critic, as referring to a passage in the orations of Himerius, a writer of the fourth century, in which Æsop is spoken of as ugly. Himerius thus becomes an authority upon the question of ugliness, standing midway between sop and Planudes, and reducing the wide waste of two thousand years to one thousand. But the evidence adduced by Bentley, that

sop was not ugly, is still, I think, nearly conclusive.

The notion that Esop was ill-favoured and deformed, may have originated in the vulgar belief in the wisdom of hunchbacks and crooked persons; a belief which is prevalent amongst those persons themselves, affording them more than solace for their ungainly exterior. Lord Bacon is perhaps not far wrong when he says that "all deformed persons are bold. First, as in their own defence, as being exposed to scorn; but in process of time by a general habit. Also it stirreth in them industry and especially of this kind, to watch and observe the weakness of others that they may have somewhat to repay."

The renown of Æsop has been such as might

satisfy any ambition. The Athenians, we have seen, erected a public statue in his honour. Socrates versified some of his Fables, while lying in prison awaiting the executioner. Luther held these apologues to be next in value to the New Testament. And the children in all civilized countries at this day seek pleasure and wisdom in them.

PYTHAGORAS.

THE extreme beauty of Pythagoras, the father of philosophy, is matter of uniform tradition, and is alluded to by all his biographers. His mother, Pythias of Samos, was the most beautiful woman of the age; her charms being commemorated by a poet of her country, who declares, in a distich which is preserved in Jamblichus, that she bore Pythagoras to the god Apollo. Pythagoras himself appears to have been not unwilling to be believed to be the son of Apollo, or even Apollo himself come in the flesh. His disciple, Jamblichus, with more respect for the honour of the philosopher's

mother, denies his divine origin, but admits that his soul was from Apollo. When his mother was with child, the oracle of Delphi declared that she would bring forth a son excelling all men in beauty, and who would be a blessing to the world. The writer of the life of Pythagoras, ascribed to Porphyry, tells us that Pythagoras had a very beautiful face and was tall in stature, and that there was much grace and comeliness in his manners and in all the movements of his body. The epithet " Cometes" was applied to him in allusion to his long flowing hair, and he was also called "the youth with the beautiful hair." His personal elegance was accompanied with great strength and admirable health, his life having been prolonged to nearly a hundred years, or, as some say, to more than a century. His appearance and voice fixed upon him the attention of all who ever came in his presence.‡

وو

* Diogenes Laertius, "Vit. Philos." Art. "Pythagoras.' Jamblichus, "De Vita Pythagoræ," c. II, sec. 5. Amst. 1707.

† Porphyrius, sec. 18.

Jamblichus, c. II, sec. 10.

In his eighteenth year, Pythagoras appeared at the Olympic games, where he offered himself as a boxer amongst the boys, but the judges decided that he had passed boyhood, on which he took up a match with the men, and vanquished them all.* Pythagoras is not merely the father of philosophy, but also the father of what in modern days is courteously called "the noble art of self-defence." He was the first who boxed scientifically, and the lessons which he gave to his pupil Eurymenes made him the champion of the ring. Eurymenes, as we learn from Porphyry, was of small stature, but, under the instruction of Pythagoras, was able to thresh the biggest man who appeared against him. The athletes were dieted upon cheese and figs, but Eurymenes, by advice of Pythagoras, took daily a certain allowance of animal food.t Jamblichus, it may be mentioned, tells us nothing of this, but he mentions another Pythagoras, a disciple of the philosopher, who wrote some books on athletics, and who directed the wrestlers to eat animal food. Pliny also Diogenes Laertius. Art. "Pythagoras."

† Porphyrius, sec. 15.