed. Thus mortified and disappointed, Plato withdrew from public functions. What part he took in the struggle between the oligarchy and its democratical as- sailants under Thrasybulus we are not informed. But when the democracy was re-established his political ambition revived and he again sought to acquire some active influence on public affairs. Now, however, the circumstances had become highly unfavorable to him. The name of his deceased relative, Critias, was gen- erally abhorred, and he had no powerful partisans among the popular leaders. With such disadvantages, with anti-democratical sentiments, and with a thin voice, we cannot wonder that Plato soon found public life repulsive, though he admits the remarkable moderation displayed by the restored Demos. His repug- nance was aggravated to the highest pitch of grief and indignation by the trial and condemnation of Socrates (399 b.c.) four years after the renewal of the de- mocracy. At that moment doubtless the Socratic men or companions were un- popular in a body. Plato, after having yielded his best sympathy and aid at the trial of Socrates, retired along with several others of them to Megara. He made up his mind that for a man of his views and opinions it was not only unprofit- able, but also unsafe, to embark in active public life, either at Athens or in any other Grecian city. He resolved to devote himself to philosophical speculation and to abstain from practical politics, unless fortune should present to him some exceptional case of a city prepared to welcome and obey a renovator upon ex- alted principles. At Megara Plato passed some time with the Megarian Eucleides, his fellow- disciple in the society of Socrates and the founder of what is termed the Mega- ric school of philosophers. He next visited Cyrenfi, where he is said to have become acquainted with the geometrician Theoddrus and to have studied geom- etry under him. From Cyrene he proceeded to Egypt, interesting himself much in the antiquities of the country as well as in the conversation of the priests. In or about 394 b.c, if we may trust the statement of Aristoxenus about the mili- tary service of Plato at Corinth, he was again at Athens. 'He afterward went to Italy and Sicily, seeking the society of the Pythagorean philosophers, Archytas, Echecrates, Timaeus, etc., at Tarentum and Locri, and visiting the volcanic man- ifestations of iEtna. It appears that his first visit to Sicily was made when he was about forty years of age, which would be 387 b.c. Here he made acquaint- ance with the youthful Dion, over whom he acquired great intellectual ascend- ancy. ' By Dion Plato was prevailed upon to visit the elder Dionysius at Syracuse ; but that despot, offended by the free spirit of his conversation and admonitions, dismissed him with displeasure, and even caused him to be sold into slavery at /Egina on his voyage home. Though really sold, however, Plato was speedily ransomed by friends. After farther incurring some risk of his life as an