Page:The Journal of Classical and Sacred Philology, Volume 1, 1854.djvu/186

 1 76 Journal of Philology. attributed a pernicious system of teaching to Hippias, we must not forget his brother Professor, Protagoras, who it may be from a feeling of professional jealousy and rivalry, and with the view perchance of counteracting the dazzling effect of Hippias* multifarious accomplishments upon his own intended pupil Hip- pocrates accuses him in plain terms of " depraving or injuring the youth,' ol p.i.v yap aXXot Xoftwvrai tovs vlovs . . . Kai apa (Is tou 'iniriav a7rf/3Xf^f, Pro tag. 318. e. On Hippias* various literary and scien- tific acquisitions the author of the Mapylrrjs would, it is likely, have pronounced noW qwlo-TaTO epya, kukcos 5* rjiriaraTo iravra a not very uncommon result of the study and profession of a great variety of arts and I dare say Plato and Aristotle would have assented to the poet's observation. The prominent feature in the man's character seems to have been a most egregious vanity and conceit of knowledge, which led him, like Gorgias, to offer to answer questions or make speeches upon any subject proposed to him. This braggart ostentation is brought out into high relief in Plato's Protagoras and Hippias Major. The principal subject of his instruction was however rhetoric, which he no doubt taught in the same manner, and with the same result, as his sophistical brethren. Mr Grote, p. 525, tells us that not only is there no imputation upon Hippias of having preached a low or corrupt morality, but that Plato inserts that which fur- nishes good though indirect proof of the contrary. He refers to the hrl&ttfrs which the Sophist says (Hipp. Maj. 286. a.) he had just delivered at Sparta with the greatest success and distinc- tion. After some further remarks upon the high moral tone of the composition, Mr Grote concludes, p. 526, "Morality preached by Nestor for the edification of Neoptolemus might possibly be too high for Athenian practice ; but most certainly it would not err on the side of corruption, selfishness, or over-indulgence. We may fairly presume that this discourse would not be un- worthy in spirit and purpose to be placed by the side of ' the Choice of Hercules,' nor its author by that of Prodicus as a moral teacher." Possibly not : but all that Plato says to justify this eulogium is this : Hippias loquitur, " Here is the occasion and commencement of my tale. After the taking of Troy, my story relates that Neoptolemus inquired of Nestor in what good habits consist : by what practices a young man might acquire the greatest distinction. After this Nestor is the speaker, and