The poetical philosophy, which the later Pythagoreans had extracted from the writings of the old Sicilian comedian Epicharmus of Megara (about 280), or rather had, at least for the most part, circulated under cover of his name, saw in the Greek gods natural substances, in Zeus the atmosphere, in the soul a particle of sun-dust, and so forth.

It is a remarkable indication of the expressed and conscious antagonism between religion and the new philosophy that Ennius already translated into Latin those notoriously destructive writings of Epicharmus and Euhemerus.

This is a truth as old as Epicharmus of fabulous memory [Greek: Thaumaston ouden esti me tauth outo legein Kal andanein autoisin autous kal dokein Kalos pethukenai kal gar ho kuon kuni Kalloton eimen phainetai koi bous boi Onos dono kalliston

Thirdly, for the mutual agreement, as being of the same kind: Sus sui, canis cani, bos bovi, et asinus asino pulcherrimus videtur, as Epicharmus held, and according to that adage of Diogenianus, Adsidet usque graculus apud graculum, they much delight in one another's company, Formicae grata est formica, cicada cicadae, and birds of a feather will gather together.

A STATUE OF THE HEAVENLY APHRODITE XVII.To EPICHARMUS XVIII.EPITAPH OF CLEITA, NURSE OF MEDEIUS XIX.TO

Read these lines to Epicharmus.

EPICHARMUS, ii. 107, n. 1. EPICTETUS, v. 279.

The first that thought of forming comick fables were Epicharmus and Phormys, and, consequently, this manner came from Sicily.

EPICHARMUS, a Greek philosopher and poet in the island of Cos; studied philosophy under Pythagoras; conceived a taste for comedy; gave himself up to that branch of the drama, and received the name of the "Father of Comedy"; lived eventually at the court of Hiero of Syracuse (540-430 B.C.).