ἱστορίαι Historiai
D.L. 1.83-85 Lives of Eminent Philosophers, Volume I (Books I-V), Diogenes Laertius; served verbatim
to make terms and sent a messenger. But Bias piled up heaps of sand with a layer of corn on the top, and showed them to the man, and finally, on being informed of this, Alyattes made a treaty of peace with the people of Priene. Soon afterwards, when Alyattes sent to invite Bias to his court, he replied, “ Tell Alyattes, from me, to make his diet of onions,”’ that is, to weep. It is also stated that he was a very effective pleader; but he was accustomed to use his powers of speech to a good end. Hence it is to this that Demodicus of Leros makes reference in the line : If you happen to be prosecuting a suit, plead as they do at Priene ; and Hipponax thus: “ More powerful in pleading causes than Bias of Priene.” @ This was the manner of his death. He had been pleading in defence of some client in spite of his great age. When he had finished speaking, he reclined his head on his grandson’s bosom. The opposing counsel made a speech, the judges voted and gave their verdict in favour of the client of Bias, who, when the court rose, was found dea: in his grandson’s arms. The city gave him a ma. jijificeut funeral and inscribed on his tomb ® : Here Bias of Priene lies, whose name Brought to his home and all Ionia fame. My own epitaph is ¢ : Here Bias rests. A quiet death laid low The aged head which years had strewn with snow. His pleading done, his friend preserved from harms, A long sleep took him in his grandson’s arms.

The Greek stands ready in the workroom; the English is served. Both faces will read together.

← D.L. 1.81-83 contents D.L. 1.85-87 →

Filed here — the addresses this episode attests; counted by the house’s first pass
Alyattes — a candidate entry

Lives of Eminent Philosophers, Volume I (Books I-V), Diogenes Laertius — translated by R. D. Hicks, 1925
Apparatus shelf — Diogenes Laertius, Lives of Eminent Philosophers, vol. I (R. D. Hicks translation, Loeb L184) · R. D. Hicks, Loeb Classical Library, London: William Heinemann / New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, MCMXXV (1925)
license: public-domain (US: published 1925, pre-1930 — the MCMXXV title page verified by the 2026-07-08 acquisition lane, pin in ops/sources/MANIFEST.md; only the English rectos are served, Hicks's translation)