Million Book Collection - The Fishers of Men Ministries

THE STANDING-GROUND OF PHILOSOPHY 197philosopher should every day carry off somethinggood with him, for philosophy exercises a good influence,not merely in the process of study, but by livingintercourse, as the sun's light tints one who comeswithin it, though he came not for that purpose.1Thus thirty years later, in the reign of Nero, Persiusreminds Cornutus, " the dear friend who was so greata part of his own soul," how when, trembling in theliberty of opening manhood, he was free to cast hiseyes on the seductions of Rome, he had fled for refugeto his guidance:" Nor did you, gentle sage, the charge decline ;Then, dext'rous to beguile, your steady lineReclaimed, I know not by what winning force,My morals, warped from virtue's straighter course;While reason pressed incumbent on my soul,That struggled to receive the strong control,And took, like wax tempered by plastic skill,The form your hand imposed : and bears it still. " 2A hundred years later, in the reign of Antoninus Pius,about the middle of the second century, we have apicture of the relations which the Platonic philosopherTaurus maintained with his scholars. He allowedthem not only to ask him questions after the day'sinstruction, but constantly invited those who wished tobe more intimate with him to a frugal supper, inwhich a dish of Egyptian lentils and a salad made thechief repast. Here they were expected to proposequestions and problems which the philosopher resolved.Again, when they were sick he was wont tovisit them. Whatever displeased him in their mannerof life he could freely censure. " So," says Gellius,1 Seneca, Epist. cviii.2 Persius, v. 30-40. Gifford's translation.