Popular enthusiasm' for the

Sophists.

Their vanity

The people commonly was nothing loath to hear; they streamed as to a popular preacher in our own day, or an actor starring in provincial towns: the epicures accepted the invitation to the feast of words, and hurried to the theatre to judge as critics the choice of images, and refinement of the style, and all the harmony of balanced periods.

Few could resist the intoxication of applause. Phil. ii. 88. Aristides even, when the Emperor asked to hear him lecture, made it a condition that his friends might come to listen, and clap and shout as loud as they should please. Of course their heads were often turned with such applause: of course they gave themselves high airs, and many a story illustrates the boastful Phil. ii. 46. arrogance of the great sophists. Polemon began. a speech at Athens with the words, You have the credit, Athenians, for being skilful judges of good style. I shall now see if you deserve it.' He carried indeed so far his self-assertion as to turn a future Emperor out of doors, when he came home unex

pectedly, and found him quartered in his house by order of the council. Adrian, of Tyre, was not Phil. ii. 91. much humbler, for he began his inaugural address, on his appointment to a Chair at Athens, with the prelude, Once more come letters from Phoenicia.' Like some others of the class, he also showed his pride and ostentation in his outer man. He wore

and ostentation.

6

the costliest clothes and rarest stones, and rode on state occasions in a carriage, the horses of which had silver bits. The ceremony over, he was escorted home by students from all parts of Greece, who treated him with all the reverence due to a High Priest at the Mysteries. For he spared no cost to win their love, providing amusements of all kinds, hunting and wine parties, and excursions to the races, till they felt towards him as to some indulgent father. 'I have seen the tears standing in their eyes,' says his biographer, as they recalled his memory, and fondly imitated his voice or gait, or graceful carriage.'

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6

Others, like Adrian, pushed too far the love of Phil. ii. 77. finery and display. Alexander of Seleucia came to Rome on a deputation to the Emperor, and when admitted to an interview, somewhat importunately urged the prince to notice him. I do take notice of you,' was the reply of Antoninus, and I see what you are like, a coxcomb only thinking of combing your hair, cleaning your teeth, paring your nails, and scenting yourself with perfume.' We find indeed a trace of the old contrast between Philosopher and Sophist, although in altered form, when we read in the story of Alexicles, that he abandoned late in life ii. 74. the sage's grave and austere manners, and took to the theatre and concerts as soon as he became a Sophist.

Their professional gains.

They made money rapidly enough so soon as they rose to eminence, and no profession of the day brought in such incomes. Isocrates, some centuries before, though fresh from the lessons of his master Socrates, who spoke of payment as a sort of simony, had opened a school of rhetoric at Chios, afterwards at Athens, and took from 1,000 drachmæ to a talent Phil. ii. 34. for a course of lectures. Scopelianus in later days was still more highly paid, for he received from the young Herodes Atticus a gift of 15 talents, and the grateful father, we are told, gave him as much, and showed his admiration for him by destroying all the statues of the rival Sophists which had graced his numerous corridors.

This was exceptional of course, as was the fortune Phil. ii. 107. of this princely house. But Damianus the Ephesian,

who spent so much on gifts to his fellow-citizens and repairs to the great temple, paid 10,000 drachmæ at one time to both of the great teachers whom he heard. Commonly they were content with lower fees, which however mounted up to a good figure Phil. ii. 95. when the auditors were many. Chrestus of Byzantium, whom the Athenians tried to get elected for cne of their own Chairs, had 100 paying pupils at one time. Some who had good means of their own were very moderate in their demands. Proclus of Phil. ii. 106. Naucratis, for example, took 100 drachmæ once for

all from each, and let him listen to as many courses as he would; out of that sum he provided even a library for the special use of his own pupils, that they might look up all the references at once, and so expand his oral teaching. He carried so far his independence, we are told, as to insist on strictest discipline. Strange to say, he would not let his pupils hiss or laugh, but made them sit quite quietly; the servants and pedagogues together on one side, and the young students marked off by themselves.

There was an important privilege attaching to the educational profession, which dates also from the Antonines. The teachers for the most were free

from all taxation; at least in the smaller towns of Asia, and probably elsewhere, three Sophists and three Grammarians enjoyed immunity, while in the larger there might be five of each. The Philosophers were to be all free, but it was owned that there were few to claim the privilege.

This was a far greater boon in those days than it would seem at present. Civic burdens, cheerfully borne in earlier ages by the men of substance, while the currents of free life flowed strongly, were felt to be more grievous as public spirit grew more feeble, and the number of the town councillors diminished. Aristides tells us without shame in his confessions,

The imfrom civil

munities

burdens

enjoyed by the professors.

Examples of imperial caprice in

the treat

ment of the Sophists.

how the local honours of all kinds pursued him, each with some heavy burden on his funds; how he wept and prayed and fasted, till at length by special favour of his guardian powers, he saw a vision of white maids who came to free him, and woke to find a letter from the Emperor, which conferred the much longed-for dispensation.

But Imperial caprice sometimes withheld what Imperial favour had bestowed. Academic quarrels now and then were heard of by the court at Rome, and the professors were sent for in post haste to advocate their rival claim. No wonder if they sometimes lost heads and floundered in their speech,' Phil. ii. 114. says the compassionate biographer of Heraclides; 'a vulgar advocate might keep his courage up, but a professor used to lecture students may be easily unnerved at the sight of the armed body-guard, and a prince's grave look and haughty words with no encouraging applause.'

The

The poor Professor lost part of his salary, if not his Chair at Athens, though he does not seem to have been unmercifully badgered like Philiscus. Phil. ii. 121. latter, it would seem, had gained a Professorship through influence at court, but Caracalla, whose consent had been surprised, resented the appointment, and took an early opportunity of paying off the score.