No More Learning

be made for the manners of the age. The 'Epwtes,
The nature of Lucian's writings inevitably pro- the most objectionable, has been abjudicated by
cured him many enemies, by whom he has been many critics, and for Lucian's sake it is to be hoped
painted in very black colours. According to Suidas that they are correct ; but in the Eixóves we find
he was surnamed the Blasphemer, and was torn to allusions to the same perverted tastes, and in § 4
pieces by dogs, or rather, perhaps, died of canine the promise of a story respecting the Cnidian
madness, as a punishment for his impiety. On this | Venus, which is actually found in the former piece.
account, however, no reliance can be placed, as it Yet in the Alexander, § 54, he seems indignant
was customary with Suidas to invent a horrid at the charge of immorality brought against him by
death for those whose doctrines he disliked. To that impostor ; and that he musi at least have
the account of Suidas, Volaterranus added, but avoided any grievous and open scandal may be
without stating his authority, that Lucian apos- presumed from the high office conferred upon him
tatised from Christianity, and was accustomed to in Egypt. Lucian was not averse from praising
say he had gained nothing by it but the corruption himself, and in the 'Adieus, © 20, has drawn his
of his naine from Lucius to Lucianus. So too the own character as a hater of pride, falsehood, and
scholiast on the Pcregrinus, § 13, calls him an vain-glory, and an ardent admirer of truth, sim-
apostate ( napabátns); whilst the scholiasts on the plicity, and all that is naturally amiable ; nor is
l'erae Historiae and other pieces frequently apos- there much to object against the truth of this
trophise him in the bitterest terms, and make the autograph portrait. lle seems to have retained
:
3


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LUCIANUS.
815
LUCIANUS.
through life a natural taste for the fine arts, as | vos, Tyranniviilu, a declamation. A man intend-
may be inferred from the many lively descriptions ing to kill a tyrant, but not finding him, leaves
of pictures and statues interspersed through his his sword in the body of his son. At this sight
works. That he was a warm admirer of dancing the tyrant slays himself; whereupon the murderer
appears from his treatise Περί ορχήσεως.
claims a reward, as having killed him. This
In giving an account of Lucian's numerous and piece is perhaps spurious. 'ATOKOPUTTÓuevos, Ab
miscellaneous writings, it is difficult to class them licutus. This declamation is attributed to Li-
under distinct heads with accuracy. Yet an at- banius. Párapis #PWTOs kal dettepos, Phularis
tempt at arrangement seems preferable to going prior ct alter. The authenticity of these two
through them in the confused order in which they declamations, on the subject of the tyrant of
stand in the editions, which has not even the merit Agrigentum, has likewise been doubted. Mvías
of being chronological. The main heads under dykumov, Encomium Muscar, a playſul and ingeni.
which his pieces may be classed, and which are, ous little piece, describing the nature and habits of
perhaps, accurate enough for general purposes, are, the fly. Matpidus 'Eyk wulov, l'utriue Encomium.
1. the Rhetorical ; 2. the Critical ; 3. the Biogra- The title indicates the subject of this declamation.
phical; 4. Romances ; 5. Dialogues ; 6. Miscella- 2. Critical WORKS. Alin owvnévtwv, Judi-
neous pieces ; 7. Poems. By some writers Lucian cium V’ocalium, was probably a juvenile perform-
has also been called an historian, a mathematician, ance, in which o brings a complaint of ejection
a physical philosopher, &c. But the works for against T. The suit is conducted after the Athe-
which these appellations have been bestowed upon nian manner, the vowels being the dicasts. neti-
him are either not his, or fall more properly under pávns, leriphanes, a humorous dialogue, written
one of the preceding divisions.
to ridicule the atfectation of strange and obsolete
1. RHETORICAL Works. Lucian's rhetorical diction. By some it has been considered as
picces were no doubt for the most part the first directed against the Onomasticon of Pollux ; by
productions of his pen, for we have already seen others, against Athenaeus; but in both cases pro-
that he did not lay aside that profession, and apply bably without foundation. After Lexiphanes has
himself to a different style of writing, till he had been made to vomit up the strange farrago with
reached the age of forty. Of all his pieces they which he has overloaded himself, Lucian prescribes
are the most unimportant, and betray least of his the following course of wholesome diet, in order to
real character and genius, and therefore require but complete a cure. First, to read the Greek poets ;
a passing notice. They may be divided into then the orators; next Thucydides and Plato, with
apoonarial, or introductory addresses, delivered the dramatic authors. The piece concludes with
in literary assemblies, and more regular rhetorical some sound critical advice. Πώς δει ιστορίαν
pieces in the demonstrative and deliberative kind. Ougypápelv, Quomodo Historia sit couscribenda, is
Among the spoonaliai may be reckoned Tepi tou the best of Lucian's critical works. The former
évunvíov, Somnium seu Vita Luciuni, the closing portion is employed in ridiculing the would-be
sentence of which shows it to have been addressed historians of the day, whilst the latter contains
to some assembly of his countrymen, apparently some excellent critical precepts. The 41st section
after his return from his travels. This piece, in particular is admirable. The historian Du Thou
which is valuable for the anecdotes it contains of thought so much of this essay, that he drew the
Lucian's life, has been already mentioned. The rules for historical writing in the preface to liis
'Hpódotus, Herodotus sire Action, seems to have work principally from it. 'Prtópwv 818áokalos,
been addressed to some Macedonian assembly. Rhetorum Preceptor, is a piece of critical irony,
Of Aëtion the painter an account is elsewhere pretending to point out a royal road to oratory.
