Page:The Journal of Classical and Sacred Philology, Volume 1, 1854.djvu/174

 1 6 4 Journal of Ph ilo logy. it is, by the testimony of other writers of much higher historical authority. At the very lowest, and putting out of the question his own opinion of the mischievous nature of the teaching which he was assailing which however we are by no means called upon to do we may accept the Clouds as good evidence of a strong popular feeling against the Sophists, grounded it can hardly be doubted, and indeed as appears from the play itself, upon the sceptical and subversive character of their opinions upon religion and morals. Of course it may be said that the blow was aimed at all philosophers and philosophy indiscriminately : and I do not say that Aristophanes made any very nice distinctions between them ; but there are at any rate two express allusions to Pro- tagoras' known peculiarities, one to his opOoarda and the dis- tinctions of gender which he introduced into grammar, Nub. 659, sq. (comp. Arist. Rhet. in. 5), and the other to his rhetori- cal teaching and his profession rbv tjttpo(To(pi<TTT)s, and Tagenistae (Fragm. 6. Dind.), in which he is reckoned amongst the adoeo-x ai a name by which Aristophanes expressed his sense of the value and importance of the studies and occupations of the Sophists. Nub. 1480. 1485. Mr Grote is again disposed to get rid of Socrates as a wit- ness against the Sophists. All that he says about him is, paren- thetically, p. 487 : " It is Plato and not Socrates who was pecu- liarly hostile 12 to them, as may be seen by the absence of any such 19 Socrates was a good-natured man ever I am very far from maintaining), and not "hostile" to any body, and the terms on which he is there represent- ready to converse on easy and equal ed as conversing with Aristophanes, terms with all men, and all classes of would be a very striking illustration of society : of which there are some re- his good nature and forgiving disposi- markable examples in the Memorabilia. tion : in fact, this easy cheerful temper, Mr Grote might just as well argue that e&Kola and eirdvfila, appears in every Socrates was not "hostile to courtesans," thing that is related of him. But even because he goes to pay a visit to Theo- Plato does not represent him as embit- dote (Mem. III. n) and instructs her in tered against the Sophists ; he simply the arts of attraction. If the Sympo- confutes and exposes them : but his sium of Plato could be considered as in known opinions and character, and the any way founded on fact, (which how- direct opposition of his habits, views of