24 
MEMOIR OF ARISTOTLE. 
A sufficient reason for his resorting to the Academy, 
may be found in the celebrity of Plato, whose school 
at that time was the most famous in the world, and 
long continued to be the centre of attraction for all 
the learning and genius of Greece. The master was 
not slow to discover and appreciate the extraordinary 
talents of his pupil. He admired his acuteness of 
apprehension, and often applauded his unwearied ap- 
plication to study. In compliment to his superior 
abilities, he called him the “ soul of his school and 
when he happened to be absent, he used to com- 
plain that his lectures were addressed to a “ deaf 
audience.” His industry in perusing and copying 
manuscripts, was unexampled and almost incredible. 
From this circumstance he was called, by way of 
eminence, the “ student,” and his house was styled 
the “ house of the great reader.” As he advanced 
in years, his penetration was as remarkable in can- 
vassing opinions, as his diligence had been unrivalled 
in collecting them. His capacious mind, we are 
told, embraced the whole circle of science ; and not- 
withstanding his pertinacity in rejecting every prin- 
ciple or tenet which he could not on reflection ap- 
prove, his singular merits failed not to secure the 
love and admiration of Ids venerable instructor, with 
whom he continued to reside for twenty years, until 
their friendship was dissolved by the death of the latter. 
Such was his eagerness in the acquisition of knowledge, 
that he devoted to it the best part of his life, — alike 
careless of the honours and emoluments of a court, 
