Professor Mivart by Cardinal Vaughan, or of Tolstoi by Pobedonostzeff. [276] This Diogenianus does not appear to be identical with the Diogenianus of Pergamos, twice mentioned in the _Symposiacs_, although Bernardakis does not distinguish them in his Index. [277] Philinus was an intimate friend of Plutarch’s (_Symposiacs_, 727 B; _De Sollertia Animalium_, 976 B); and, except in this Dialogue and in the _De Soll. Anim._, appears only as taking his part in the social intercourse of the _Symposiacs_, and as contributing his share to the discussion of the various quaint and curious problems forming so large a portion of the “Table Talk” of Plutarch and his friends. He has Pythagorean tendencies; eats no flesh (727 B); objects to a rich and varied diet, being of opinion that simple food is more easily digestible (660 F); explains somewhat crudely why Homer calls salt θεῖος (685 D); proves that Alexander the Great was a hard drinker (623 E); explains why Pythagoras advised his followers to throw their bedclothes into confusion on getting up (728 B, C); and tells a story of a wonderful tame crocodile which lay in bed like a human being (_De Soll. Anim._, 976 B). A very charming account of Plutarch’s friends has been given by M. A. Chenevière, in his “_De Plutarchi familiaribus_,” written as a Litt.D. thesis for a French University in 1886. [278] 395 A. [279] 396 D. Cf. _Symposiacs_, 628 A. [280] 396 E. Boethus, a genial and witty man, with whom, notwithstanding his Epicureanism, Plutarch lives on terms of intimate social intercourse. In _Symposiacs_, 673 C, Boethus, now described as an Epicurean _sans phrase_, entertains, in Athens, Plutarch, Sossius Senecio, and a number of men of his own sect. After dinner the company discuss the interesting question why we take pleasure in a dramatic representation of passions whose exhibition in real life would shock and distress us. At another time he appears, together with Plutarch and a few other friends, at a dinner given by Ammonius, then _Strategos_ at Athens for the third time, and explains, upon principles of Epicurean Science (_Symposiacs_, 720 F), why sounds are more audible at night than by day. [281] 396 F. [282] See note, p. 149. [283] Cf. CICERO: _De Divinatione_, ii. 50.—“_Quis est enim, qui totum diem jaculans, non aliquando collineet? Totas noctes dormimus; neque ulla fere est, qua non somniemus: et miramur, aliquando id, quod somniarimus, evadere? Quid est tam incertum quam talorum jactus? tamen nemo est quin, sæpe jactans, venereum jaciat aliquando, nonnumquam etiam iterum, ac tertium_,” _&c._ Also ii. 971.—“_Casus autem innumerabilibus pæne seculis in omnibus plura mirabilia quam in somniorum visis effecerit._” [284] 399. [285] Cf. HERODOTUS: ii. 135. [286] 401 E.