Page:Reflections upon ancient and modern learning (IA b3032449x).pdf/132

 Diogenes Laërtius is the ancientest Author extant, that has purposely written the Life of Pythagoras: According to Menagiuss Calculations, he lived in M. Antoninuss Time: And all that we learn from Diogenes is only, that we know very little certainly about Pythagoras. He cites, indeed, great Numbers of Books; but those so very disagreeing in their Relations, that a Man is confounded with their Variety. Besides, the Grecians magnified every Thing that they commended, so much, that it is hard to guess how far they may be believed when they write of Men and Actions at any Distance from their own Time. Græcia Mendax was almost proverbial amongst the Romans. But by what appears from the Accounts of the Life of Pythagoras, he is rather to be ranked among the Lawgivers, with Lycurgus and Solon, and his own two Disciples, Zaleucus and Charondas, than amongst those who really carried Learning to any considerable heighth. Therefore, as some other Legislators had, or pretended to have, Super-natural Assistances, that they might create a Regard for their Laws in the People to whom they gave them; so Pythagoras found out several Equivalents, which did him as much Service. He is said, indeed, to