given. [AETION. ) From the picture described It also contains a bitter personal attack upon some
in this piece, Raphael is said to have taken one apparently Egyptian orator. Yeudu Oylotńs, Psculo
of his frescoes. Zeužis, Zeusis sive Antiochus, logista, a violent attack upon a brother sophist who
also contains the description of a picture which had ignorantly asserted that the word druppás,
Sulla carried off from Athens, and which was lost used by Lucian, was un-Attic. Δημοσθένους
on its voyage to Rome, but of which a copy was 'Eykumlov, Demosthenis Encominm, a critical dia-
extant in the time of Lucian. 'Apuovídns, Har- logue on the merits of Demosthenes. This piece
monides, which, however, is called by Marcilius a has been reckoned spurious by many critics, but
Luotasis, or Commendatio, contains an anecdote of perhaps on insufficient grounds. The concluding
Timotheus and his pupil Harnionides. Enúons part contains some interesting particulars of the
Mpótevos, Scytha, turns on the visit of Anacharsis death of the great orator. Yevõugoplotns, Pseulo-
to Athens, and his meeting Toxaris, a fellow- sophista, a dialogue on Attic solecisms, has also
countryman, there, who introduces him to the been abjudicated, and on more certain grounds.
friendship of Solon. 'Itrias Balaveio, Hippias Several phrases are given out as solecisms which are
seu Balneum, is the description of a bath. Ilpoo- not really so, and which have even been used by
Aanía Alóvuoos, Bucchus, turns on the conquests Lucian himself.
of Bacchus. Προσλαλία ή Ηρακλής, Hercules 3. BIOGRAPHICAL WORKS. The pieces which
Gallicus. An account of the Gallic Hercules. entitle Lucian to be called a biographer are the
Περί του ηλεκτρου ή των κύκνων, De Electro seu | Αλέξανδρος ή Ψευδόμαντις, Alexander seu Pseu-
Cygnis. This was probably an early piece, as in domantis ; Anuáraktos Bíos, Vita Demonactis ; and
§ 2 the author mentions a recent visit to the Po, llepi tñs llepeypívou tedeutis, De Morte Pere-
in which he inquired for the poplars that distilled grini. They are, however, rather anecdotical
amber, and the singing swans; but without success. memoirs (dtrouvnuoveúpata), like Xenophon's
Tepi Toll očkov, De Domo, contains a description of Memorabilia Socrutis, than regular biographies,
a house, or rather apartment. Tepi Tūv orxadwv, De of the first piece the chief contents are given
Dipsadibus. An account of certain Libyan serpents. elsewhere. (ALEXANDER, Vol. I. p. 123. ] An
More regular rhetorical pieces are Tuparvoktó- account of Demonax will also be fuund under the


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816
LUCIANUS.
LUCIANCS.
a
propor head. The life of that philosopher must ginning, to ridicule the authors of extmaragint
have been prolonged considerably beyond the reign tales, including Ilomer's Orlyssey, the Iudicu of
of Hadrian, since Lucian tells us that he was per- Ctesias, and the wonderful accounts of lambulus
sonally acquainted with him for a long period. of the things contained in the great sca. Accord-
(Θατέρω δε το Δημώνακτι, και επί μήκιστον συνε- ing to Photius (Cod. 166), Lucian's model was
gyevóunu, $ 1. ) Demonax was a philosopher after Antonius Diogenes, in his work called Td útép
Lucian's own heart, belonging to no sect, though Dollar (TOTQ. That writer, however, was pro-
he had studied the tenets of all
, and holding the bably later than Lucian. Still Lucian may have
popular mythology in profound conteinpt. llis had predecessors in the style, as Antiphanes. The
chief leaning was to the school of Socrates, though, adventures related are of the most extravagant
in the unconstrained liberty of his way of life, he kind, but show great ſertility of invention. Lu-
Reemed to hear some resemblance to Diogenes. cian tells us plainly what we have to expect; that
Demonax sacrificed to the Graces, and was equally he is going to write about things he has neither
averse from the austerity of the Stoics and the filth scen himself nor heard of from others; things,
of the Cynics. Llad he been one of the latter, moreover, that neither do, nor can by possibility
Lucian would never have mentioned him with exist; and that the only truth he tells us is when
praise. Of all the philosophic sects, Lucian de he asserts that he is lying. He then describes how
tested the Cynics most, as may be seen in his lic set sail from the columns of Hercules, and was
Peregrinus, lugitivi, Convivium, &c. ; though he cast by a storm on an enchanted island, which ap-
reeins to have made an exception in favour of pearcd, from an inscription, to have been visited by
Menippus, on account, perhaps, of his satyrical Hercules and Bacchus; where not only did the
writings, to which his own bear some resemblance. rivers run wine, but the same liquid gushed from
It was for his account of Demonax that Eunapius the roots of the vines, and where they got drunk
janked Lucian among the biographers. Depi Tîs by eating the fish they caught. On again setting
Ilepeypívou Tedeutńs, De Morte Peregrini, contains sail, the ship is snatched up by a whirlwind, and
some particulars of the life and voluntary auto-da-fé carried through the air for seven days and nights,
of Peregrinus Proteus, a fanatical cynic and apos- till they are finally deposited in the moon by cer-
tate Christian, who publicly burnt himself from an tain enormous birds called Hippogy pi (horse vul-
impulse of vain-glory shortly after the 236th tures). Here they are present at a battle between
Olympiad (4. D. 165), and concerning whom fur- the inhabitants of that planet and those of the sun.
