按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
to a lazy course of life within doors； whereas before they lived in
a pure； open； and free air。 The cause and author of all this； said
they； is he who on account of the war has poured a multitude of people
in upon us within the walls； and uses all these men that he has here
upon no employ or service； but keeps them pent up like cattle； to be
overrun with infection from one another； affording them neither
shift of quarters nor any refreshment。
With the design to remedy these evils； and do the enemy some
inconvenience； Pericles got a hundred and fifty galleys ready； and
having embarked many tried soldiers； both foot and horse； was about to
sail out； giving great hope to his citizens； and no less alarm to
his enemies； upon the sight of so great a force。 And now the vessels
having their complement of men； and Pericles being gone aboard his own
galley； it happened that the sun was eclipsed； and it grew dark on a
sudden； to the affright of all； for this was looked upon as
extremely ominous。 Pericles； therefore； perceiving the steersman
seized with fear and at a loss what to do； took his cloak and held
it up before the man's face； and screening him with it so that he
could not see； asked him whether he imagined there was any great hurt；
or the sign of any great hurt in this； and he answering No； 〃Why；〃
said he； 〃and what does that differ from this； only that what has
caused that darkness there； is something greater than a cloak？〃 This
is a story which philosophers tell their scholars。 Pericles；
however； after putting out to sea； seems not to have done any other
exploit befitting such preparations； and when he had laid siege to the
holy city Epidaurus； which gave him some hope of surrender； miscarried
in his design by reason of the sickness。 For it not only seized upon
the Athenians； but upon all others； too； that held any sort of
communication with the army。 Finding after this the Athenians
ill…affected and highly displeased with him； he tried and
endeavoured what he could to appease and re…encourage them。 But he
could not pacify or allay their anger； nor persuade or prevail with
them any way； till they freely passed their votes upon him； resumed
their power； took away his command from him； and fined him in a sum of
money； which by their account that say least； was fifteen talents；
while they who reckon most； name fifty。 The name prefixed to the
accusation was Cleon； as Idomeneus tells us； Simmias； according to
Theophrastus； and Heraclides Ponticus gives it as Lacratidas。
After this； public troubles were soon to leave him unmolested； the
people； so to say； discharged their passion in their stroke； and
lost their stings in the wound。 But his domestic concerns were in an
unhappy condition； many of his friends and acquaintance having died in
the plague time； and those of his family having long since been in
disorder and in a kind of mutiny against him。 For the eldest of his
lawfully begotten sons； Xanthippus by name； being naturally
prodigal； and marrying a young and expensive wife； the daughter of
Tisander； son of Epilycus； was highly offended at his father's economy
in making him but a scanty allowance； by little and little at a
time。 He sent； therefore； to a friend one day and borrowed some
money of him in his father Pericles's name； pretending it was by his
order。 The man coming afterward to demand the debt； Pericles was so
far from yielding to pay it； that he entered an action against him。
Upon which the young man； Xanthippus； thought himself so ill…used
and disobliged that he openly reviled his father； telling first； by
way of ridicule； stories about his conversations at home； and the
discourses he had with the sophists and scholars that came to his
house。 As； for instance； how one who was a practicer of the five games
of skill； having with a dart or javelin unawares against his will
struck and killed Epitimus the Pharsalian； his father spent a whole
day with Protagoras in a serious dispute； whether the javelin； or
the man that threw it； or the masters of the games who appointed these
sports； were； according to the strictest and best reason； to be
accounted the cause of this mischance。 Besides this； Stesimbrotus
tells us that it was Xanthippus who spread abroad among the people the
infamous story concerning his own wife； and in general that this
difference of the young man's with his father； and the breach
betwixt them； continued never to be healed or made up till his
death。 For Xanthippus died in the plague time of the sickness。 At
which time Pericles also lost his sister； and the greatest part of his
relations and friends； and those who had been most useful and
serviceable to him in managing the affairs of state。 However； he did
not shrink or give in upon these occasions； nor betray or lower his
high spirit and the greatness of his mind under all his misfortunes；
he was not even so much as seen to weep or to mourn； or even attend
the burial of any of his friends or relations； till at last he lost
his only remaining legitimate son。 Subdued by this blow； and yet
striving still； as far as he could； to maintain his principle； and
to preserve and keep up the greatness of his soul； when he came；
however； to perform the ceremony of putting a garland of flowers
upon the head of the corpse； he was vanquished by his passion at the
sight； so that he burst into exclamations； and shed copious tears；
having never done any such thing in his life before。
The city having made trial of other generals for the conduct of war；
and orators for business of state； when they found there was no one
who was of weight enough for such a charge； or of authority sufficient
to be trusted with so great a command regretted the loss of him； and
invited him again to address and advise them； and to reassume the
office of general。 He； however； lay at home in dejection and mourning；
but was persuaded by Alcibiades and others of his friends to come
abroad and show himself to the people； who having； upon his
appearance； made their acknowledgments； and apologized for their
untowardly treatment of him he undertook the public affairs once more；
and； being chosen general； requested that the statute concerning
base…born children； which he himself had formerly caused to be made；
might be suspended； that so the name and race of his family might not；
for absolute want of a lawful heir to succeed； be wholly lost and
extinguished。 The case of the statute was thus： Pericles； when long
ago at the height of his power in the state； having then； as has
been said； children lawfully begotten； proposed a law that those
only should be reputed true citizens of Athens who were born of such
parents as were both Athenians。 After this； the King of Egypt having
sent to the people； by way of present； forty thousand bushels of
wheat； which were to be shared out among the citizens； a great many
actions and suits about legitimacy occurred； by virtue of that
edict； cases which； till that time； had not been known nor taken
notice of； and several persons suffered by false accusations。 There
were little less than five thousand who were convicted and sold for
slaves； those who； enduring the test