MOTHE

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CHAPTER III.

THE PROFESSORS OF RHETORIC.

IN the pages of Philostratus and of Eunapius, we see the Sophists pass in a long line before us, the same at Athens as at Antioch, or Smyrna, or many

another seat of learning and of fashion, and for several centuries their characteristic features scarcely change.

It was the old name that was revived, but with none of that undercurrent of contempt which the writings of the Socratic school had introduced into Greek thought. The older Sophists had their systems to explain the problems of the world around them; they mostly had their principles of metaphysics, however shallow they might seem to deeper reasoners like Plato. The new were mainly literary artists, playing on the chords of human feeling, laying under contribution poetry, and art, and ethics in their impartial interest in telling images and useful tropes.

Never was rhetoric so much in vogue; never were such enthusiastic crowds assembled round men to

The public professors,

whom the manner was of vital moment, while they cared infinitely little for the matter of the thought. There were hundreds ready to compete for the Chairs at Athens, whenever they were vacant, and if it were of interest, we might make out the list of those who filled them in succession. Two of this kind were specially endowed: one from imperial funds, the other by the city, and worth respectively ten thousand drachmæ and a talent. But besides these, as in other seats of fashion, there were many private teachers, the private who gathered an audience round them as they could, and at times even eclipsed the salaried Professors.

lecturers,

generally aliens. Philostratus, ii. 62.

Often men

of wealth

At Athens, so few out of the Academic world were native born, that there seemed good reason for the fears of purists like Herodes, who complained that such a multitude of strangers had corrupted the purity of the Attic tongue, and only here and there, from a hermit in the country, could the old dialect be heard in all its beauty.

With many it was far from being a question of a mere livelihood to gain. To say nothing of the and rank. princely manners of Herodes, the wealthiest of living men, many were of noble birth, and filled high office in their several states, or were entrusted with weighty diplomatic duties.

Aliens even rose to posts of honour, like Lollianus, the first occupant of the Athenian Chair, who was

made Strategus or Mayor by the admiring city, and had the charge not of the arsenals as in old days of freedom, but of the markets and the corn trade. It would seem, however, that he was less at home in these new duties than in his lecture hall, for once we read, when there was a riot round the baker's shop,

the populace began to pelt him, and were going on to Phil. ii. 39. worse, when a bystander brought them to their senses by exclaiming, 'Nay, Lollianus only deals in words, not loaves.'

To some it seemed the highest object of ambition to rise to distinction as a Sophist, and feel that a great audience was hanging on their words. They could not stay long in their native homes, if they felt that they were capable of greater things, but must go forth into the larger world to air their talents and measure themselves with rivals of re

nown.

Clazomenæ had hoped, indeed, that Scope- Phil. ii. 2 . lianus would remain at home, and lend a lustre to their little town, but he said in somewhat mocking jest, 'The caged bird will not sing,' and betook himself to fashionable Smyrna, whither the youth of all the neighbouring countries flocked to hear him.

Often they wandered off from land to land, to engage in literary tournaments with the champions whom they met, offering to lecture on some startling thesis, or to improvise on any that was given.

ii. 118.

The story of Hippo

The following story in Philostratus may serve to illustrate the habit. Hippodromus, afterwards appointed to a professorship at Athens, came for the the knight- first time to Smyrna, and as soon as he had landed,

dromus to

illustrate

errantry of the Sophists.

walked straight to the market-place, to get a local guide. He saw a temple on his way, by which some private tutors sat, with servants carrying bundles of books under their arms, and guessed that there was somebody of note lecturing within. He walked inside and found Megistias, whom he bowed to without saying more. Megistias, thinking that it was a father or a guardian come to talk to him about a pupil, asked him what his errand was, but he only said, 'I will tell you when we are by ourselves.' When he had catechised the lads, the teacher said, 'now tell me what you want.' Let us exchange clothes,' was the answer of Hippodromus, who had on a travelling suit, while the other wore a lecturer's gown. 'Why do you ask that?' 'Because I wish to give you a specimen of my skill.' Megistias thought the stranger must be mad for talking in that style, but seeing that his face was quite composed he handed him his gown, and gave him a thesis as he asked. The other sat down on the chair, and thought a moment, then started up so suddenly as to make Megistias feel sure again that he was mad. But soon after he began his speech, the listener, full

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of admiration, hurried up, and begged to know who he could be. I am Hippodromus, the Thessalian,' he answered, and I have come here for experience, to see by the example of one man of learning in what style men lecture in Ionia, but let me finish my own speech.' Hardly had he done so, when all the educated men in Smyrna came hurrying to where Megistias was, for the rumour had already spread, that Hippodromus had come to visit them. So he took up the same subject, and handled it again in a new style, and afterwards came out in public, and filled them all with admiration.

The story of Marcus of Byzantium.

So too we read of Marcus of Byzantium coming Phil. ii. 41. unawares into the room where Polemon was busy with his pupils. The stranger had a rustic look, for his beard and head were all unkempt and shaggy. But some one of the students who had visited Byzantium, remembering his face, whispered his name to his next neighbour, and so on till they knew all round. So when the lecturer called as usual for a theme, they all looked to where Marcus sat, expecting him to name one. 'Why are you staring at the bumpkin,' said their tutor, 'how can he start a subject?' Whereupon Marcus raised his voice and said, 'I will name a theme, and improvise upon it also.' His broad Doric at once betrayed him to his hearer, and they soon began to show off before each other, and parted at last with mutual admiration.