of Plato, quotes the authority of Timotheus, the Athenian, for the fact that Aristotle hesitated in his speech, and the circumstance is also mentioned by Plutarch. He delighted in rich apparel, wore a number of rings on his fingers, and was particular in shaving, and in trimming his hair. In the ornamenting of his person, he did not neglect his shoes, which were adorned with precious materials. He was much addicted to talking, and had a sneering and faultfinding expression in his face.* Such is the portrait of him whom Southey calls "the most sagacious man whom the world has yet produced." No man certainly has ever lived whose writings, real or supposed, have exercised so tyrannical an authority over mankind. His reputation gathered strength for at least eighteen hundred years after his death; and during fifteen centuries of Christianity his word, with the learned, held divided empire with the Gospel itself. Amongst great men, who more or less delighted in magnificence, are enumerated, besides * Ælian, lib. III, c. 19. Aristotle, Pythagoras, Plato, and Aristippus, Demosthenes the Athenian orator, and Hortensius the Roman. Both Demosthenes and Hortensius subjected themselves to the ridicule and censure of their contemporaries for their excessive attention to elegance in dress.* Parrhasius, the painter, delighted in the adornment of his person, and called himself Acgodiaros-the delicate, the elegant. He wore a purple robe, and a golden crown on his head. He had a staff encircled with golden rings, and wore golden clasps in his shoes. Amongst military men, we find that Xenophon's love of beauty in everything made him select the most splendid armour, the Argotic shield, the Attic corselet, the helmet of Boeotia, and the horse of Epidaurus. He tells us himself that he was "most elegantly adorned for war." Xenophon, who, it may be remarked, was distinguished by great personal beauty, used to say that if he * Aulus Gellius, lib. 1, c. 5. † Ælian, lib. III, c. 24. Xenophon, "Anabasis," lib. III. conquered the enemy, he was worthy of the most splendid adorning; and if he lost his life in battle, he would appear with grace in magnificent armour. The horse of Epidaurus alluded to, Xenophon was once obliged to sell at Lampsacus; but his friends, finding how much he valued him, bought him again, and made a present of him to the general.* Hannibal also delighted in splendid armour, and in fine horses. Montaigne mentions Alexander, Cæsar, and Lucullus, as generals who loved to distinguish themselves in battle by rich armour, and accoutrements of a shining and conspicuous colour.† Agis, Agesilaus, and Philip the Great, Montaigne enumerates amongst those who went to battle obscurely dressed, and without any imperial array. Agesilaus, indeed, and Epaminondas affected an extreme poverty in their dress. In his old age, Agesilaus went bare-footed, even in winter. ‡ * " Anabasis," lib. VII. t "Essais," lib. 1, c. 47. ‡ Ælian, lib. vii, c. 13. Epaminondas, otherwise a man of elegant tastes, had but one poor garment, and was obliged to keep the house whenever he put it to the fuller to get the dirt taken out of it.* Amongst great men in modern times who have indulged in magnificent dress and ornaments, the most illustrious are Raleigh, Buffon, and Haydn. Charles of Sweden in his taste imitated Agesilaus; Murat was a warrior like Xenophon. * Ælian, lib. v, c. 5. ALCIBIADES. ALL historians agree that the accomplished Alcibiades was by far the most handsome man of his age. On account of his beauty, says Xenophon, who knew him personally, he was "hunted" by many honourable women.* The strong expression of Xenophon (@ngwμevos), (Θηρωμενος), which is taken from the chase, I have translated literally. In amiability of character and beauty of person, says Elian, Alcibiades was chief amongst the Greeks, and Scipio amongst the Romans. Of beautiful persons, Lord Bacon * Xenophon, "Memorabilia Socratis," lib. 1, c. 2, sec. 24. † Elian, lib. xii, c. 14. |