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"servation and experience; as when he says, that forty times seven days have a peculiar influence over the birth of a child; that dis"tempers kill men chiefly on the odd day; and that the remarkable struggles of nature towards a crisis are regulated by the number "seven; all which his disciples firmly believe, though the more knowing look upon it as a fantastical application of PYTHA"GORAS's mystick philosophy. In other matters he has been too hasty in forming his axioms, and in reducing to a certain rule things depending on too many circumstances to be fixed by the ob"servations of one man, if not too uncertain to be ever fixed at all."

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Indeed I could not help thinking myself, that the common stories which are told of him are very idle; and that there is nothing so miraculous in this great physician, when I amused myself one day, since his works have been in my house for you, in computing how many patients he saved out of those whose histories he gives in his Epidemicks; for it appears, that out of forty-two, only seventeen escaped. Do not wonder at his mentioning, as I find he does, such food as the flesh of asses, horses, dogs, and foxes; for these are eaten without any scruple in Greece. Among the many stories, I cannot help mentioning to thee one, which is often told as an instance of his extraordinary sagacity. He was sent for to PERDICCAS, the present king of Macedonia, who languished under a sort of consumption, that was attended with very uncommon symptoms. HIPPOCRATES observed his patient change colour, and suffer much disorder, whenever PHILA, the late king's mistress, entered the chamber. Upon which he immediately found out, and discovered to PHILA, that a passion for her was the true cause of his illness. The love-sick prince was treated accordingly, and the success verified our physician's judgment. I dare say, thou wilt smile at the romantick air of this relation, and think with me, that if the dexterous manage

VOL. II.

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ment of such an affair was the proper test of a physician, the old chief eunuch BAGOAS would have a much fairer title to be reputed one than HIPPOCRATES. As to morality, his reputation is very high he is superior to a love of money, and freely communicates his art for the relief of the necessitous and strangers. Persia is well acquainted with the love he bears his country, which made him prefer the life of a wanderer to the dignity of that exalted station. which thou so deservedly enjoyest. For which, and his many eminent services, he has been made free of Athens, and iniated in the Eleusinian mysteries; and a maintenance in the Prytaneum, at the publick charge, is decreed to him and his posterity. The oath which he enjoins his followers before he teaches them his art, must give thee a great opinion of his strict integrity; it forbids them to procure abortions, to administer poison, to make any ill use of the free access they have to houses, or betray the confidence reposed in them. All which he insists upon their swearing to observe by APOLLO, ESCULAPIUS, HYGEIA, PANACEA, and all the other gods and goddesses; and that they may so prosper in their profession as they keep this oath. However, he has given offence to some grave men by a rule of health which he delivers, that a man ought to drink twice a month to some excess. It were to be wished that he could as easily answer a worse crime that he is charged with, in relation to a young slave who danced and sung at the theatre. She was a great favourite of the publick, and brought her mistress in very considerable sums of money; for the Athenians set so high a value on these accomplishments, that the celebrated performers not only make a part at all great feasts, but even a select company of philosophers will break off their conversation on the most important points, to attend to these diversions. The mistress of this famous dancer one day made

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Xenoph. Sympos.

a discovery

a discovery of her being pregnant, and was very uneasy to think that all her gain would soon be over, if this was suffered to go on. She therefore applied to HIPPOCRATES, who owns that at her request he procured an abortion, though in direct contradiction to his oath. I remember likewise to have heard him accused of setting fire to ESCULAPIUS's temple at Cos, and the library at Cnidus, after he had transcribed their registers; but these are generally looked upon as groundless calumnies.

May the lights, which thou receivest from this celebrated Coan, enable thee to fulfil the ardent wishes of Persia, that ARTAXERXES may live for ever!

E.

THOU seemest to have been transported beyond the bounds of humanity in thy last letter; for the virgins of Attica should by no means be involved in the same censure with those of Ephesus. Think not that I despise thy friendly caution, or the passion of HELIODORUS. But let me recommend it to thee as a circumstance of high entertainment, that CLEANDER, who was educated in the severer studies of philosophy, and has conversed entirely with statesmen and merchants, should zealously vindicate the character, and court the company, of the fair sex. Such is the alteration which time has made in me, and the nature of my employment.

I was yesterday in an assembly of Athenian matrons at the house of ASPASIA, with whom I have cultivated a correspondence ever since my introduction to PERICLES. She has continually received me with the most engaging condescension, and abounds in so many elegant turns of wit, and in such a variety of good knowledge and good sense, that no one here is either superior or equal to her, except the great SOCRATES. As soon as the performers on the lute and harp were retired, with most of the persons who were invited, we drew together into a circle, and ASPASIA led the conversation. She amused us with some curious anecdotes of PERICLES, (for whose memory she expressed the tenderest regard,) and entered into large dissertations on several subjects. At last she applied to me, and began to ask me concerning the manners of the ladies in those parts

of

of the world where I had travelled. "I conjecture, (said she,) " from the treatment which the women have met with in almost "all states, it must have been the opinion of philosophers and legis"lators that they have no souls.' Else why are they not ad"mitted into the greater mysteries? and why are they denied the "improvements of letters and the politer arts? In Athens, how"ever, we are allowed more privileges than in many places, and are "used like rational creatures. But tell me, CLEANDER, the result "of your observations on the sex, and the different lights in which "it appears through the mediums of different laws, prejudices, and "fashions. Perhaps you have not turned your thoughts this way; "since I know the men have a contempt for our understandings, and "forget that such a disparity arises from the acquirements of educa❝tion, not the natural capacity." "It is impossible (answered I) "for any one to forget so clear a truth, and have seen the excellent "ASPASIA. The liberty indulged to the ladies in this city is adapted to answer all the good purposes of the promiscuous con"versation in Ionia (particularly in Ephesus, the chief residence of luxury); and their own sense more effectually restrains them from "the wantonness so justly imputed to that country, than the bolts "and bars of the East. Here alone they are not slaves to their hus"bands or their pleasures." "You are a little severe (replied she) " on your native place; yet I am convinced that what you say is "founded on fact. And, for my own part, I have often considered "the pompous worship and temple of the DIANA of Ephesus, as presenting a very lively emblem of the genius of that city. Both are fitter for the Cyprian VENUs than for her, who is reverenced "as the guardian deity of groves and mountains." "The roman

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"tick analogy you have discovered (continued I) between the effeminacy and the religion of Ephesus is prettily conceived. But "the speculation I was running into, is of a more abstruse kind; " and