MEMOIR OF ARISTOTLE. 23 



citizen of Atarna, in Mysia, who received the young 

 philosopher into his family, and skilfully directed his 

 education. These important services the grateful 

 pupil afterwards requited. Statues were erected at 

 his expense in honour of Proxenus and his wife; 

 their child Nicanor he adopted as his own son, and 

 by his will left him a handsome property. 



On the death of his benefactor, Aristotle remov- 

 ed to Athens, being then in his seventeenth year. 

 There is some difference of opinion as to his pursuits 

 and mode of life at this period, and also as to the 

 cause of his enrolling himself a student of the Aca- 

 demy. Athenseus and ^Elian relate that, having 

 Wasted the inheritance left him by his father in pro- 

 digality and luxury, he adopted a military life ; that, 

 failing of success, he had recourse to the selling 

 of drugs, in which capacity, it is alleged, he visited 

 Athens, where he accidentally entered the school 

 of Plato, and being charmed with his wisdom, 

 determined to become a disciple of that renowned 

 teacher. This account, however, considering the 

 tender years of Aristotle, is altogether improbable ; 

 nor does it accord with the circumstances of his his- 

 tory, as narrated by authors of unimpeachable credit. 

 Equally erroneous is the assertion, that he was for 

 three years the scholar of Socrates, since the latter 

 died at least eight years before the Stagirite was born. 

 The story of his being led to study philosophy in 

 obedience to the advice of the Pythian oracle, must 

 be classed among the fictions of a credulous age* 



