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Hence we find the works of Parmenides, Empedocles, the Electic Zeno, Speusippus, Xenocrates, and many other illustrious philosophers of the highest antiquity, who were either genuine Platonists or the sources of Platonism, are continually cited by these most excellent interpreters, and in the third place they united the greatest purity of life to the most piercing vigor of intellect.
This information from Speusippus encouraged Dion, who, concealing his real purpose, employed his friends privately to raise what men they could; and many statesmen and philosophers were assisting to him, as, for instance, Eudemus the Cyprian, on whose death Aristotle wrote his Dialogue of the Soul, and Timonides the Leucadian.
Enter CALLIDEMUS and SPEUSIPPUS; CALLIDEMUS. So, you young reprobate! You must be a man of wit, forsooth, and a man of quality! You must spend as if you were as rich as Nicias, and prate as if you were as wise as Pericles! You must dangle after sophists and pretty women! And I must pay for all! I must sup on thyme and onions, while you are swallowing thrushes and hares!
SPEUSIPPUS. Whose lines are those, Alcibiades? ALCIBIADES. My own. Think you, because I do not shut myself up to meditate, and drink water, and eat herbs, that I cannot write verses? By Apollo, if I did not spend my days in politics, and my nights in revelry, I should have made Sophocles tremble. But now I never go beyond a little song like this, and never invoke any Muse but Chariclea.
SPEUSIPPUS. And nine days of rigid mortification of the senses. ALCIBIADES. We will suppose that too. I am sure it was supposed, with as little reason, when I was initiated. SPEUSIPPUS. But you are sworn to secrecy. ALCIBIADES. You a sophist, and talk of oaths! You a pupil of Euripides, and forget his maxims! "My lips have sworn it; but my mind is free." SPEUSIPPUS. But Alcibiades
The gods forbid that I should detain you from such choice society! SCENE A Hall in the house of ALCIBIADES. ALCIBIADES, SPEUSIPPUS, CALLICLES, HIPPOMACHUS, CHARICLEA, and others, seated round a table feasting. ALCIBIADES. Bring larger cups. This shall be our gayest revel. It is probably the last for some of us at least.
A precious assembly you will meet at his house, no doubt. SPEUSIPPUS. The first men in Athens, probably. CALLIDEMUS. Whom do you mean by the first men in Athens? SPEUSIPPUS. Callicles. CALLIDEMUS. A sacrilegious, impious, unfeeling ruffian! SPEUSIPPUS. Hippomachus. CALLIDEMUS. A fool, who can talk of nothing but his travels through Persia and Egypt. Go, go.
CALLIDEMUS. Then what, in the name of Bacchus, do you make him say? SPEUSIPPUS. You shall hear; and, if it be not in the very style of Euripides, call me a fool. CALLIDEMUS. That is a liberty which I shall venture to take, whether it be or no. But go on. SPEUSIPPUS. Prometheus begins thus:
For Speusippus was of the character to afford him this; we find him spoken of in Timon's Silli, as "good at a jest."
But come, Speusippus, sing. You are a professed poet. Let us have some of your verses. SPEUSIPPUS. My verses! How can you talk so? I a professed poet! ALCIBIADES. Oh, content you, sweet Speusippus. We all know your designs upon the tragic honours. Come, sing. A chorus of your new play. SPEUSIPPUS. Nay, nay HIPPOMACHUS. When a guest who is asked to sing at a Persian banquet refuses
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