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！
speaking； and were struck with amazement at the resemblance。
Reflecting； too； that he had a considerable estate； and was
descended of a noble family； and had friends of great influence； he
was fearful all this might bring him to be banished as a dangerous
person； and for this reason meddled not at all with state affairs； but
in military service showed himself of a brave and intrepid nature。 But
when Aristides was now dead； and Themistocles driven out； and Cimon
was for the most part kept abroad by the expeditions he made in
parts out of Greece； Pericles； seeing things in this posture； now
advanced and took his side； not with the rich and few； but with the
many and poor； contrary to his natural bent； which was far from
democratical； but； most likely fearing he might fall under suspicion
of aiming at arbitrary power； and seeing Cimon on the side of the
aristocracy； and much beloved by the better and more distinguished
people； he joined the party of the people； with a view at once both to
secure himself and procure means against Cimon。
He immediately entered； also； on quite a new course of life and
management of his time。 For he was never seen to walk in any street
but that which led to the market…place and council…hall； and he
avoided invitations of friends to supper； and all friendly visiting
and intercourse whatever； in all the time he had to do with the
public； which was not a little； he was never known to have gone to any
of his friends to a supper； except that once when his near kinsman
Euryptolemus married； he remained present till the ceremony of the
drink…offering； and then immediately rose from table and went his way。
For these friendly meetings are very quick to defeat any assumed
superiority； and in intimate familiarity an exterior of gravity is
hard to maintain。 Real excellence； indeed； is most recognized when
most openly looked into； and in really good men； nothing which meets
the eyes of external observers so truly deserves their admiration；
as their daily common life does that of their nearer friends。
Pericles； however； to avoid any feeling of commonness； or any
satiety on the part of the people； presented himself at intervals
only； not speaking to every business； nor at all times coming into the
assembly； but； as Critolaus says； reserving himself； like the
Salaminian galley； for great occasions； while matters of lesser
importance were despatched by friends or other speakers under his
direction。 And of this number we are told Ephialtes made one； who
broke the power of the council of Areopagus； giving the people；
according to Plato's expression； so copious and so strong a draught of
liberty； that growing wild and unruly； like an unmanageable horse； it；
as the comic poets say〃…
〃…got beyond all keeping in；
Champing at Euboea； and among the islands leaping in。〃
The style of speaking most consonant to his form of life and the
dignity of his views he found； so to say； in the tones of that
instrument with which Anaxagoras had furnished him； of his teaching he
continually availed himself； and deepened the colours of rhetoric with
the dye of natural science。 For having； in addition to his great
natural genius； attained； by the study of nature； to use the words
of the divine Plato； this height of intelligence； and this universal
consummating power； and drawing hence whatever might be of advantage
to him in the art of speaking； he showed himself far superior to all
others。 Upon which account； they say； he had his nickname given him；
though some are of opinion he was named the Olympian from the public
buildings with which he adorned the city； and others again； from his
great power in public affairs； whether of war or peace。 Nor is it
unlikely that the confluence of many attributes may have conferred
it on him。 However； the comedies represented at the time； which；
both in good earnest and in merriment； let fly many hard words at him；
plainly show that he got that appellation especially from his
speaking； they speak of his 〃thundering and lightning〃 when he
harangued the people； and of his wielding a dreadful thunderbolt in
his tongue。
A saying also of Thucydides； the son of Melesias； stands on
record； spoken by him by way of pleasantry upon Pericles's
dexterity。 Thucydides was one of the noble and distinguished citizens；
and had been his greatest opponent； and； when Archidamus； the King
of the Lacedaemonians； asked him whether he or Pericles were the
better wrestler； he made this answer： 〃When I；〃 said he； 〃have
thrown him and given him a fair fall； by persisting that he had no
fall； he gets the better of me； and makes the bystanders； in spite
of their own eyes； believe him。〃 The truth； however； is； that Pericles
himself was very careful what and how he was to speak； insomuch
that； whenever he went up to the hustings； he prayed the gods that
no one word might unawares slip from him unsuitable to the matter
and the occasion。
He has left nothing in writing behind him； except some decrees；
and there are but very few of his sayings recorded； one； for
example； is； that he said Aegina must； like a gathering in a man's
eye； be removed from Piraeus； and another； that he said he saw already
war moving on its way towards them out of Peloponnesus。 Again； when on
a time Sophocles； who was his fellow…commissioner in the
generalship； was going on board with him； and praised the beauty of
a youth they met with in the way to the ship； 〃Sophocles；〃 said he； 〃a
general ought not only to have clean hands but also clean eyes。〃 And
Stesimbrotus tells us that； in his encomium on those who fell in
battle at Samos； he said they were become immortal； as the gods
were。 〃For；〃 said he； 〃we do not see them themselves； but only by
the honours we pay them； and by the benefits they do us； attribute
to them immortality； and the like attributes belong also to those that
die in the service of their country。〃
Since Thucydides describes the rule of Pericles as an aristocratical
government； that went by the name of a democracy； but was； indeed； the
supremacy of a single great man； while many others say； on the
contrary； that by him the common people were first encouraged and
led on to such evils as appropriations of subject territory；
allowances for attending theatres； payments for performing public
duties； and by these bad habits were； under the influence of his
public measures； changed from a sober； thrifty people； that maintained
themselves by their own labours； to lovers of expense； intemperance；
and licence； let us examine the cause of this change by the actual
matters of fact。
At the first； as has been said； when he set himself against
Cimon's great authority； he did caress the people。 Finding himself
come short of his competitor in wealth and money； by which
advantages the other was enabled to take care of the poor； inviting
every day some one or other of the citizens that was in want to
supper； and bestowing clothes on the aged people； and breaking down
the hedges and enclosures of his grounds； that all that would might
freely gather what fruit they pleased； Pericles； thus outdone in
popular arts； by the