The Lives and Opinions of Eminent PhilosophersDiogenes Laertius
Philosophy
The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers
Diogenes Laertius
Philosophers, Ancient -- Biography; Philosophy, Ancient
IX. We have also met with his will, which is couched in the following
terms:—“May things turn out well; but if any thing happens to him, in
that case Aristotle has made the following disposition of his affairs.
That Antipater shall be the general and universal executor. And
until Nicanor marries my daughter, I appoint Aristomedes, Timarchus,
Hipparchus, Dioteles, and Theophrastus, if he will consent and accept
the charge, to be the guardians of my children and of Herpyllis, and
the trustees of all the property I leave behind me; and I desire them,
when my daughter is old enough, to give her in marriage to Nicanor; but
if any thing should happen to the girl, which may God forbid, either
before or after she is married, but before she has any children, then
I will that Nicanor shall have the absolute disposal of my son, and of
all other things, in the full confidence that he will arrange them in a
manner worthy of me and of himself. Let him also be the guardian of my
daughter and son Nicomachus, to act as he pleases with respect to them,
as if he were their father or brother. But if anything should happen to
Nicanor, which may God forbid, either before he receives my daughter in
marriage, or after he is married to her, or before he has any children
by her, then any arrangements which he may make by will shall stand.
But, if Theophrastus, in this case, should choose to take my daughter in
marriage, then he is to stand exactly in the same position as Nicanor.
And if not, then I will, that my trustees, consulting with Antipater
concerning both the boy and girl, shall arrange everything respecting
them as they shall think fit; and that my trustees and Nicanor,
remembering both me and Herpyllis, and how well she has behaved to me,
shall take care, if she be inclined to take a husband, that one be found
for her who shall not be unworthy of us; and shall give her, in addition
to all that has been already given her, a talent of silver, and three
maidservants if she please to accept them, and the handmaid whom she has
now, and the boy Pyrrhæus. And if she likes to dwell at Chalcis, she
shall have the house which joins the garden; but if she likes to dwell in
Stagira, then she shall have my father’s house. And whichever of these
houses she elects to take, I will that my executors do furnish it with
all necessary furniture, in such manner as shall seem to them and to
Herpyllis to be sufficient. And let Nicanor be the guardian of the child
Myrmex, so that he shall be conducted to his friends in a manner worthy
of us, with all his property which I received. I also will that Ambracis
shall have her liberty, and that there shall be given to her when her
daughter is married, five hundred drachmas, and the handmaid whom she now
has. And I will that there be given to Thales, besides the handmaiden
whom she now has, who was bought for her, a thousand drachmas and another
handmaid. And to Timon, in addition to the money that has been given to
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