XANTIPPE.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR.")
SIR,—In your article on " Xanthippe" last week I am surprised to find no mention of the fact that Socrates was twice married. This is stated by Diogenes Laertius, Athenmus, and Plutarch. It is borne out by the fact that Latuprocles was so much older than Sophroniscus and Menexenus (i1E4 71 s'PE7;,ic p.iv thEipoixtoY
af craidia, in the "Apologia ;" 17E4 yap a5riv aLcd diktxPas, =Ts 6I PErzc.—Pltxdo, 160-65). Diogenes Laertius tells us that there were differing reports as to which of his two wives Socrates married first. The Phxdo settles that the wife in the prison with Socrates was Xantippe. No name is mentioned in Mem. ii., 2, 1, where Lamprocles complains of his own mother's temper. Hence we must conclude that Xantippe is a much maligned woman, and that all the odium attaching to her name should be given to that of Myrto, Socrates' first wife. Myrto was the daughter (Laer- tius says, Plutarch says grand-daughter, Athenazus, great-grand daughter) of Aristides, and, therefore, of much nobler blood than Socrates ; yet so poor that Socrates married her out of charity to give her food and shelter. These two facts may account for her bad temper. Xantippe, the young wife of Socrates' old age, seems to have felt a sincere affection for him (l'Inedo). Your article must therefore be rechristened "The Defence of Myrto."— I am, Sir, &e.,
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