ARISTOTLE. 49 



forth as the founder of a philosophical sect, induced 

 him to prefer abstract disquisitions to solid know- 

 ledge, and to indulge in a spirit of contradiction and 

 innovation. On the other hand, he has been ex- 

 tolled as a prodigy of knowledge and intellect, and 

 represented as '' the secretary of nature." Jews 

 have laid claim to his philosophy as derived from 

 Solomon, and Christians have held him up as a per- 

 son ordained to prepare the way for a Divine revela- 

 tion. It is certain, however, that he was a very re- 

 markable individual, possessed of great powers of 

 observation and discrimination, and one who, had 

 he devoted himself to the study of natural objects 

 with a sincere desire of ascertaining their proper- 

 ties and a resolution to adhere to truth, might 

 have succeeded in laying on a solid basis the found- 

 ations of physical science. 



Diogenes of Laertes in Cilicia, who lived about 

 the end of the second century, and who wrote an 

 account of the lives of the philosophers, has pre- 

 served his testament, the substance of which is as 

 follows : — Antipater, the regent of Macedonia, is 

 appointed his executor. To his wife Herpylis he 

 leaves the choice of two houses, the one in Chalcis, 

 the other at Stagira. He commends her domestic 

 virtues, and requests his friends to distinguish her 

 by the kindest attention. To Nicomachus, his 

 son by Herpylis, and to Pythias, his daughter by 

 his first wife, he bequeaths the remainder of his 

 fortune, excepting his library and writings, which 

 he leaves to Theophrastus. He desires that his 

 daughter shall be given in marriage to Nicanor, 

 the son of his benefactor Proxenus, or, should he not 

 be inclined to receive her, to Theophrastus^ his es- 



c 



