ARISTOTLE AND THE EARLIER PERIPATETICS vol.I by Eduard Zeller, B.F.C.Costelloe 1897

';
THE LIFE OF ARISTOTLE 39
phrastus he named as the chief of his school, 1 and to
him he left the best part of his inheritance, his books. 2
We are but poorly informed as to the personal traits of
Aristotle's character. Excepting a few details as to his
personal appearance, 3 almost the only statements we
possess are the attacks of his enemies. Most of these
charges have already been shown to be worthless—such
as those concerning his relations with Plato, with
Hermias, with his two wives, and with Alexander, his
alleged misconduct in youth, and the political turpitude
of his later years. 4 What remains of the stories told
40 ARISTOTLE
by his many enemies ' has for the most part little
probability. 2 Nor do the accounts we have give us
any right to lay to Aristotle's charge either a selfseeking
sort of shrewdness, or a jealous and
little-minded greed for fame. 3 The first of these
charges concerns chiefly his relations with the
Macedonian rulers. The second refers to the criticisms
he allows himself to make in writing of his
cotemporaries and his forerunners. But it cannot be
proved that he ever sought the favour of Philip and
Aristotle believed in vows or in
the mythic personalities of Zeus
and Athene, yet it is quite
natural that he should erect a
monument of his love for his
adopted son in their common
home, Stagira (to which the
statues were to be sent), in a
fashion which accorded with
Greek custom. He himself in
Ethics iv. 5 reckons votive monuments
and offerings among the
forms in which the virtue of
fieyaKtyjrpejreia shows itself.
1
The pretty story as to the
which he expressed his
way in
choice is well known (Gell.
N. A. xiii. 5, where Eudemus
'
must be substituted for Menedemus
'
'). It is quite credible,
'
and not unlike Aristotle.
2
Stbabo, xiii. 1, 54, p. 608
Pltjt. Sulla, c. 26; Athen. i. 3, a,
with which cf . Diog. v. 52.
3
Diog. 2 calls him i