18-i 



The plan of the Clouds was then briefly traced, in which 

 Socrates is represented as absurdly quibbling with moral obli- 

 gations, occupying his time with such researches as measuring 

 the leap of a flea, and investigating the origin of the hum of a 

 gnat. This was not even a caricature — it was directly con- 

 trary to facts, for he despised and condemned all physical 

 researches as being incapable of leading to any adequate result. 



Much more might be added on this head, but we may now 

 take leave of Aristophanes, and glance briefly at the dis- 

 tinguishing features in the philosophy and influence of 

 Socrates, as derived from the most authentic sources. 



[He then, with Mr. Grote, contended against the opinion 

 that the aim of Socrates was to refute and expose the sophists 

 as a body ; a class of men eminently intellectual, and on that 

 account looked upon by the ignorant with certain invidious 

 feelings. The terms, however, do not seem to have been much 

 liked even by themselves. He pointed out that the usual occu- 

 pation of the sophists was to prepare young men for active 

 life in Athens, and for this end, to instruct them in rhetoric, 

 which the democratic constitutions of the place rendered all-im- 

 portant, but not to make them what they might become, casuists. 

 He followed Mr. Grote in representing the aim of Socrates 

 as of a very lofty and disinterested character, distinguished 

 as he was by the following peculiarities] : — 1st. His long life 

 passed in contented poverty, and in public, apostolic dialectics. 

 2nd. His strong religious persuasion, or belief of acting under 

 a mission and signs from the gods ; especially the mysterious 

 prohibitive warning of which he believed himself to be the sub- 

 ject. 3rd. His great intellectual originality, both of subject 

 and method, and his power of stirring and forcing the germ of 

 inquiry and ratiocination in others. With respect to his life, 

 he always obeyed the laws. None of his numerous personal 

 enemies ever arraigned him before a court of justice. On 

 three several occasions he bravely served his country in battle, 

 viz., at Potidoea, Delion, and Amphipolis. When president of 



