Abstract

In hisIndex Bioneus, containing all instances in which Bion of Borysthenes is mentioned or quoted in ancient literature, O. Hense also included a reference to Philodemus,Rhetorica2.55 Sudhaus, whereτ⋯ν Βορυσθενίτηνis mentioned, but gave no further treatment of this item. In my edition of the testimonies to and fragments of Bion I did not include this passage, not because the name Bion does not occur, but because I did not think that it really was a reference to Bion. As M. Gigante and G. Indelli have objected to this procedure and seem to be convinced that the passage really is a definite reference to Bion of Borysthenes, I think it deserves a somewhat closer interpretation. I start by giving the crucial text:Τ[ί] γ⋯ρ μ⋯λλον αἰσχρ⋯νἧν] σιωπ⋯ν, Ἱσοκράτηνδ' ⋯⋯ν λέγειν ἢ κατ⋯ πό-λιν ζ[⋯ν], Μάνην δ⋯ [σ]κα-π[αν]εύειν ⋯⋯ν, κ[⋯ν τ]⋯ιγ⋯]ι διατρ[ί]βειν, ⋯π[ικ]υ-μα]τί[ζ]εσθαι δ⋯ τ⋯ν [φο]ίνι-κα κ]α⋯ τ⋯ν Βορυσθε[νείτη]ν,κα⋯ ⋯σɸ]α[λέστ]ατα [μ]⋯ν ὅ[λοντ⋯ν βίον] ἰδιω[τεύειν,Θεμι]στο[κ]λέα δ[⋯ οτ]ρα-τεύειν] ⋯⋯ν.In this part of hisRhetoricaPhilodemus attacks the philosophical schools which pursue the study of rhetoric, and especially Aristotle. Philodemus takes as his starting point a well known parody of a line from Euripides,Philoctetes(fr. 796 Nauck), by which Aristotle is said to have justified his teaching of rhetoric:αἰσχρ⋯ν σιωπ⋯ν, Ἱσοκράτην δ' ⋯⋯ν λέγεινwhich was quoted already inRhetorica2.50 Sudhaus. Philodemus here sets out to prove that the attitude of Aristotle is wrong by ridiculing his view that it is shameful to abstain from a certain activity and leave it to someone else.