Bias

A contemporary of Pittacus. Flourished during the reigns of Halyattes, and Crqesus his son. In Lydia.

Bias of Friend, a small city in Caria, was held in vmeli'eQtQ^m in Greece, daring the reigns of Halyattes and Crcesus, Kings of Lydia, from the fortieth Olymj^iad unti} the time of his death. He was an egcett^it dtlzen, and a slcilfal politician; and in private life he was disinterested and amiable. ThQfugh born to great wealth, he lived in the qimplest manner; distributing his riches among the necessitous of every description. He was accounted the most eloquent orator of the age In which he ^ved| aud be employed his talents as he did his wealth, in the cause of the poor and the afflicted « seeldng no other reward than the happiness of sernng his country. He would und^take no causa but that which he believed to be just; hence it became proverbial throughout the country, whep it was wished to give an idea of the justice of a cause, to say thal^ "Bias himself would undertake its** and when any one desired to praise an orator to the utmost, it was only necessary to say, ** Bias himself ccmld not have done so well."

Some pirates having landed neai' Messina, in the

Peloponnesus, they carried off a number of young women, and brought them to Friend to sell. Bias purchased them, took them home, treated them as his own children, bestowed gifta upon them all, and restored them to their parents. This generous action gained him such repute, that by many he was never mentioned under any other appellation than as " The Prince of Sages** Shortly after this event, the fishermen of Mesi^na took a large fish in the belly of which they found a golden vase, whereon were engraven these words,

"To the Wisest* The Senate of Messina met together, in order to determine to whom it should be sent. ITie young women who had been treated with such humanity by Bias, presented themselves with their parents before the assembly, and exclaimed with one voice, that there could be none wiser than Bias. The Senate of Messina, therefore, sent him the vase. Bias examined it attentively, and after reading the inscription which was on it, he refused to accept it, saying, that the title of «* The Wl«»est" could belong to Apollo alone. Some authors imagine that the vase here alluded to is the same as the tripod which has been spoken of in the life of Thales; and that the present anecdote has no other foundation than the circumstance of the tripod having been sent by Thales to Bias: but others maintain that it was Bias to whom it was sent in the first instance.

Halyatties, King of Lydia, having taken and destroyed a number of cities in Asiatic Greece, laid iiieKe to Prien^. Bias was at that time chief magistate of Hie iplaoe. He made a vigovoiu rcatotr aace, ibr a oonaiderable length of time: biit seeing the city raduoed to the greatest extremity for want of pcovisaonsy and finding that Halyattes was determine on snooeeding in his object, he ordered two fine mnlfls to be fattened, and then directed them to be driren towards the enemy's camp, as il they had strayed by acddeni from Prien^. Haly^ ttStes, Borprised to see the animals in such good 0Qa« dition» b^ian to be afraid that he must relinquish the hope of redudng the place by fomine. He con* trired, howerer, to get a spy faitrodnced into the city, and Instructed him to nudce his observations on the actual state of the besieged. Bias pretty nearlf guessed the real errand of the man; he there* fore had large hei^s of sand f^irown up, and covered thinly over with wheat. The deputy of Halyattes surveyed all this show of plenty, so siciU fiilly was it managed, without in the least suspecting it to be a deception. Halyattes, deceived also by tiie stratagem, mstantly on his messenger's report abandoned the idea* of continuing ihe siege, and entered into an amicable treaty with the inhabitants. His cariosity bcpng^ greatly excited respecting Bias, he sent him a message, desiring to see him at his camp» to whidi Bias retnmed the following answer by tiie messengers: ^ Tell your monarch that I shall remain where I am, and that I command him tQ«at onions^ and siied tears the remainder of his days.^'.. • •