ther particulars will be found elsewhere. [PE- Afterwards they prosecute their voyage through
REGRINUS. ) Lucian seems to have beheld this the Zodiac, and arrive at the city of Lanterns,
singular triumph of fanaticism with a sort of bar- where Lucian recognises liis own, and inquires the
barous exultation, which pearly cost him a beating news at home. They then pass the city of Nephe-
from the Cynics, who surrounded the pyre ($ 37). lococcygia (Cloud-cuckoo-town), and are at length
The Makpótlou may also be referred to this head, deposited again in the sea. Here they are swal-
as containing anecdotes of several Greek and other lowed up by an immense whale; and their adven-
worthies who had attained to a long life.
tures in its belly, which is inhabited, complete the
4. ROMANCES. Under this head may be classed first book. The second opens with an account of
the tale entitied Aoórios "Ovos, Lucius sive Asi- their escape, by setting fire to a forest in the
nus, and the 'Annooûs iotopías Cóyos á kal B', whale's belly, and killing him. After several more
(Verac Historiue). Photius (Cod. 129) is inclined wonderful adventures, they arrive at the Isle of the
to believe that Lucian's piece was taken from a Blest (Makápwv vñoos). Here they fall in with
fable by Lucins of Patrae, but does not speak very several ancient worthies, and Homer among the
positively on the subject. It has been thought rest, which affords an opportunity for some remarks
that Appuleius drew his story of the Golden Ass on his life and writings. Homer is made to con-
from the same source [APPULEIUS] ; retaining, demn the criticisms of Aristarchus and Zenodotus.
however, the lengthy narrative and fanatical turn He asserts, as Wolf and others have since done,
of the original tale; whilst Lucian abridged it, and that he began the Iliad with the anger of Achilles
gave it a comic caste, especially in the denouëment, merely from chance, and without any settled plan;
which, however, is sufficiently gross. M. Courier, and denies that the Odyssey was written before
on the contrary, who published an edition of the the liud, then a prevalent opinion. After this
piece with a French version and notes (Paris 1818, they again set sail, and arrive at the infernal
12mo), thinks that Lucian's is the original ; and regions, where, among others, they find Ctesias and
this opinion is acceded to by M. Letronne in the Herodotus undergoing punishment for their false-
Journal des Savuns, July, 1818. There are no hoods. The book is concluded with several more
means of deciding this question satisfactorily. The surprising adventures. That the Verae Historiae
story turns on the adventures of Lucius, who, from supplied hints to Rabelais and Swift is sufficiently
motives of curiosity, having arrived at the house of obvious, not only from the nature and extravagance
a female magician in Thessaly, and beheld her of the fiction, but from the lurking satire.
transformation into a bird, is desirous of under- 5. DIALOGUES. But Lucian's fame rests chiefly
going a similar metamorphosis. By the help of the on his dialogues, by which term is here meant
Inagician's maid, with whom he has ingratiated those pieces which are of an ethical or mythological
himself, he gets access to her magic ointments; but, nature, as well as of a dramatic form; and which
unfortunately, using the wrong one, is deservedly were intended to ridicule the heathen philosophy
turned into an ass, in which shape he meets with and religion ; for a few of his pieces which have
a variety of adventures, till he is disenchanted by not that scope are also in the shape of dialogue.
cating rose-leaves. The adventure with the robbers Lucian has himself explained the nature and
in the cave is thought to have suggested the well-novelty of his undertaking in his Prometheus (Tipos
known scene in Gil Blas. The Verae Historiae Tòv EiTóvta Mpoundeús ei év lóyois, $ 5), where
were composed, as the author tells us in the be- he tells us that it consists of a mixture of the Pla-
:


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LUCIANUS.
