THEOPHRASTUS

, a celebrated Greek philosopher, was the son of Melanthus, and was born at Eretus in Bœotia. He was at first the disciple of Lucippus, then of Plato, and lastly of Aristotle; whom he succeeded in his school, about the 322d year before the Christian era, and taught philosophy at Athens with great applause.

He said of an orator without judgment “that he was a horse without a bridle.” He used also to say, “There is nothing so valuable as time, and those who lavish it are the most inexcusable of all prodigals.”— He died at about 100 years of age.

Theophrastus wrote many works, the principal of which are the following—1. An excellent moral treatise entitled, Characters, which, he says in the preface, he composed at 99 years of age. Isaac Casaubon has written learned commentaries on this small treatise. It has been translated from the Greek into French, by Bruyere; and it has also been translated into English.— 2. A curious treatise on Plants.—3. A treatise on fossils or stones; of which Dr. Hill has given a good edition, with an English translation, and learned notes, in 8vo.