Bias.iLellghted in. poetry: he composed abovtS' two thousand verries, which he made the vehiole of iBstructiqnB how happhiess might be secured In h3 evety situation, and for the most eflfectttal means of governing a republic either in peace or war. He used to say, ' Endeavour to please all the world-^ universal good-will gives a charm to every thing in life. There can be nothing gained by showing pride and contempt to anyone: love your friends, but let it be with prudence; always remember that it is possible ihey may one day become your enemies. Be equally moderate in your hatred of your ene mies, for by the same rule they may one day be your friends. Do not be in haste to choose your friends.; but when chosen, treat them all with equal kindness, though you may have more deference to the merit of some than of others. Imitate the conduct of those whose society may reflect credit upon you; and depend upon it that the de^- gree of reputation which your friends may enjoy, will greatly enhance your own. Never be in haste to give your opinion; it is a mark of folly. Seek wisdom whilst you are young; it is the sole consolation, of age: you cannot niake any acquisition more valuable; it is the only good of which no reverse of fortune can ever deprive you. Anger and precipitation are the diametrical opposites of prudence. Good men are scarce: the foolish and the wicked are to be found every where in abundance. Be rigidly exact in the fulfilment of your promises-Speak of the gods with the reverence due to them; and he grateful to them for all the good that may> be in you. Be not importunate; it is better forQithet» to insist on your receiving favours, than for you to. insist on their, granting them. Undertake UAthiog. rashly, but do quickly that which you have.

mice resolved on doisg. Never commend any one for his riches, if he have no other claim to praise. Live as if you were going to die the next moment, and also as if you were certain of living a great many years. A vigorous constitution is the gift of nature •>— wealth generally the effect of chance; but wisdom akme can enable a man to serve his country by good counsel. It must be a diseased mind that craves for impossibilities." Being asked one day what it was that flattered mankind the most? he replied, ** Hope." What it was that pleased theni the most? " Gaha." What was the most difficult to bear? '* Reverse of fortune." He used to say. Chat the most unfortunate of men was he who could not bear his misfortunes as he ought. Being once in a ship with some impious personk, a furious tempest arose so suddenly, that the vessel was threatened with instantaneous destruction. Terri-fied at the thought of death, the men, just before so impious, betook themselves to prayer and supplkation of the gods.— '' You had better keep silent," sidd Bhis to them; ** for if you let the gods know you are here, we shall all inevitably go to the bottom." Another time, he was asked by a person well known for his impiety, what worship he bought due to the gods? Bias returned no answer. Being asked tiiie reason of his silence, he replied, " You are ifiquiring about matters which no way concern you." He used to say, that he would much rather be called upon to settle a dispute between' parties hostile to him,, than between those with ¥diom he was in th| habit of intimacy; for whichever frieud the decision might be given agunstyhe*

almost invariably became an enemy; whereas there was a very great probability of converting an enemy into a friend^ after a question had been decided Ib his &vour. Bias was one day obliged to 4rit in judgment on a friend for a<:apital oS&ace. Before he paissed sentence on him, he began to weep in presence of the whole Senate. '' Why these team?" said one of the members to him; ''the fate of the criminal rests with you: on you alone depends his condemnation or his acquittal." '' I weep," said Bias, ''because nature requires me to compassionate the miserable; and the law commands me to silence the voice of nature." Bias never would reckon the Biere goods of fntune among actual blessings t he regarded them as toys, which niight serve to amuse a vacant moment, but which often answered no other end than that of diverting the mind from laudable pursuits. He happened to be in Prien^, his native place, when that unfortunate eity vras taken and plundered. All the citizens carried Off whatev^^r propaty they could, and fle4 in search of some place of vefuge^ wfa^e they might dq>osit'it seeurely. Bias alone remained tranqaHiy looking on the misfortunes that desolated his natire city, as if he fislt tiiem not. He was asked why he did not endeavour to secure something, as the rest of the citizens had done; "Sol have,'' relied Bias: f I oarvy all I value about me.'! ^e life of Bias terminated in a manner not less hmioarable to his feelktgs^ than all its former course h^'been. Having the interest of a firiend gceatiy at.heartrhc r'was' carried* into th^^Senate in order -to defeiid his cause.- He was atlhis time far advanced in years, and the exertion he made in speaking fiuigued him so much, that he leaned on the breast of one of his daughter's sons, who had accompanied him. When the pleader on the opposite side had finished his discourse, the judges pronounced in fyivour of Bias, who just lived to hear their decision, and expired immediately after in the arms of his grandson. A magnificent funeral was decreed to him by the unanimous voice of the citizens, who evinced extreme regret for his loss. A superb monument was erected to his memory, with the following inscription engraven on it: —

*' Bias was a native of Priene. Whilst he lived, he was the ornament of Ionia; and of all the maxims of the philosophers, his are the most elevated."

So great was the veneration in which his memoi7 was held, that a temple was dedicated to him in Priend, wherein the inhabitants of that city paid him extraordinary honours.