817
LUCIANUS.
a
tonic dialogue with comedy ; in other words, a dejected; but Herines consoles him with the re-
combination of Plato and Aristophanes. In the flection that though some few may be convinced
Bis Accusatus, $ 33, we have a still more complete by Damis, the great mass of the Greeks, and all
account of his style, where Dialogue personified the barbarians, will ever be of a contrary opinion.
accuses Lucian of stripping him of his tragic mask, The abuse of the stoic on finding himself worsted
and substituting a comic and satyric one ; of intro- is highly natural. Much of the same tendency is
ducing scurrilous jokes, and the iambic licence; the Owv érkanola, Deorum Concilium, which is in
and of mixing him up with Eupolis, Aristophanes, fact a dialogue of the gods. Momus complains of
and Menippus, the most snarling of the ancient the rabble which has been introduced into heaven,
cynics. These dialogues, which form the great not only mere mortals, but barbarians, and even
bulk of his works, are of very various degrees of apes and other beasts. In this class may also be
merit, and are treated in the greatest possible enumerated the Tà após Kpovov, SNurnalia, which
variety of style, from seriousness down to the contains a laugh at the ancient fable of Cronos.
broadest humour and buffoonery. Their subjects In the second class of Dialogues, namely, those
and tendency, too, vary considerably; for whilst in which the ancient philosophy is the more imme-
sone, as it lias been said, are employed in attack diate object of attack, may be placed the following:
ing the heathen philosophy and religion, others Biwr a paois (Vitarum A uctio). In this humorous
are mere pictures of manners without any polemic piece the heads of the different sects are put up to
drift. For the sake of convenience, we may first sale, Hermes being the auctioneer. Pythagoras
consider those which are more exclusively directed fetches ten minae. Diogenes, with his rags and
against the heathen mythology ; next, those which cynicism, goes for two obols—he may be useful its
attack the ancient philosophy ; and lastly, those in a house-dog. Aristippus is too fine a gentleman
which both the preceding objects are combined, or for any body to venture on. Democritus and
which, baving no such tendency, are mere satires Heraclitus are likewise unsaleable. Socrates, with
on the manners of the day and the follies and whom Lucian seems to confound the Platonic phi-
vices natural to markind.
losophy, after being well ridiculed and abused, is
In the first class may be placed Ipounbeús i bought by Dion of Syracuse for the large sum of
Kaúkavos, Prometheus seu Cuucasus, which is pro- two talents
. Epicurus fetches two minae. Chry-
perly a dialogue of the gods, and to which it forins sippus, the stoic, who gives some extraordinary
a very fitting introduction, as it opens up the re- specimens of his logic, and for whom there is a
lationship between gods and men, and puts Zens great competition, is knocked down for twelve
completely in the wrong for crucifying Prometheus. minac. A peripatetic, a double person (exoteric
Though a good dialogue, it is in the grave style, and esoteric) with his physical knowledge, brings
and has little of Lucian's characteristic humour. twenty minae. Pyrrho, the sceptic, comes last,
The Oew Aládoyou, Deorum Dialogi, twenty-six who, after having been disposed of, and in the
in number, consist of short dramatic narratives of hands of the buyer, is still in doubt whether he
some of the most popular incidents in the heathen has been sold or not. From the conclusion, it ap-
mythology. The reader, however, is generally pears that Lucian intended to include in another
left to draw his own conclusions from the story, auction the lives of other members of the com-
the author only taking care to put it in the most munity ; but this piece is either lost, or was never
absurd point of view. Hence, perhaps, we may executed. The 'Alleus 'Avalloûvtes, Piscator
conclude that, like some of Lucian's more serious seu Reviviscentes, is a sort of apology for the pre-
dialogues, they were among his earlier attempts, ceding piece, and may be reckoned among Lucian's
before he had summoned bardihood enough to best dialogues. The philosophers are represented
venture on those more open and scurrilous attacks as having obtained a day's life for the purpose of
which he afterwards made. Of the same class, but taking vengeance upon Lucian, who in some degree
inferior in point of execution, are the fifteen dia- makes the amende honorable by confessing that he
logues of the Dei Marini, 'Eváriol Alátoyou. In has borrowed the chief beauties of his writings
the last, that of Zephyr and Notus, the beautiful from them. He begs not to be condemned without
and graphic description of the rape of Europa is a trial ; and it is agreed that Philosophy herself
worthy of remark, which, as Hemsterhuis observes, shall be the judge ; but Lucian expresses his fears
was probably taken from some picture. In the that he shall never be able to find her abode, having
Zeús 'Eneyxóuevos, Jupiter Confutatus, a bolder been so often misdirected. On their way, however,
style of attack is adopted ; and the cynic proves to they meet Philosophy, who is astonished to see so
Zeus's face, that every thing being under the domi- many of her chief professors again alive, and is sur-
nion of fate, he has no power whatever. As this prised they should be angry at her being abused,
dialogue shows Zeus's want of power, so the Zeus when she has already endured so much from
Tpayqdós, Jupiter Tragoedus, strikes at his very Comedy. It is with great difficulty that Lucian
existence, and that of the other deities. The sub- discovers Truth among her retinue, the allegorical
ject is a dispute at Athens between Timocles, a description of which personage is very good. Lu-
Stoic, and Damis, an Epicurean, respecting the cian, indeed, excels in that kind of writing. The
being of the gods. Anxious as to its result, Zeus philosophers now open their case against him. He
summons all the deities to hear the arguments is charged with taking Dialogue out of their hands,
Hermes first calls the golden ones, then the and with persuading Menippus to side with him,
silver, and so forth ; not according to the beauty the only philosopher who does not appear among
of their workmanship, but the ricliness of their his accusers. This may afford another answer to
materials. On meeting, a squabble takes place those who would make Lucian an Epicurean.
about precedence, which is with some difficulty Under the name of Parrhesiades, Lucian advocates
quelled. Timocles then goes through his argui- his own cause ; and having gained it, becomes, in
ments for the existence of the gods, which Damis turn, accuser. The philosophers of the age are
refutes and ridicules. At this result, Zeus becomes summoned to the Acropolis, in the name of Virtue,
VOL. IL
36


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LUCIANUS.
