Political Fragments of Archytas, Charondas, Zaleucus + Hierocles

Seneca, however, Diodorus Siculus, Diogenes Laertius, Porphyry, and Iamblichus make both Charondas and Zaleucus to be the disciples of Pythagoras; yet Dr. Bentley, in his Dissertation on Phalaris, seems more disposed to think that they were not Pythagoreans than that they were. At the conclusion, however, of his discussion of this subject, he says, “I do not assert anything positively on either side of this whole debate about the two lawgivers [Charondas and Zaleucus]. I rather desire to remain neutral, till the matter shall be decided by some abler hand.” But the man of intellect who reads this concession of the doctor will doubtless laugh when he finds him also asserting, “Thus much I am sure may be safely concluded, that if Zaleucus was really Pythagoras’ disciple, the learned Mr. Dodwell’s calculation must be wrong [respecting the age of Pythagoras].” For