METROCLES  , a

Greek philosoper of the Cynic school, was a contemporary of Crates, under whose persuasion he deserted the views of Theophrastus . It was his sister, Hipparchia, whose romantic attachment to Crates is a fascinating sidelight on the almost truculent asceticism of the Cynics . He was a man of peculiar strength of character, and esteemed the joys of life so low that he was deterred from an early suicide only by the influence of Crates . His philosophical views, which were identical with those of Crates (q.v.), he expounded by precept and example with great success, and had among his pupils Menippus of Sinope . Having weighed the probable pains and pleasures of approaching old age, he decided that life had nothing left for which he greatly cared, and drowned himself . He is said to have written several works, which he afterwards burnt . Of one, entitled Xpetai, Diogenes preserves a single line (vi . 6) .