LUCIANUS.
:
Philosophy, and Justice, but scarce one obeys the | uninvited, is particularly offensive in his behaviour.
call. Lucian undertakes to assemble them by In the midst of the banquet an absurd letter ar-
offering rewards.
Immediately a vast concourse rives from Hetoimocles, a stoic, expostulating with
appear, quarrelling among themselves ; but when Aristaenetus, the host, for not having been invited.
they find that Philosophy herself is to be the The discussion that ensues sets all the philosophers
julge, they all run away. In his haste to escape, by the ears, and ends in a pitched battle. In
a cynic drops his wallet, which, instead of lupins, the midst of the confusion, Alcidamas upsets the
brown bread, or a book, is found to contain gold, chandelier ; and when lights are again brought,
pomatum, a sacrificing knife, a mirror, and dice. strange scenes are discovered. The cynic is making
Truth orders their lives to be inquired into by free with one of the music-women ; the stoic, Dio-
Logic, and the pretenders to be branded with the nysidorus, is endeavouring to conceal a cup under
figure of a fox or an ape. Lucian then borrows a his cloak. The similarity of this piece, and the
tishing-rod from the temple ; and having bited his 55th epistle of the third book of Alciphron, is too
hook with figs and gold, flings his line from the marked to be the result of accident. The relative
Acropolis. He draws up a great many different chronology of Alciphron and Lucian cannot be ac-
philosophers, but Plato, Chrysippus, Aristotle, &c. , curately settled (ALCIPHRON) ; but the dialogue
disown them all, and they are cast down headlong. is so much more highly wrought than the epistle,
This piece is valuable, noi only from its own merits, as to render Bergler's notion probable, that Lucian
but from containing some particulars of Lucian's was the copyist. Under this head we may also
life. 'Epuotiuos is chiefly an attack upon the notice the Nigrinus and the Parasite (Tepl Tapas
Stoics, but its design is also to show the impossi- DITUU ÝTOI ŐT. Té xvn Napariti). The Nigrinus
bility of becoming a true philosopher. The irony is has been reckoned one of Lucian's first efforts in
of a serious and Socratic turn, and the piece, though this style, and this seems borne out by a passage
carefully written, has little of Lucian's native in § 35. Wieland calls it a declaration of war
humour. From 13 it appears he was about forty against the philosophers, and thinks that it still
when he wrote it; and like the Niyrinus, it was bears traces of Lucian's rhetorical style. But
probably, therefore, one of his earliest productions though the piece may be considered as an attack
in this style. The Eůvoúxos, Eunuchus, is a ridi- on philosophic pride, its main scope is to satirise
culous dispute between two philosophic rivals for the Romans, whose pomp, vain-glory, and luxury,
the emperor's prize, the objection being that the are unfavourably contrasied with the simple habits
eunuchus is ipso fucto a disqualified person, and of the Athenians. The Parasitus is a mere piece
incapable of becoming a philosopher. From $ 12, of persifluge throughout. The dialogue is con-
it appears to have been written at Athens. The ducted like those of Socrates with the sophists,
A04Evôňs may be ranked in this class. It is a though the parasite, who may stand for the sophist,
dialogue on the love of falsehood, natural to some gets the better of the argument. The philosophical
men purely for its own sake. In § 2 Herodotus definition of parasitism in ý 9 is highly humorous,
and Ctesias are attacked as in the Verae Historiae, as well as the demonstration of its superiority to
as well as Hesiod and Honer. Poets, however, philosophy, on account of its unity and definiteness,
may be pardoned, but not whole states that adopt in which it equals arithmetic ; for two and two are
their fictions; and Lucian thinks it very hard to four with the Persians as well as the Greeks, but
be accused of impiety for disbelieving such extra- no two philosophers agree in their principles. So
vagancies. Some commentators have thought that also it is shown to be superior to philosophy, be-
the Christian miracles are alluded to in § 13 and cause no parasite ever turned philosopher, but many
§ 16 ; but this does not seem probable. The main philosophers have been parasites. The demonstra-
subject of the piece is the relation of several absurd tion of the non-existence of philosophy, sø 28, 29,
stories of ghosts, &c. , by a company of white. seems directed against Plato's Purmenides.
bearded philosophers. The Apametal, Fuyitiri, is The third and more miscellaneous class of
directed against the cynics, by whom Lucian seems Lucian's dialogues, in which the attacks upon
to have been attacked for his life of Peregrinus. mythology and philosophy are not direct but in-
In a conversation between A pollo and Zeus, the cidental, or which are mere pictures of manners,
latter asserts that he was so annoved by the stench contains some of his best. At the head must be
that ascended from the pyre, that, though he fled placed Tiuwv û pirávo, whos, Timon, which may
into Arabia, all the frankincense there could hardly perhaps be regarded as Lucian's masterpiece. The
drive it out. He is about to relate the whole story is that of the well-known Athenian mis
history to Apollo, when Philosophy rushes in, in anthrope mentioned by Plato, whose tower, Pau-
tears and trouble, and complains of the philosophers, sanias tells us (i. 30. S +), still existed in his time.
