33
Of these, Anaxagoras, Cf. Aelian, Varia Historia, iii. 2; Galen, v. p. 418 (ed. Kuhn); Cicero, Tusculan Disputations, iii. 14 (30) and 24 (58); Valerius Maximus, v 10. ext. 3. according to the traditional story, was talking about natural philosophy in conversation with his friends, when he heard from one of the messengers, who were sent to bring him the news, of the end which had befallen his son. He stopped for a moment and then said to those present, I knew that I had begotten a son who was mortal.
33
Pericles, Cf. Plutarch, Life of Pericles, chap. xxxvi. (p. 172 c); Aelian, Varia Historia, ix. 6; Valerius Maximus, v. 10, ext. 1. who was called the Olympian because of his surpassing power of reasoning and of understanding, learned that both his sons, Paralus and Xanthippus, had passed from life. Protagoras describes his conduct in these words: His sons were comely youths, but though they died within seven days of each other, he bore their deaths without repining. For he continued to hold to that serenity from which day by day he added greatly to his credit of being blest by Fortune and untroubled by sorrow, and to his high repute with the people at large. For each and every man, as he beheld Pericles bearing his sorrows so stoutly, felt that he was high-minded and manful and his own superior, being only too well aware of what would be his own helplessness under such circumstances. For Pericles, immediately after the tidings about his two sons, none the less placed the garland upon his head, according to the time-honoured custom at Athens, and, clad in garb of white, harangued the people, taking lead in good counsel, Adapted from Homer, Il. ii. 273. and inspiriting the Athenians to war.
