MEMOIR OF ARISTOTLE. 
23 
citizen of Atarna, in Mysia, who received the young 
philosopher into his family, and skilfully directed his 
education. These important services the grateful 
pupil afterwards requited. Statues were erected at 
his expense in honour of Proxenus and his wife ; 
their child Nicanor he adopted as his own son, and 
by his will left him a handsome property. 
On the death of his benefactor, Aristotle remov- 
ed to Athens, being then in his seventeenth year. 
There is some difference of opinion as to his pursuits 
and mode of life at this period, and also as to the 
cause of his enrolling himself a student of the Aca- 
demy. Athenseus and /Elian relate that, having 
wasted the inheritance left him by his father in pro- 
digality and luxury, he adopted a military life ; that, 
failing of success, he had recourse to the selling 
of drugs, in which capacity, it is alleged, he visited 
Athens, where he accidentally entered the school 
of Plato, and being charmed with his wisdom, 
determined to become a disciple of that renowned 
teacher. This account, however, considering the 
tender years of Aristotle, is altogether improbable ; 
nor does it accord with the circumstances of his his- 
tory, as narrated by authors of unimpeachable credit. 
Equally erroneous is the assertion, that he was for 
three years the scholar of Socrates, since the latter 
died at least eight years before the Stagirite was born. 
The story of his being led to study philosophy in 
obedience to the advice of the Pythian oracle, must 
be classed among tha fictions of a credulous age.- 
