23 
MEMOIR OF ARISTOTLE. 
in the assertion that he gave offence to Plato by his 
effeminate dress and impertinent loquacity, or that 
he drove him from the Academy in his old age, and 
took possession of his chair, until he was himself 
expelled by Xenoerates. 
Plato died in the first year of the 108th Olympiad, 
and 338 before the Christian era, at the age of 81. 
Whether the venerable philosopher cherished a reci- 
procal esteem for his illustrious pupil, is doubted by 
some, who have alleged that he was jealous of his 
rising talents, and afraid lest his own celebrity should 
be eclipsed by that of a rival. In corroboration of 
this supposition, it has been observed that he no- 
where mentions him in his writings; and that, at his 
death, he did not appoint him his successor in the 
Academy, although confessedly the most distinguish- 
ed of all his scholars in learning and talents, but no- 
minated Speusippus to that situation, — a man far 
his inferior in abilities, temper, and moral character. 
It does not appear, however, that these allegations 
are better founded than the charges of his avowed 
detractors, already referred to. Speusippus was 
the nephew of Plato, being the sou of his sister Po- 
tona ; his preference to Aristotle was therefore na- 
tural ; nor is there the slightest evidence that the 
Stagirite took offence that, in this appointment, the 
strong claim of merit should have been sacrificed to 
the partial feelings of consanguinity. On the con- 
trary, the altars and verses consecrated to his memory, 
evince that his attachment to his teacher had suffer- 