especially the cynics. She gives a history of her The introduction affords an opportunity for some
progress in India, Egypt, Chaldaea, &c. , before she sneers at Zeus. The dialogue between Plutus
reached the Greeks, and concludes with a complaint and Hermes, in which the former describes his
against the cynics. A pollo advises Jupiter to send way of proceeding with mankind, is very humorous
Miercury and Hercules to inquire into the lives of and well-sustained, though the imitation of Aris-
the cynics, and to punish the evil doers ; the tophanes is obvious. The story of Timon, which
greater part being mere vagabonds and runaway is very dramatically told, is too well known to need
slaves. Συμπόσιον ή Λαπίθαι, Convivium seu La- description here. The Νεκρικοί Διάλογοι, Diologi
pithuc, is one of Lucian's most humorous attacks on Murtuorum, are perhaps the best known of all
the philosophers. The scene is a wedding feast, at Lucian's works. The subject affords great scope
which a representative of each of the principal for moral reflection, and for satire on the vanity of
philosophic sects is present. Of all the guests these human pursuits. Wealth, power, beauty, strength,
are the only absurd and troublesome ones, the un. not forgetting the vain disputations of philosophy,
lettered portion behaving themselves with decency afford the materials ; and some cynic philosopher,
and propicity. The cynic Alcidamas, who comes Diogenes or Menippus, is generally the coinnen-
;


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LUCIANUS.
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LUCIANUS.
tator. When Croesus and Menippus meet on the smallness of mankind when viewed from a philo-
banks of the Styx, it is easy to see which will sophic, as well as a physical height. Lucian seenis
have the advantage. The disappointments of those to have put his own sentiment into the mouth of
who lie in wait for the inheritance of the rich, Charon (s 16), Tayyedoia Tauta, W 'Epuſ. The
afford a fertile theme, which, however, Lucian hias Katándous Túpavvos, Cataplus sive Tyrannus, is
worn rather thread-bare. In a few of the dialogues in fact a dialogue of the dead. The persone are
it must be owned that some of the great men of Charon, Clotho, Hermes, a cynic philosopher, the
antiquity are flippantly and unjustly attacked, and tyrant Megnpenthes, the cobbler Micylius, and
especially Socrates. Among the moderns these certain rich men. The reluctance of Megapenthes
dialogues have been imitated by Fontenelle and to obey the summons of Clotho, and his ludicrous
Lord Lyttelton. The Mévintosi Nervouarteia, attempts at evasion, are happily contrasted with
Necyomanteia, bears some analogy to the Dialogues the alacrity of Micyllus. The latter being left
of the dead. Menippus relates his descent into behind on the banks of the Styx, swims after
Hades, and the sights that he sees there, par- Charon's boat, which being full, he finds a place on
ticularly the punishment of the great and powerful the shoulders of the tyrant, and does not cease
The genuineness of this piece has been doubted. tormenting him the whole way. There is consi-
Du Soul thought that it was written by Menippus derable drollery in his pretended lament for his old
himself, who, as we learn from Diogenes Laërtius lasts and slippers, when requested by Mercury to
(vi. 101), wrote a Necyomanteia, but Hemsterhuis grieve a little, just for the sake of keeping up the
discards this onjecture. It certainly wants Lucian's custom. Megapenthes' description of the indige
pungency; but arguments from style are not always nities which his household offer to his body while
safe. In the ʼlxapouévitnos Tiepvédelos, Icaro- lying in state, and which, though conscious of them,
Menippus, on the contrary, which is in Lucian's best he is powerless to resist, is very striking. "Overpos
vein, and a master-piece of Aristophanic humour, 7 'AXEKT PÚwv, Somnium seu Gallus. Here we have
Menippus, disgusted with the disputes and pre the cobbler Micyllus again, who has been dreaming
tensions of the philosophers, resolves on a visit to the that he has fallen heir to Eucrates, a nouveau riche.
