22 FATHERS OF BIOLOGY. 



been spoken of by Plato as " the intellect " of the school, 

 and to have been compared by him to a spirited colt 

 that required the application of the rein to restrain its 

 ardour. 



Aristotle probably wrote at this time some philoso- 

 phical works, the fame of which reached the ears of 

 Philip, King of Macedonia, and added to the reputation 

 which the young philosopher had already made with 

 that monarch ; for Philip is said to have written to him 

 on the occasion of Alexander's birth, B.C. 356: "King 

 Philip of Macedonia to Aristotle, greeting. Know that 

 a son has been born to me. I thank the gods not so 

 much that they have given him to me, as that they have 

 permitted him to be born in the time of Aristotle. 

 I hope that thou wilt form him to be a king worthy to 

 succeed me and to rule the Macedonians." 



After the death of Plato, which occurred in 347 B.C., 

 Aristotle quitted Athens and went to Atarneus, where 

 he stayed with Hermias, who was then despot of that 

 town. Hermias was a remarkable man, who, from being 

 a slave, had contrived to raise himself to the supreme 

 power. He had been at Athens and had heard Plato's 

 lectures, and had there formed a friendship for Aristotle. 

 With this man the philosopher remained for three years, 

 and was then compelled suddenly to seek refuge in 

 Mitylene, owing to the perfidious murder of Hermias. 

 The latter was decoyed out of the town by the Persian 



