Page:The Journal of Classical and Sacred Philology, Volume 1, 1854.djvu/178

 1G8 Journal of Philology. ness of the sum which they demand from their scholars for in- struction in the art of virtue and happiness a pitiful three or four mime [Isocrates being himself a paid teacher could not with decency censure them for taking money at all] and the ludicrous contradiction between their professions and perform- ance, which is shown in their distrust of their pupil's honesty after they have taught them virtue. The 7th and 8th sections might certainly be taken for a reference to Plato's school and philosophy, were it not for the express mention previously made of taking fees and teaching how to act, neither of which touches Plato. There is the same objection to including Plato in the censure passed upon Sophists and speculators in general, and Antisthenes, Protagoras, Gorgias, Zeno, and Melissus in particu- lar, by Isocrates in the preface to his Helen, (see Hist. Gr. p. 475, n. 1. 493, n. 1). In G he says expressly, akXa yap ovSevbs avrols aXXov peXei ttXtjp tov xpT)paTt((rdai Tpa *"<i vearepoav '. language which can by no possibility apply to Plato : though undoubtedly the ethical doctrine referred to in 1 might, if it stood alone, be taken for a description of the Socratic theory of virtue, which Plato held himself in the earlier part of his philosophical career. Of the two remaining passages of Isocrates cited by Mr Grote, p. 475, n. 1, as criticisms on the Platonic dialogues, ntpl 'Airt6 84 contains nothing distinctive ; the other, Phil. 12, must I suppose be understood as an allusion to Plato's Republic and Laws dXX' opoicos oi toiovtoi rav Xoycov aicvpoi rvyavov(Ti.v ovres rois popots <(u tois noXireiats rats vtto t&v ao(piOTa)v yeypappevais a silly sarcasm conceived in the very worst taste and feeling, consider- ing that Plato died the year before (his death occurred 347 b. c, the Philip was written 346), and eminently worthy of its author. But that Isocrates at the age of 90 should have spitefully classed with the Sophists in a passing allusion a man who differed from them in every possible respect 13, ought not to invalidate his tes- timony against the real Sophists 14, which he published at a much 13 Mr Grote seems to think, p. 475, nion. Isocrates is most favourably that there was a standing feud between noticed, Phaedr. 278. E. 279. B. How- Plato and Isocrates arising from the ever, Isocrates, it must be admitted, was difference of their pursuits and habits no friend to philosophers and their spe- of mind. Heindorf supposes Euthyd. culations, irepl' Avrtd. 268. 305. 0. to be meant for a description of M When Isocrates speaks (de Perm. Isocrates ; but no name is there given, 168) of the Kourt} ircpl toi>j (ro^ttrrAs and most Editors hold a different opi- 8ia/3oXiJ we are not to forget that he