ἱστορίαι Historiai
D.L. 4.9-11 Lives of Eminent Philosophers, Volume I (Books I-V), Diogenes Laertius; served verbatim
that the others had accepted his bribes, but that he would never win me over ’’—then the people paid him double honours. And afterwards Philip said that, of all who had arrived at his court, Xenocrates was the only man whom he could not bribe. Moreover, when he went as envoy to Antipater to plead for Athenians taken prisoners in the Lamian war,* being invited to dine with Antipater, he quoted to him the following lines ®: O Circe! what righteous man would have the heart to taste meat and drink ere he had redeemed his company and beheld them face to face ? and so pleased Antipater with his ready wit that he at once released them. When a little sparrow was pursued by a hawk and rushed into his bosom, he stroked it and let it go, declaring that a suppliant must not be betrayed. When bantered by Bion, he said he would make no reply. For neither, said he, does tragedy deign to answer the banter of comedy. ‘To some one who had never learnt either music or geometry or astronomy, but nevertheless wished to attend his lectures, Xenocrates said, “Go your ways, for you offer philosophy nothing to lay hold of.’ Others report him as saying, “ It is not to me that you come for the carding of a fleece.” When Dionysius told Plato that he would lose his head, Xenocrates, who was present, pointed to his own and added, ‘‘ No man shall touch it till he cut off mine.” They say too that, when Antipater came to Athens and greeted him, he did not address him in return until he had finished what he was saying. He was singularly free from pride ; more than once

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

← D.L. 4.7-9 contents D.L. 4.11-12 →

Filed here — the addresses this episode attests; counted by the house’s first pass
Antipater — a candidate entry Philip — a candidate entry Plato — a life

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)