Pythagoras: His Life and Teaching, a Compendium of Classical Sources by James Wasserman, Thomas Stanley, Henry L. Drake, J Daniel Gunther Read Free Book Online Page A

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    The occasion is differently related by Laertius, who says Pythagoras died in this manner: As he sat in counsel together with his friends, in the house of Milo, it happened that the house was set on fire by one who did it out of envy, because he was not admitted. Some affirm the Crotonians did it out of fear of being reduced to a tyranny. Pythagoras, running away, was overtaken when, coming to a field full of beans, he made a stop saying, “It is better to be taken than to tread, and better to be killed than to speak.” So the pursuers slew him. In the same manner died most of his disciples, about forty in number. Some few only escaped, of whom were Archytas the Tarentine, and Lysis, of whom we spake before.
    Dicaearchus says that Pythagoras fled to the Temple of the Muses at Metapontum, and died for want of food, having lived there forty days without eating. Heraclides, in his Epitome of the Lives of Satyrus , relates that having buried Pherecydes, he returned to Italy where, finding the faction of Cyclo prevalent, he departed to Metapontum and there starved himself, not willing to live any longer. Hermippus says that the Agrigentines and Syracusians warring against one another, Pythagoras with his friends went to the Agrigentines and was head of them. But they being vanquished, and he flying to a field of beans, was there slain; the rest (being thirty five) were burned at Tarentum for intermeddling with the governors and rule of the commonwealth.
    Iamblichus, from Aristoxenus and others, gives a more particular account. There were, says he, some who opposed these men and rose up against them. That this conspiracy happened in the absence of Pythagoras is acknowledged by all; but they disagree concerning his journey. Some say he was gone to Pherecydes, the Syrian; others to Metapontum. The causes of this conspiracy are diversely related also.One is said to have proceeded from the men who were called Cylonians. Cylo, a Crotonian—who in race, honor, and wealth excelled all the rest of the citizens, but was otherwise of a harsh, violent, turbulent, and tyrannical humor—was exceedingly desirous to participate in the Pythagorean institution. Coming to Pythagoras, who was now very old, he was repulsed for the reasons aforesaid. Hereupon there arose a great contest, Cylo and his friends opposing Pythagoras and his friends. And so eager and violent was the malice of Cylo and his party, that it extended even to the last of the Pythagoreans. Pythagoras therefore for this reason departed to Metapontum where it is said that he died.
    The Cylonians (so called) continued to exercise their hatred and enmity towards the Pythagoreans, and the kindness of the cities (which was so great as to be governed by them) was prevalent. But at last, they so plotted against the Pythagoreans, that surprising them assembled in the house of Milo at Crotona consulting about military affairs, they burned them all except two, Archippus and Lysis, who being youthful and strong escaped out of doors.
    This falling out, and the cities not taking any notice of the misfortune, the Pythagoreans gave up their business. This happened from two causes: as well by reason of the unconcernment of the cities (for they had no regard of the murder, to punish the authors hereof), as by reason of the death of the most excellent persons—two only of them were saved, both Tarentum. But Lysis, out of hatred of the neglect they had received from the cities, departed into Greece and lived at Achaea in Peloponnesus. Thence, upon a particular design, he removed to Thebes, where Epimanondas heard him, and called him Father, and there he died.
    The rest of the Pythagoreans, all but Arthitas the Tarentine, forsook Italy and assembling at Rhegium, they lived there together. But in progress of time, the management of public affairs decayed. The most eminent of these were Phanto, and Echecrates, and Polymnastus, and Diocles (both Phliasians), and Xenophilus, a Chalcidean of Chalcis