Menippus's Life
I. Menippus was also a Cynic, and a Phœnician by descent, a slave by birth, as Achaicus tells us in his Ethics; and Diocles informs us that his master was a native of Pontus, of the name of Baton; but that subsequently, in consequence of his importunities and miserly habits, he became rich, and obtained the rights of citizenship at Corinth.
I. Menippus was also a Cynic. He was of Phoenician descent and, according to Achaicus in his Ethics, was born a slave. Diocles says that his master was a man from Pontus named Baton. But Menippus later became rich through persistent begging and miserly habits, and gained citizenship in Corinth.
II. He never wrote anything serious; but his writings are full of ridiculous matter; and in some respects similar to those of Meleager, who was his contemporary. And Hermippus tells us that he was a man who lent money at daily interest, and that he was called a usurer; for he used to lend on nautical usury, and take security, so that he amassed a very great amount of riches.
II. He never wrote anything serious, but his writings are full of ridiculous material. In some ways, they resemble the writings of his contemporary Meleager. Hermippus tells us that he lent money at daily interest and was called a usurer. He charged interest on maritime loans and took security, amassing a great fortune.
III. But at last he fell into a snare, and lost all his money, and in a fit of despair he hung himself, and so he died. And we have written a playful epigram on him:—
III. But in the end he fell into a trap and lost all his money. In despair, he hanged himself and died. We have written a playful epigram about him:
This man was a Syrian by birth, And a Cretan usurious hound, As the name he was known by sets forth, You’ve heard of him oft I’ll be bound; His name was Menippus—men entered his house, And stole all his goods without leaving a louse, When (from this the dog’s nature you plainly may tell) He hung himself up, and so went off to hell.
This man was born in Syria, And was a Cretan loan shark and hound, As the name he was known by shows. You have surely heard of him often. His name was Menippus. Men entered his house And stole all his possessions, leaving not even a louse. Then (you can clearly see the dog's nature from this) He hanged himself, and so went off to hell.
IV. But some say that the books attributed to him are not really his work, but are the composition of Dionysius and Zopyrus the Colophonians, who wrote them out of joke, and then gave them to him as a man well able to dispose of them.
IV. But some say that the books attributed to him were not actually his work. They say Dionysius and Zopyrus of Colophon wrote the books as a joke. The two then gave the books to him because he was well able to sell them.
V. There were six persons of the name of Menippus; the first was the man who wrote a history of the Lydians, and made an abridgment of Xanthus; the second was this man of whom we have been speaking; the third was a sophist of Stratonice, a Carian by descent; the fourth was a statuary; the fifth and the sixth were painters, and they are both mentioned by Apollodorus.
V. There were six people named Menippus. The first wrote a history of the Lydians and an abridgment of Xanthus. The second was the man we have been discussing. The third was a sophist from Stratonice, of Carian descent. The fourth was a sculptor. The fifth and sixth were painters, both mentioned by Apollodorus.
VI. The writings left by the Cynic amount to thirteen volumes; a Description of the Dead; a volume called Wills; a volume of Letters in which the Gods are introduced; treatises addressed to the Natural Philosophers, and Mathematicians, and Grammarians; one on the Generations of Epicurus, and on the Observance of the Twentieth Day by the philosophers of his school; and one or two other essays.
VI. The Cynic left thirteen volumes of writings. These include a Description of the Dead, a volume called Wills, and a volume of Letters featuring the Gods. They also include treatises addressed to natural philosophers, mathematicians, and grammarians. One work concerns the Generations of Epicurus and the observance of the Twentieth Day by philosophers of his school. There are also one or two other essays.