MEMOIR OF ARISTOTLE. 
57 
pointed the executor of this testament, with an autho- 
rity paramount, as appears, to that of the other per- 
sons who were afterwards conjoined with him in the 
guardianship of his widow and children. To Her- 
pylis, besides other property in money and slaves, 
was left the choice of two houses, the one in Chal- 
cis, the other his paternal mansion at Stagira ; with 
instructions that whichever of them she might prefer 
to inhabit, might be properly furnished for her re- 
ception. The testator commends her domestic vir- 
tues, and requests his friends, that, in testimony of 
her faithfulness towards him, they would distinguish 
her by the kindest attention ; and that, should she 
again think of a husband, they would be careful to 
provide for her a suitable match. To his son Ni- 
comachus, and his daughter Pythias, he bequeathed 
the remainder of his fortune, with the exception of 
his library and writings, which he left to his favourite 
scholar Theophrastus, one of the trustees. It was 
stipulated, that his daughter, when she attained a 
marriageable age (being then about fourteen years 
old), should be given to Nicanor, the son of Proxe- 
nus, whom he had adopted ; and, failing him, that 
Theophrastus himself should accept her hand and 
fortune ; on which happy occasion, four of his slaves 
were to obtain their manumission. The bones of 
his first wife he ordered to bo disinterred, and laid 
beside his own, as she herself had requested. None 
of his slaves were to be sold ; they were all to be 
either emancipated by his will, or ordered to be set 
