Page:Plutarch's Lives (Clough, v.5, 1865).djvu/377

 ARATUS. 369 ter, hid him in the house, and at night sent him away to Argos. Aratus, being thus delivered and secured from this danger, conceived from the first and ever after nourished a vehement and burning hatred against tyrants, which strengthened with his years. Being therefore bred up amongst his father's acquaintance and friends at Argos with a hberal education, and perceiving his body to promise good health and stature, he addicted himself to the exercises of the palsestra, to that degree that he com- peted in the five games,* and gained some crowns ; and indeed in his statues one may obsei've a certain kind of athletic cast, and the sagacity and majesty of his coun- tenance does not dissemble his full diet and the use of the hoe.-j- "Whence it came to pass that he less studied eloquence than perhaps became a statesman, and yet he was more accompUshed in speaking than many be- Ueve, judging by the commentaries which he left behind him, written carelessly and by the wa}", as fast as he could do it, and in such words as first came to his mind. In the course of time, Dinias and Aristoteles the logi- cian killed Abantidas, who used to be present in the mar- ket-place at their discussions, and to make one in them ; till they, taking the occasion, insensibly accustomed him to the practice, and so had opportunity to contrive and execute a plot against him. After him Paseas, the father of Abantidas, taking upon him the government, was assas- sinated by Nicocles, who himself set up for tyrant. Of him it is related that he was strikingly like Periander the son of Cypselus, just as it is said that Oroutes the Persian bore a great resemblance to Alcmseon the son of Amphi- cises of leaping, running, wrest- cising ground, ling, the discus, and the dart. The t The hoe exercise was used by those who trained for the games. VOL. v. 24
 * The pentathlum, or five exer- patestra is the wrestling or exer-