Passavant, Johann David: Raphael of Urbino and his father Giovanni Santi (London , New York: MacMillan and Co., 1872)

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Mritings in bis banci is Oiagoras of lVlelos, tbe free6man, a disciple of
Democritus. bls is ranbecl among tbe Lopbists, ancl bis declared atbeism
forceci bim to leave TVtbens. lire two otber Lopbists besi6e bim are
Oorgias of Deontini, a pupil of Dmpsclocles, an6 (writes of TVtbens, Mbo
represented religion ns cierivecl frorn politics, ancl wbo Mas tbe constant
aclversar/ of Locrates.
Lut Me noM come to Locrates bimself (born about 470 D.<3.), one of
tbe purest ancl most venerable men of antiquit/. Dis clear common
sense, iron/, ancl luminous Misclom, renclerecl full justice to tbis croM6 of
unbelieving talbers. fins precepts, clirectecl toMar6s practical ancl reli-
gious life, ma/ be surnmecl up in tbese worcis:—" Religion consists in
bonouring 606 b/ cloing Mbat is rigbt. Ibe supreme <Locl is a reasonable
being, tbe invisible autbor of all orcler, omnipotent, recompensing virtue
ancl cbastising vics. Dbe soul resembles 606, botb b/ its reason ancl its
invisible activit/; it is on tbis account tbat it is immortal." Locrates
preacbe6 tbese cloctrines publicl/, ancl intro6ucecl pbilosopb/ into private
life; or, as (licero sa/s, " ble causecl it to clescencl from beaven into tbe
abo6e of men." 1*bus Me see bim bere teacbing wisdom in tbe miclst of
a group of attentive auditors.
Opposite to bim, in complete armour, is TVlcibiacles, wbose life be
save6. Inks man/ otber amiable an6 cluctile natures, TVlcibia6ss Mas
not irreproacbable in bis morals; but bis affection for Locrates provecl
tbat be Mas not clestitute of noble sentiments.
blear bim is one of tbs artisans vvitb Mbom Locrates lovecl to con-
verse, because tbeir mincl Mas not spoiled b/ false principles.
7V little furtber bacb is tbe olcl TVristippus, brougbt up at O/rene in
sensual pleasures. Dbe teacbing of Locrates ennoblecl, boMever, tbis
inclination for pleasure, ancl TVristippus became tbe iouncler of tbe scbool
of L/rene. TVccorbing to bim tbe clestin/ of man is to erq'o/, preserving,
bowever, an empire over bimself ancl libert/ of mincl. Dis pbilosopb/
Mas tbs art of erqo/ing life.
8/ bis sicle, ancl tbe nearest to Locrates, a /oung man, completel/
absorbecl in bis master's Morcls, an6 leaning bis elbvM on tbe st/lobate,
is Xenopbon of TVtbens. Ibis great bistorian, tbe most intimate 6isciple
of Locrates, bas left us a faitblul clescription of bim in bis writings.
Io tbis group also belongs a man of loM condition, Dscbines, tbe
poor sausage-seller. TVlML/s a fervent aclmirer of Locrates, be became
subsequent!/ one of tbe most celebrated orators of (Greece. Dxten6ing