Aratus   

The philosopher Chrysippus, O Polycrates, quotes an ancient proverb,
not as really it should be, apprehending, I suppose, that it sounded
too harshly, but so as he thought it would run best, in these words:-
"Who praise their fathers but the generous sons?" But Dionysodorus
the Troezenian proves him to be wrong, and restores the true reading,
which is thus:-
"Who praise their fathers but degenerate sons?" telling us that the
proverb is meant to stop the mouth of those who, having no merit of
their own, take refuge in the virtues of their ancestors, and make
their advantage of praising them. But, as Pindar hath it-
"He that by nature doth inherit
From ancestors a noble spirit," as you do, who made your life the
copy of the fairest originals of your family- such, I say, may take
great satisfaction in being reminded, both by hearing others speak
and speaking themselves, of the best of their progenitors. For they
assume not the glory of praises earned by others out of any want of
worth of their own, but affiliating their own deeds to those of their
ancestors, give them honour as the authors both of their descent and
manners. Therefore I have sent to you the life which I have written
of your fellow-citizen and forefather, Aratus, to whom you are no
discredit in point either of reputation or of authority, not as though
you had not been most diligently concerning to inform yourself from
the beginning concerning his actions, but that your sons, Polycrates
and Pythocles, may both by hearing and reading become familiar with
those family examples which it behooves them to follow and imitate.
It is a piece of self-love, and not of the love of virtue, to imagine
one has already attained to what is best.
The city of Sicyon, from the time that it first fell off from the
pure and Doric aristocracy (its harmony being destroyed, and a mere
series of seditions and personal contests of popular leaders ensuing),
continued to be distempered and unsettled, changing from one tyrant
to another, until, Cleon being slain, Timoclides and Clinias, men
of the most repute and power amongst the citizens, were chosen to
the magistracy. And the commonwealth now seeming to be in a pretty
settled condition, Timoclides died, and Abantidas, the son of Paseas,
to possess himself of the tyranny, killed Clinias, and, of his kindred
and friends, slew some and banished others. He sought also to kill
his son Aratus, whom he left behind him, being but seven years old.
This boy in the general disorder getting out of the house with those
that fled, and wandering about the city helpless and in great fear,
by chance got undiscovered into the house of a woman who was Abantidas's
sister, but married to Prophantus, the brother of Clinias, her name
being Soso. She, being of a generous temper, and believing the boy
had by some supernatural guidance fled to her for shelter, hid him
in the house, and at night sent him away to Argos.
Aratus, being thus delivered and secured from this danger, conceived
from the first and ever after nourished a vehement and burning hatred
against tyrants, which strengthened with his years. Being therefore
bred up amongst his father's acquaintance and friends at Argos with
a liberal education, and perceiving his body to promise good health
and stature, he addicted himself to the exercises of the palaestra,
to that degree that he competed in the five games, and gained some
crowns; and indeed in his statues one may observe a certain kind of
athletic cast, and the sagacity and majesty of his countenance does
not dissemble his full diet and the use of the hoe. Whence it came
to pass that he less studied eloquence than perhaps became a statesman,
and yet he was more accomplished in speaking than many believe, judging
by the commentaries which he left behind him, written carelessly and,
by the way, as fast as he could do it, and in such words as first
came to his mind.
In the course of time, Dinias and Aristoteles the logician killed
Abantidas, who used to be present in the market-place at their discussions,
and to make one in them; till they taking the occasion, insensibly