In particular, he slept
upon the ground, and in other respects he practised a style of living the
most simple and remote from the habits of rich men [or, in his own words,
_tho lithon chatha taen diaitan, chai porro taes pleousiachaes hagogaes_];
though it is true that he himself ascribes this simplicity of life to the
influence of his mother, and not to the premature assumption of the
stoical character. He pushed his austerities indeed to excess; for Dio
mentions that in his boyish days he was reduced to great weakness by
exercises too severe, and a diet of too little nutriment. In fact, his
whole heart was set upon philosophic attainments, and perhaps upon
philosophic glory. All the great philosophers of his own time, whether
Stoic or Peripatetic, and amongst them Sextus of Cheronaea, a nephew of
Plutarch, were retained as his instructors. There was none whom he did not
enrich; and as many as were fitted by birth and manners to fill important
situations, he raised to the highest offices in the State. Philosophy,
however, did not so much absorb his affections, but that he found time to
cultivate the fine arts, (painting he both studied and practised,) and
such gymnastic exercises as he held consistent with his public dignity.
Pages:
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206