TPIE COMMENTATORIAL SPIRIT. 207 



the middle of the eighth century, who made abstracts of some of Aris- 

 totle's works, and introduced the study of the author into theological 

 education. These two writers lived under the patronage of the Arabs ; 

 the former was favored by Amrou, the conqueror of Egypt ; the latter 

 was at first secretary to the Caliph, but afterwards withdrew to a 

 monastery. 10 



At this period the Arabians became the fosterers and patrons of 

 philosophy, rather than the Greeks. Justinian had, by an edict, 

 closed the school of Athens, the last of the schools of heathen philos- 

 ophy. Leo, the Isaurian, who was a zealous Iconoclast, abolished 

 also the schools where general knowledge had been taught, in com- 

 bination with Christianity, 11 yet the line of the Aristotelian commen- 

 tators was continued, though feebly, to the later ages of the Greek 

 empire. Anna Comnena 12 mentions a Eustratus who employed him- 

 self upon the dialectic and moral treatises, and whom she does not 

 hesitate to elevate above the Stoics and Platonists, for his talent in 

 philosophical discussions. Nicephorus Blemmydes wrote logical and 

 physical epitomes for the use of John Ducas ; George Pachyrnerus 

 composed an epitome of the philosophy of Aristotle, and a compend 

 of his logic ; Theodore Metochytes, who was famous in his time alike 

 for his eloquence and his learning, has left a paraphrase of the books 

 of Aristotle on Physics, on the Soul, the Heavens, 13 &c. Fabricius 

 states that this writer has a chapter, the object of which is to prove, 

 that all philosophers, and Aristotle and Plato in particular, have dis- 

 dained the authority of their predecessors. He could hardly help 

 remarking in how different a spirit philosophy had been pursued since 

 their time. 



4. Greek Commentators of Plato and others. I have spoken prin- 

 cipally of the commentators of Aristotle, for he was the great subject 

 of the commentators proper ; and though the name of his rival, Plato, 

 was graced by a list of attendants, hardly less numerous, these, the 

 Neoplatonists, as they are called, had introduced new elements into 

 the doctrines of their nominal master, to such an extent that they 

 must be placed in a different class. We may observe here, however, 

 how, in this school as in the Peripatetic, the race of commentators 

 multiplied itself. Porphyry, who commented on Aristotle, was com- 

 mented on by Ammonias ; Plotinus's Enneads were commented on by 

 Proclus and Dexippus. Psellus 14 the elder was a paraphrast of Aria 



1 Deg. iv. 150. Ib. iv. 163. ^ Ib. iv. 107. 13 Ib. iv. 10?. " Deg. i*. 169. 



