24 Diogenes, the Cynic, ridiculed Plato's doctrine of ideas, and other abstract speculations. In the midst of these private censures, however, the public fame of Plato daily increased. His political wisdom was in such high estima tion, that several states solicited his assistance in new modelling their respective forms of government. Applica. tions of this kind from the Arcadians, and from the Thebans, he rejected, because they refused to adopt the plan of his republic, which required an equal distribution of property. He gave his advice in the affairs of Elis, and other Grecian states, and furnished a code of laws for Syracuse. Plato was in high esteem with several princes, particularly Archelaus, king of Macedon, and Dionysius, tyrant of Sicily. At three different periods he visited the court of this latter prince, and made several bold, but unsuccessful attempts to subdue his haughty and tyrannical spirit. A brief relation 25 of the particulars of these visits to Sicily, may serve to cast some light upon the cha racter of our philosopher. The professed object of Plato's first visit to Sicily, which happened in the fortieth year of his age, during the reign of the elder Dionysius, the son of Hermocrates, was to take a survey of the island, and particularly to observe the wonders of Mount Etna. Whilst he was resident at Syracuse, he was employed in the instruction of Dion, the king's brother-in-law, who possessed excellent abilities, though hitherto restrained by the terrors of a tyrannical government, and relaxed by the luxuries of a licentious court. Disgusted by the debauched manners of the Syracusans, he endeavoured to rescue his pupil from the general depravity. Nor did Dion disappoint his preceptor's expec tations. No sooner had he received a taste of that philosophy which leads to virtue, than he was fired with an ardent love of wisdom. Entertaining an hope, that philo sophy might produce the same effect upon Dionysius, he took great pains to procure an interview between Plato and the tyrant. In the course of the conference, whilst Plato was discoursing on the security and happiness of Elian. Hist. Var. 1. ii. c. 42. Plut. adv. Colot. I. iii, virtue, and the miseries attending injustice and oppression, Dionysius, perceiving that the philosopher's discourse was levelled against the vices and cruelties of his reign, dismissed him with high displeasure from his presence, and conceived a design against his life. It was not without great difficulty that Plato, by the assistance of Dion, made his escape. A vessel, which had brought over Pollis, a delegate from Sparta, was fortunately at that time returning to Greece. Dion engaged Pollis to take the charge of the philosopher, and land him safely in his native country: but Dionysius discovered the design, and obtained a promise from Pollis, that he would either put him to death, or sell him as a slave upon the passage. Pollis accordingly sold him in the island of Ægina, the inhabitants of which were then at war with the Athenians. Plato could not long remain unnoticed: Anicerris, a Cyrenaic philosopher, who happened to be at that time in the island, discovered the stranger, and thought himself happy in an opportunity of shewing his respect for so illustrious a philosopher: he purchased his freedom for thirty minæ, and sent him home to Athens. Repayment being afterwards offered to Anicerris by Plato's relations, he refused the money, saying, with that generous spirit which true philosophy always inspires, that he saw no reason why the relations of Plato should engross to themselves the honour" of serving him. After a short interval, Dionysius repented of his illplaced resentment, and wrote to Plato, earnestly requesting him to repair his credit by returning to Syracuse; to which Plato gave this high-spirited answer, that philosophy would not allow him leisure to think of Dionysius. Dion, who, through the influence of Plato's instructions, had become a determined votary of virtue, was earnestly desirous of inspiring others with the same sentiments. In hope of making an advantageous impression upon the mind of the younger Dionysius, he took every occasion of making him acquainted with the doctrines and precepts of his master. The effect was such as Dion wished. The youth soon expressed an earnest desire to become acquainted with the philosopher. Letters were immediately dispatched to Plato, from the tyrant, from Dion, and from several followers of Pythagoras, who were at that time resident in Sicily, importuning him to return to Syracuse, and take upon him the education of the young prince. After some hesitation, apprehending lest a refusal might seem to imply an unworthy neglect of the interest of philosophy, and entertaining some hope, that by cleansing the fountain of public manners in Sicily, he should be able to purify the stream, he consented. It has also been said,26 and not without plausibility, that he was induced to undertake this second journey to Syracuse, by a promise, on the part of Dionysius, that he would adopt the philosopher's plan of government. In the mean time, the enemies of Dion prevailed upon Dionysius to recal from exile Philistus, a man of tyrannical principles and spirit, from whom they hoped for a powerful opposition to the doctrine and measures of Plato. The philosopher was conducted to Syracuse with public honours; the king himself received him into his chariot, and sacrifices were offered in congratulation of his arrival. New regulations were immediately introduced; the licentiousness of the court was restrained; moderation reigned in all public festivals; the king assumed an air of benignity; philosophy