It is no matter.
Plotinus begins--'
Simplicius was one of the last philosophers who taught in Athens,
one of the seven who were driven forth when Justinian, in his zeal
for Christianity, closed the schools. Guided by a rumour that
supreme wisdom was to be found in Persia, the sages journeyed to
that kingdom, where disappointment awaited them. After long
wanderings and many hardships, Simplicius came to Rome, and now had
sojourned here for a year or two, teaching such few as in these days
gave any thought to philosophy. Poor, and perhaps unduly proud, he
preferred his own very humble lodging to the hospitality which more
than one friend had offered him; and his open disregard for
religious practices, together with singularities of life and
demeanour, sufficiently explained the trouble that had come upon
him. Charges of sorcery were not uncommon in Rome at this time. Some
few years ago a commission of senators had sat in judgment upon two
nobles accused of magic, a leading article of proof against one of
them being that he had a horse which, when stroked, gave off sparks
of fire.
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