stars, for the purpose of seeing how far their theories From this state of felicity he is awakened by the
are correct. By the mechanical aid of a pair of crowing of his cock, which he threatens to kill as
wings he reaches the moon, and surveys thence soon as he gets up. The cock discovers hinıself to
the miserable passions and quarrels of men. Hence be Pythagoras in one of his transmigratory states,
he proceeds to Olympus, and is introduced to the which gives occasion to some jokes at the expense
Thunderer himself
. Here he is witness of the of that philosophy. The cock then endeavours to
manner in which human prayers are received in persuade Micyllus that he is much happier than
heaven. They ascend by enormous ventholes, and the rich men whom he envies, and in order to con-
become andible when Zeus removes the covers. vince him, desires him to pluck one of the long
Strange is the variety of their tenor! Some pray feathers from his tail, which has the power of con-
to be kings, others that their onions may grow ; ferring invisibility. Micyllus, who has evidently
one sailor begs a north wind, another a south ; the a lurking spite against the bird, plucks out both his
husbandman wants rain ; the fuller, sunshine. long feathers, much to the discomfiture of Pytha-
Zeus himself is represented as a partial judge, goras, whom, however, the cobbler consoles by
and as influenced by the largeness of the rewards telling that he looks much handsomer so than he
promised to him. At the end he pronounces judg- would with only one. Being now invisible, Py-
ment against the philosophers, and threatens in thagoras and Micyllus go round to the houses of
four days to destroy them all. Then he cuts Me- several rich men, and behold their miseries and
nippus's wings, and hands him over to Hermes, vices. This piece may be reckoned among the
who carries him to earth by the ear. With a best of Lucian's. Als katnyopoúuevos, Bis Aau
malicious pleasure Menippus hastens to the Poecile satus, so called from Lucian's being arraigned by
to announce to the assembled philosophers their Rhetoric and Dialogue, is chiefly valuable for the
approaching destruction. Xápwv &TO KOTOûrtes, information it contains of the author's life and
Contemplantes, is a very elegant dialogue, but of a literary pursuits. Zeus finds fault with Homer
graver turn than the preceding. Charon visits the for calling the gods happy, when they have got so
earth to see the course of life there, and what it is much to do, and when there are still so many un-
that always makes men weep when they enter his decided causes on hand. To clear these off a court
boat. He requests Hermes to be his Cicerone. is appointed, at which Justice is to preside. The
To get a good view they pile Pelion upon Ossa ; first cause is Drunkenness versus the Academy, for
but this not being high enough, Oeta must follow, depriving him of Polemo. The plaintiff being
and then Parnassus : a passage evidently meant to naturally disqualified for pleading, the Academy
ridicule Homer. Parnassus being at top Charon undertakes both sides of the question. Next we
and Hermes seat themselves on each of the peaks. have the Porch versus Pleasure, which is defended
Then pass in review Milo the wrestler, Cyrus, by Epicurus. After two or three more causes
Croesus, and other celebrated characters. In this Lucian is accused by Rhetoric of desertion, and by
piece, as Hemsterhuis observes, our author has not Dialogue of having lowered and perverted his style.
been very scrupulous about chronology. In the We may here also mention the Kpovocónwv, Crona
interview between Croesus and Solon, Lucian Solon, and the 'ETIOtonal Kpovikal, Epistolae Sa-
follows Herodotus, but inverts the order of the turnales, which turn on the institution and customs
happy. Of all Lucian's dialogues this is perhaps of the Saturnalia.
the most poetical: as in the description of the Amongst the dialogues which may be regarded
passions flying about ; the comparison of cities to as mere pictures of manners, without any polemical
bee-hives attacked by wasps ; the likening of tendency, may be reckoned the 'Epwtes, to which
human lives to bubbles ; the death of cities as well / allusion has already been made in a former part of
as individuals. The whole is a picture of the this notice. Tlie Εταιρικοί Διάλογοι, Dalogi
3 6 2


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LUCIANUS.
LUCIANUS.
Meretricii, describe the manners of the Greek Hc- | fernal regions is reviewed, and the folly of grief
tacrae or courtezans, with liveliness and fidelity ; demonstrated in a rather serious manner. Tipos
perhaps too much so for the interests of morality. | analõeutov, Adversus Indoctum, is a bitter attack
Γιλοίον η Ευχαί, Ναυirium seu Tota. In this upon a rich man who thought to acquire a character
piece the company form various wishes, which are for learning by collecting a large library. Tepl 10Ů
in turn derided by Lucian. The imitation of Plato | μη ραδίως πιστεύειν διαβολή, Νon temere credendum
in the opening is very strong.
essc Delationi. The title of this piece sufficiently
Dialogues which cannot with propriety be placed explains its subject. It is in the grave style ; but
under any of the preceding heads, are the Eixóves, is well written, and has something of the air of a
Imagines, which has been already adverted to in rhetorical declamation.
the sketch of Lucian's life. “Υπέρ των Εικόνων, 7. Poems. These consist of two mock tragedies,
Pro Imuginibus, a defence of the preceding, with called Tpayonodáypa and 'Okurous, and about fifty
the flattery of which the lady who was the subject epigrams. The Tragopodagra, as its name implies,
of it pretended to be displeased. Tófapıs, Tvsercinis, turns on the subject of the gout ; its malignity and
a dialogue between a Greek and Scythin, on the pertinacity are set forth, and the physicians who
subject of friendship, in which several remarkable pretend to cure it exposed. This little drama dis-
instances are related on both sides. It is in the plays considerable vigour of fancy. It has been
grave style. The 'Aváxapois, Anuchursis, is an thought that Lucian wrote it to beguile a fit of the
attack upon the Greek gymnasia, in a dialogue be- malady which forms its subject. The Ocypus,
tween Solon and Anachursis. It also turns on the which turns on the same theme, is much inferior,
education of youth. Here too the irony is of a and perhaps a frigid imitation by some other hand.