was studied by his courtiers; and every good man assured himself of a happy revolution in the state of public manners. But Philistus and his adherents, envious of the philosopher's increasing influence with the tyrant, soon found means to rekindle his jealousy. Through their intrigues, Dion became so obnoxious to Dionysius that he ordered him to be imprisoned, and afterwards banished him into Italy. Plato, and the friends of Dion, were exceedingly alarmed at this measure, and began to be apprehensive for their own safety. Dionysius, however, continued to treat them courteously. Under the pretence of friendship, he allotted Plato an apartment in his palace, but at the same time placed a secret guard about him, that no one might visit him without his knowledge. At length, upon the commencement of a war, Dionysius sent Plato back into his own country, but not without a promise, that he would recal both him and Dion upon the return of peace. Dion, who now resided in Athens, diligently attended upon the lectures of his master, and so far profited by his 26 Athenæus, I. xi. p. 507. moral precepts, as to lay aside every thing effeminate and luxurious in his manner of living. The tyrant, in the mean time, that he might, if possible, obliterate the ignominy which he had brought upon himself by the banishment of Plato, invited philosophers, from every quarter, to his court. Their discourses recalled his attention to philosophy; and he again became exceedingly desirous of Plato's return. The philosopher received his solicitations with coolness, pleaded in excuse his advanced age, and reminded the tyrant of the violation of his promise, that on the return of peace Dion should be restored. It was not till the request of Dionysius was seconded by the entreaties of the wife and sister of Dion, and by the importunities of Archytas of Tarentum, and other Pythagorean philosophers, to whom the tyrant had pledged himself for the performance of his promises, that he could be prevailed upon to return. When Plato arrived the third time at Syracuse, the king met him in a magnificent chariot, and conducted him to his palace. The Sicilians, too, whose hatred of Philistus inclined them to favour the party of Dion, rejoiced in his return; for they hoped that the wisdom of Plato would at length triumph over the tyrannical spirit of the prince. Dionysius seemed wholly divested of his former resentments, listened with apparent pleasure to the philosopher's doctrine, and, among other expressions of regard, presented him with eighty talents of gold. In the midst of a numerous train of philosophers, Plato now possessed the chief influence and authority in the court of Syracuse. Whilst Aristippus was enjoying himself in splendid luxury; whilst Diogenes was freely indulging his acrimonious humour; and whilst Æschines was gratifying his thirst after riches; Plato supported the credit of philosophy with an air of dignity, which his friends regarded as an indication of superior wisdom, but which his enemies imputed to pride. After all, it was not in the power of Plato to prevail upon Dionysius to adopt his system of policy, or to recal Dion from his exile. Mutual distrust, after a short interval, arose between the tyrant and the philosopher; each suspected the other of evil designs, and each endeavoured to conceal his suspicion under the disguise of respect. Dionysius attempted to impose upon Plato by condescending atten tions, and Plato to deceive Dionysius by an appearance of confidence. At length, the philosopher became so much dissatisfied with his situation, that he earnestly requested permission to return to Greece. After some opposition on the part of the tyrant, permission was granted, and a vessel of convoy was provided. But, before the ship set sail, Dionysius repented, and detained Plato in Syracuse, against his inclination. From this time the freedom of the philosopher's complaints and reproofs became offensive to the tyrant, and Dionysius dismissed Plato from his court, and put him under a guard of soldiers, whom false rumours had incensed against him. His Pythagorean friends at Tarentum, being informed of his dangerous situation, immediately dispatched an embassy to Dionysius, demanding an instant completion of his promise to Archytas. The tyrant, not daring to refuse this demand, but at the same time desirous to save himself, as much as possible, from the disgrace of having banished from his court the first philosopher of the age, gave Plato a magnificent entertainment, and sent him away loaded with rich presents. On his way to Athens, passing through Elis during the celebration of the Olympic games, he was present at this general assembly of the Greeks, and engaged universal attention. From this narrative it appears, that if Plato visited the courts of princes, it was chiefly from the hope of seeing his ideal plan of a republic realized; and that his talents and attainments rather qualified him to shine in the academy, than in the council or the senate. Plato, now restored to his country and his school, devoted himself to science, and spent the last years of a long life in the instruction of youth. Having enjoyed the advantage of an athletic constitution, and lived all his days temperately, he arrived at the eighty-first, or, according to some writers, the seventy-ninth, year of his age, and died, through the mere decay of nature, in the first year of the hundred and eighth Olympiad. He passed his whole life in a state of celibacy, and therefore left no natural heirs, but transferred his effects by will to his friend Adiamantus. "Seneca Ep. 58. Laert. l. iii. § 2. Cic. de Senect. c. 5. |