Peroration 187 



The well-known Alexander, the greatest and most 

 renowned of all kings of the nations in power, war- 

 like glory, and zeal for learning, weighing this in his 

 mind, presented Aristotle with 480,000 crowns, when 

 he was about to write on animals, since he knew that 

 the philosopher could not carry out that task with 

 his private means, for the purpose of hiring fowlers 

 and hunters, and for keeping in vivaria the animals 

 which had been already caught, and provided to that 

 end. If such an Alexander existed anywhere to-day, 

 I should not doubt that a new Aristotle would be born 

 again for us from somewhere, who not only would 

 display to us all the animals, with few exceptions, of 

 that former Aristotle, with their habits, their medicinal 

 properties, and their latter-day names, but would in- 

 form us of many more animals than the former, and 

 those not less useful to the human race. That Aristotle 

 therefore wrote so happily about so many living 

 creatures is to be put down rather to the liberality 

 of Alexander than to the diligence of Aristotle : 

 though that too must be praised without stint. For if 

 the bounty of Alexander had not supplied to Aristotle 

 those animals to be examined, he never would have 

 published so complete a History of Animals for us. 

 Therefore let the ease-loving critics of the present 

 day cease to wonder that the histories of plants, 

 birds, fishes, and quadrupeds are written in this age 

 with less spirit, less learning, and less diligence than 

 that with which they were treated in a former age. 

 To-day whatever of value is brought to light is 

 published at the private expense of very zealous men 

 of slender fortunes and printers. But now I return 

 to you, most ingenuous reader, and beseech you once 

 and again that, if any bird of foreign aspect meet 