serious cast. Tepi bpxńoews, De Sultatione, a dis- Of the epigrams some are tolerable, but the greater
putation between Lucian and Crates, a stoic philo- part indifferent, and calculated to add but little to
Bopher, respecting dancing. It has been observed Lucian's fame. Of some the genuineness may be
before that Lucian was an ardent admirer of dan- suspected.
cing, especially the pantomimic sort, to which he In the preceding account of Lucian's works
here gives the advantage over tragedy. The piece those have been omitted, of whose spuriousness
is hardly worthy of Lucian, but contains some scarce a doubt can be entertained. These are :-
curious particulars of the art of dancing among the 'Aλκύων ή περί Μεταμορφώσεως, Halcyon seu de
ancients. Acádegis após 'Holodov, Dissertatio cum | Transforinatione. This dialogue is completely op-
Hesiodo. A charge against that poet that he cannot posed to Lucian's manner, as the fabulous tale of
predict futurity, as he gave out. The genuineness the Halcyon, which he would have ridiculed, is
is doubtful.
treated seriously. It has been attributed to Leo
6. MISCELLANEOUS Pieces. We are now to the academician. For the rest, the style is agree-
enumerate those few works of Lucian which do not able enough. Nepi tñs 'Aotpodoylns, De Astro-
fall under
any of the preceding divisions, and which logia, containing a serious defence of astrology, can
not being in the form of dialogues, bear some never have been Lucian's. The Ionic dialect, too,
analogy to the modern essay. Ipos tòv eimóvta condemns it; the affected use of which Lucian
Ilpoundeús el év nóyous, Ad eum qui dixerat Pro- ridicules in his Quom. Hist. § 18.
The same
metheus es in Verbis. A reply to somebody who objections apply to the ſlepi tñs Lupins Seow, De
had compared him to Prometheus. Allusion has Dea Syria, also in the Ionic dialect. Though the
already been made to this piece, which, as the scholiast on the Nubes of Aristophanes ascribes it
title implies, turns chiefly on his own works. Teved to Lucian we may safely reject it. Such a narrative
Juoiwv, De Sacrificiis. The absurdities of the of superstitious rites could never have come from
heathen worship, especially of the Egyptian, are his pen, without at least a sneer, or a word of cas-
pointed out in a serious style. This was probably tigation. Nor would he have sacrificed his beard
an early production. Tepl Twv én uloq ovvóvtwv, at the temple of Hierapolis, as in the last sentence
De Mercede Conductis, was written to dissuade a the author represents himself as having done. The
Greek philosopher from accepting a place in a Kuvirós, Cynicus, is abjudicated by the scholiast,
Roman household, by giving a humorous description and with reason ; for the cynic worsts Lucian in
of the miseries attending it. This little piece the argument about his tenets. The Χαρίδημος η
abounds with wit and good sense, and may be repi kaldous, Charidemus seu de Pulchro, is a frigid
placed among Lucian's most amusing productions. imitation of Plato, bearing no mark of Lucian's
It is likewise valuable for the picture it contains of hand, and has been rejected by the best critics.
Roman manners, which Lucian has here painted in Népwv nepi tñs úpuxñs Toû 'lo@nov, Nero, seu
highly unfavourable colours, but perhaps with some de Fossione Isthmi. Wieland seems to have stood
exaggeration and caricature. The 'Atuloyla nepi alone in asserting this dialogue to be Lucian's.
TWV ÉTTà this ouv. , Apologia pro de Merc. Cond. , is From the concluding part the author appears to
Lucian's defence against a charge of inconsistency, have been alive at the time of Nero's death. It
in having accepted his Egyptian office, after having contains some curious particulars of that emperor's
written the foregoing piece. The chief ground of singing. The spuriousness of the Philopatris has
defence is the difference between a public and been already shown.
private office, and indeed the charge was absurd. It is probable that several of Lucian's works
As already mentioned, this piece contains some are lost. In the Life of Demonax, § 1, he mentions
particulars of Lucian's life. 'TTÈP TOû ev Tŷ Tpoo- having written a life of Sostratus, which is not now
ayopevoel atalouatos, Pro Lapsu in Salutando, a extant. Of his rhetorical pieces perhaps the greater
playful little piece, though containing some curious part is lost, as Suidas says of them gérpantai
learning, in which Lucian excuses himself for auto & telpa.
having saluted a great man with úziaive in the Lucian's merits as a writer consist in his know-
morning, instead of xaipe. In the Tepi mevbolls, ledge of human nature, which, however, he gene-
De Luctu, the received opinion concerning the in- rally viewed on its worst side ; his strong conimon


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LUCIANUS.
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LUCIANUS.
:
Bense ; the fertility of his invention ; the raciness of Lucian's works:- Florence, 1496, fol. (printer
of his humour ; and the simplicity and Attic grace unknown) Editio Princeps. First Aldine edition,
of his diction. His knowledge was probably not Venice, 1503, fol. This edition, printed from bad
very profound, and it may be suspected that he MSS. and very incorrect, was somewhat improved
was not always master of the philosophy that he in the second Aldine, 1522, fol. , but is still inferior
attacked. He nowhere grapples with the tenets to the Florentine.