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that by their very names they were not to be looked upon as native and
true Athenians； but foreigners and strangers； one being called
Lacedaemonius； another Thessalus； and the third Eleus and they were
all three of them； it was thought； born of an Arcadian woman。 Being；
however； ill spoken of on account of these ten galleys； as having
afforded but a small supply to the people that were in need； and yet
given a great advantage to those who might complain of the act of
intervention； Pericles sent out a larger force afterwards to
Corcyra； which arrived after the fight was over。 And when now the
Corinthians； angry and indignant with the Athenians； accused them
publicly at Lacedaemon； the Megarians joined with them； complaining
that they were； contrary to common right and the articles of peace
sworn to among the Greeks； kept out and driven away from every
market and from all ports under the control of the Athenians。 The
Aeginetans； also； professing to be ill…used and treated with violence；
made supplications in private to the Lacedaemonians for redress；
though not daring openly to call the Athenians in question。 In the
meantime； also； the city Potidaea； under the dominion of the
Athenians； but a colony formerly of the Corinthians； had revolted； and
was beset with a formal siege； and was a further occasion of
precipitating the war。
Yet notwithstanding all this； there being embassies sent to
Athens； and Archidamus； the King of the Lacedaemonians； endeavouring
to bring the greater part of the complaints and matters in dispute
to a fair determination； and to pacify and allay the heats of the
allies； it is very likely that the war would not upon any other
grounds of quarrel have fallen upon the Athenians； could they have
been prevailed with to repeal the ordinance against the Megarians； and
to be reconciled to them。 Upon which account； since Pericles was the
man who mainly opposed it； and stirred up the people's passions to
persist in their contention with the Megarians； he was regarded as the
sole cause of the war。
They say； moreover； that ambassadors went； by order； from Lacedaemon
to Athens about this very business； and that when Pericles was
urging a certain law which made it illegal to take down or withdraw
the tablet of the decree； one of the ambassadors； Polyalces by name；
said； 〃Well； do not take it down then； but turn it； there is no law； I
suppose； which forbids that；〃 which； though prettily said； did not
move Pericles from his resolution。 There may have been； in all
likelihood； something of a secret grudge and private animosity which
he had against the Megarians。 Yet； upon a public and open charge
against them； that they had appropriated part of the sacred land on
the frontier； he proposed a decree that a herald should be sent to
them； and the same also to the Lacedaemonians； with an accusation of
the Megarians； an order which certainly shows equitable and friendly
proceeding enough。 And after that the herald who was sent； by name
Anthemocritus； died； and it was believed that the Megarians had
contrived his death； then Charinus proposed a decree against them；
that there should be an irreconcilable and implacable enmity
thenceforward betwixt the two commonwealths； and that if any one of
the Megarians should but set his foot in Attica； he should be put to
death； and that the commanders； when they take the usual oath； should；
over and above that； swear that they will twice every year make an
inroad into the Megarian country； and that Anthemocritus should be
buried near the Thracian Gates； which are now called the Dipylon； or
Double Gate。
On the other hand； the Megarians； utterly denying and disowning
the murder of Anthemocritus； throw the whole matter upon Aspasia and
Pericles； availing themselves of the famous verses in the Acharnians…
〃To Megara some of our madcaps ran；
And stole Simaetha thence； their courtesan。
Which exploit the Megarians to outdo；
Came to Aspasia's house； and took off two。〃
The true occasion of the quarrel is not so easy to find out。 But
of inducing the refusal to annul the decree； all alike charge
Pericles。 Some say he met the request with a positive refusal； out
of high spirit and a view of the state's best interest； accounting
that the demand made in those embassies was designed for a trial of
their compliance； and that a concession would be taken for a
confession of weakness as if they durst not do otherwise； while
other some there are who say that it was rather out of arrogance and a
willful spirit of contention； to show his own strength； that he took
occasion to slight the Lacedaemonians。 The worst motive of all；
which is confirmed by most witnesses； is to the following effect：
Phidias the Moulder had； as has before been said； undertaken to make
the statue of Minerva。 Now he； being admitted to friendship with
Pericles； and a great favourite of his； had many enemies upon this
account； who envied and maligned him； who also； to make trial in a
case of his； what kind of judges the commons would prove； should there
be occasion to bring Pericles himself before them； having tampered
with Menon； one who had been a workman with Phidias； stationed him
in the market…place； with a petition desiring public security upon his
discovery and impeachment of Phidias。 The people admitting the man
to tell his story； and the prosecution proceeding in the assembly；
there was nothing of theft or cheat proved against him； for Phidias；
from the very first beginning； by the advice of Pericles； had so
wrought and wrapt the gold that was used in the work about the statue；
that they might take it all off； and make out the just weight of it；
which Pericles at that time bade the accuser do。 But the reputation of
his works was what brought envy upon Phidias； especially that where he
represents the fight of the Amazons upon the goddess's shield； he
had introduced a likeness of himself as a bald old man holding up a
great stone with both hands； and had put in a very fine representation
of Pericles fighting with an Amazon。 And the position of the hand
which holds out the spear in front of the face； was ingeniously
contrived to conceal in some degree the likeness； which meantime
showed itself on either side。
Phidias then was carried away to prison； and there died of a
disease； but； as some say； of poison； administered by the enemies of
Pericles； to raise a slander； or a suspicion at least； as though he
had procured it。 The informer Menon； upon Glycon's proposal； the
people made free from payment of taxes and customs； and ordered the
generals to take care that nobody should do him any hurt。 About the
same time； Aspasia was indicted of impiety； upon the complaint of
Hermippus the comedian； who also laid further to her charge that she
received into her house freeborn women for the uses of Pericles。 And
Diopithes proposed a decree； that public accusations should be laid
against persons who neglected religion； or taught new doctrines
about things above； directing suspicion； by means of Anaxagoras；
against Pericles himself。 The people receiving and admitting these
accusations and complaints；