[898]. Diog. ix. 24 (R. P. 141).
[899]. It is no longer necessary to discuss the passages which used to appear as frs. 1-5 of Melissos, as it has been proved by A. Pabst that they are merely a paraphrase of the genuine fragments (De Melissi Samii fragmentis, Bonn, 1889). Almost simultaneously I had independently come to the same conclusion (see the first edition, § 138). Zeller and Diels have both accepted Pabst’s demonstration, and the supposed fragments have been relegated to the notes in the last edition of R. P. I still believe, however, that the fragment which I have numbered 1a is genuine. See next note.
[900]. These words come from the beginning of the paraphrase which was so long mistaken for the actual words of Melissos (Simpl. Phys. p. 103, 18; R. P. 142 a), and Diels has accordingly removed them along with the rest. I believe them to be genuine because Simplicius, who had access to the complete work, introduces them by the words ἄρχεται τοῦ συγγράμματος οὕτως, and because they are thoroughly Eleatic in character. It is quite natural that the first words of the book should be prefixed to the paraphrase.
[901]. This fragment is quoted by Simpl. de Caelo, p. 557, 16 (R. P. 144). The insertion of the word “infinite” is justified by the paraphrase (R. P. 144 a) and by M.X.G. 974 a 11, πᾶν δὲ ἄπειρον ὂν <ἓν> εἶναι· εἰ γὰρ δύο ἢ πλείω εἴη, πέρατ’ ἂν εἶναι ταῦτα πρὸς ἄλληλα.
[902]. I have ventured to insert this, though the actual words are nowhere quoted, and it is not in Diels. It is represented in the paraphrase (R. P. 145 a) and in M.X.G. 974 a 13 (R. P. 144 a).
[903]. Reading ὁμουρέων with Bergk. Diels keeps the MS. ὀμοῦ ῥέων; Zeller (p. 613, n. 1) conjectures ὑπ’ ἰοῦ ῥέων.
[904]. I read εἰ μὲν οὖν εἴη with E F for the εἰ μὲν ὂν εἴη of D. The ἐὸν which still stands in R. P. is a piece of local colour due to the editors. Diels also now reads οὖν (Vors. p. 149, 2).
[905]. Diels now reads ἀλλὰ with E for the ἅμα of F, and attaches the word to the next sentence.
[906]. Arist. Phys. Α, 3. 186 a 7 (R. P. 143 a). Aristotle finds two flaws in the Eleatic reasoning: (1) ψευδῆ λαμβάνουσιν; (2) ἀσυλλόγιστοί εἰσιν αὐτῶν οἱ λόγοι. This is the first of these flaws. It is also mentioned in Soph. El. 168 b 35 (R. P. ib.). So Eudemos ap. Simpl. Phys. p. 105, 24, οὐ γὰρ, εἰ τὸ γενόμενον ἀρχὴν ἔχει, τὸ μὴ γενόμενον ἀρχὴν οὐκ ἔχει, μᾶλλον δὲ τὸ μὴ ἔχον ἀρχὴν οὐκ ἐγένετο.
[907]. The real reason is given in the paraphrase in Simpl. Phys. p. 103, 21 (R. P. 142 a), συγχωρεῖται γὰρ καὶ τοῦτο ὑπὸ τῶν φυσικῶν, though of course Melissos himself would not have put it in that way. He regarded himself as a φυσικός like the rest; but, from the time of Aristotle, it was a commonplace that the Eleatics were not φυσικοί, since they denied motion.