MEMOIR OF ARISTOTLE. 57 



pointed the executor of this testament, with an autho- 

 rity paramount, as appears, to that of the other per- 

 sons who were afterwards conjoined with him in the 

 guardianship of his widow and children. To Her- 

 pylis, besides other property in money and slaves, 

 was left the choice of two houses, the one in Chal- 

 cis, the other his paternal mansion at Stagira ; with 

 instructions that whichever of them she might prefer 

 to inhabit, might be properly furnished for her re- 

 ception. The testator commends her domestic vir- 

 tues, and requests his friends, that, in testimony of 

 her faithfulness towards him, they would distinguish 

 her by the kindest attention ; and that, should she 

 again think of a husband, they would be careful to 

 provide for her a suitable match. To his son Ni- 

 comachus, and his daughter Pythias, he bequeathed 

 the remainder of his fortune, with the exception of 

 /iris library and writings, which he left to his favourite 

 \ scholar Theophrastus, one of the trustees. It was 

 stipulated, that his daughter, when she attained a 

 marriageable age (being then about fourteen years 

 old), should be given to Nicanor, the son of Proxe- 

 nus, whom he had adopted ; and, failing him, that 

 Theophrastus himself should accept her hand and 

 fortune ; on which happy occasion, four of his slaves 

 were to obtain their manumission. The bones of 

 his first wife he ordered to be disinterred, and laid 

 beside his own, as she herself had requested. None 

 of his slaves were to be sold ; they were all to be 

 either emancipated by his will, or ordered to be set 



