{163c} Alluding to the doctrine of Pythagoras, according to whom, number is the principle most providential of all heaven and earth, the root of divine beings, of gods and demons, the fountain and root of all things; that which, before all things, exists in the divine mind, from which, and out of which, all things are digested into order, and remain numbered by an indissoluble series. The whole system of the Pythagoreans is at large explained and illustrated by Stanley. See his "Lives of Philosophers." {164} See our author's "Auction of Lives," where Socrates swears by the dog and the plane-tree. This was called the [Greek], or oath of Rhadamanthus, who, as Porphyry informs us, made a law that men should swear, if they needs must swear, by geese, dogs, etc. [Greek], that they might not, on every trifling occasion, call in the name of the gods. This is a kind of religious reason, the custom was therefore, Porphyry tells us, adopted by the wise and pious Socrates. Lucian, however, who laughs at everything here (as well as the place above quoted), ridicules him for it. {165a} See Homer's "Odyssey," book ix. 1. 302. Pope translates it badly, "Wisdom held my hand." Homer says nothing but--my mind changed. {165b} One of the fables here alluded to is yet extant amongst those ascribed to AEsop, but that concerning the camel I never met with. {166a} That part of Athens which was called the upper city, in opposition to the lower city. The Acropolis was on the top of a high rock. {166b} Mountains near Athens. {166c} A mountain between Geranea and Corinth. {166d} A high mountain in Arcadia, to the west of Elis. Erymanthus another, bordering upon Achaia. Taygetus another, reaching northwards, to the foot of the mountains of Arcadia. {167} See Homer's "Iliad," book xiii. 1. 4 {168} See note on this in a former dialogue. {169} It is reported of Empedocles, that he went to AEtna, where he leaped into the fire, that he might leave behind him an opinion that he was a god, and that it was afterwards discovered by one of his sandals, which the fire cast up again, for his sandals were of brass. See Stanley's "Lives of the Philosophers." The manner of his death is related differently by different authors. This was, however, the generally received fable. Lucian, with an equal degree of probability, carries him up to the moon. {170} See Homer's Odyssey, b. xvi. 1. 187. The speech of Ulysses to his son, on the discovery. {171} When Empedocles is got into the moon, Lucian makes him swear by Endymion in compliment to his sovereign lady. {172a} Agathocles. {172b} Stratonice. {173} Of Achilles. See the 18th book of the "Iliad." {175a} Greek, [Greek]. {175b} Sicyon was a city near Corinth, famous for the richness and felicity of its soil.