Page:Plutarch's Lives (Clough, v.5, 1865).djvu/13

DEMOSTHENES. 5 posed very harshly and disagreeably. So much, as Plato says, for such matters. The first occasion of his eager inclination to oratory, they say, was this. Callistratus, the orator, being to plead in open com-t for Oropus, the expectation of the issue of that cause was very great, as well for the ability of the orator, who was then at the height of his reputation, as also for the fame of the action itself Therefore, Demos- thenes, having heard the tutors and schoolmasters agree- ing among themselves to be present at this trial, with much importunity persuades his tutor to take him along with him to the hearing ; who, having some acquaintance with the doorkeepers, procured a place Avhere the boy might sit imseen, and hear what was said. Callistratus having got the day, and being much admired, the boy began to look upon his glory with a kind of emulation, observing how he was courted on all hands, and attended on his way by the multitude ; but his wonder was more than all excited by the power of his eloquence, which seemed able to subdue and win over any thing. From this time, therefore, bidding forewell to other sorts of learning and study, he now began to exercise himself, and to take pains in declaiming, as one that meant to be himself also ah oratoi'. He made use of Isteus as his guide to the ai't of speaking, though Isocrates at that time was giving lessons ; whether, as some say, because he was an orphan, and was not able to pay Isocrates his appointed fee of ten minte, or because he preferred Isaaus's speaking, as being more business-like and effective in actual use. Hermippus says, that he met with certain memoirs without any author's name, in which it was written that Demosthenes was a scholar to Plato, and learnt much of his eloquence from him ; and he also men- tions Ctesibius, as reporting from Callias of Syracuse and some others, that Demosthenes secretly obtained a knowl-