CRATL'NUS, the son of Callimedea, a writer of the old oomedy, was born at Athena B.O. 519. It Is not known when he began to write comedies ; it is inferred however from the words of Aristophanes ('Eqq.' 524.530), that he did not appear as a dramatist till somewhat advanced in life. (Clinton, 'Fast' Hellenici,' vol. ii., p. 49.) He was the most formidable adversary of Ariatophanes : two occasions are recorded on which the judges pronounced 11Im only second to diet great poet; and In n.c. 423, the first prize was awarded to his comedy , called the Wine-Flask,' the Counne of Ameipsias being place-I second. and the 'Clouds' of Aristophenes third. lie died the year I after. Cratinus was highly esteemed by his countrymen, and at one I time, according to his rival Aristophanee, was so much in fashion, that no songs were listened to at banquets except chorused' from his comedies. In his old age he was much addicted to drinkiug; and in his last play he shows how his faithful wife 'Comedy' strove to get divorced from him in consequence of his exceeding love for his faseinatin; mistress the ' Wine-Flask.' (Scholiast on Ariatoph. 'Egg.' 401.) Aristophanes frequently alludes to thin failing of hi. con temporary. (For instance, the Peace,' 701.) The names of forty of his comedies have come down to us. 'Bibl. Grave,' ii., p. 431.) CltATIPPUS, a Peripatetic philosopher, born at Mitylene. lIe was
• contemporary and friend of Cicero, who thought him the first philosopher of the age ('De Offieiis: "a Cratippo nostro, principe Lukas memorise philoeophorom"), and intrusted his son Marcus to hie care at Athena. (' Do Officiis; I 1.) lie taught first in his native place, where he was still residing when Pompey came thither after the battle of he had an interview with the defeated general, with whom he conversed on providence. (Plutarch, 'Pomp.,' c. lxxv.) he went to Athens, and Cicero not only got him made a Roman citizen by Julius but even prevailed upon the Areopagus to vote that he should be requested to continue at Athens as an instructor of youth, since he was an ornament to the city. (Plutarch, ' Cicero,' c. sails) Brutus went to Athens to hear Cratippus while engaged in preparations to meet the army of the Triumvirate. (Plu tarch, 'Brutus,' C. :xis%) Cratippus wrote a treatise on divination, in which he allowed that kind which was derive 1 from dreams and the ravings of idiots, but denied all other sorts of divinatiou. (Cicero 'De Divinat,' I. 3 and 32.) In addition to his merits as philosopher, we are told that he was an amusing companion, an gifted with great powers of conversation. (Cicero, ' Ad Familiares,' xvi. 21.)