26 MEMOIR OF ARISTOTLE, 



in the assertion that he gave offence to Plato by his 

 effeminate dress and impertinent loquacity, or that 

 he drove him from the Academy in his old age, and 

 took possession of his chair, until he was himself 

 expelled by Xenocrates. 



Plato died in the first year of the 108th Olympiad, 

 and 338 before the Christian era, at the age of 81. 

 Whether the venerable philosopher cherished a reci- 

 procal esteem for his illustrious pupil, is doubted by 

 some, who have alleged that he was jealous of his 

 rising talents, and afraid lest his own celebrity should 

 be eclipsed by that of a rival. In corroboration of 

 this supposition, it has been observed that he no- 

 where mentions him in his writings; and that, at his 

 death, he did not appoint him his successor in the 

 Academy, although confessedly the most distinguish- 

 ed of all his scholars in learning and talents, but no- 

 minated Speusippus to that situation, a man far 

 his inferior in abilities, temper, and moral character. 

 It does not appear, however, that these allegations 

 are better founded than the charges of his avowed 

 detractors, already referred to. Speusippus was 

 the nephew of Plato, being the son of his sister Po- 

 tona ; his preference to Aristotle was therefore na- 

 tural ; nor is there the slightest evidence that the 

 Stagirite took offence that, in this appointment, the 

 strong claim of merit should have been sacrificed to 

 the partial feelings of consanguinity. On the con- 

 trary, the altars and verses consecrated to his memory, 

 evince that his attachment to his teacher had suffer- 



