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and ranges of pillars； and outside had its roof made to slope and
descend from one single point at the top； was constructed； we are
told； in imitation of the King of Persia's Pavilion； this likewise
by Pericles's order； which Cratinus again； in his comedy called the
Thracian Women； made an occasion of raillery…
〃So； we see here；
Jupiter Long…pate Pericles appear；
Since ostracism time； he's laid aside his head；
And wears the new Odeum in its stead。〃
Pericles； also eager for distinction； then first obtained the decree
for a contest in musical skill to be held yearly at the Panathenaea；
and he himself； being chosen judge； arranged the order and method in
which the competitors should sing and play on the flute and on the
harp。 And both at that time； and at other times also； they sat in this
music…room to see and hear all such trials of skill。
The propylaea； or entrances to the Acropolis； were finished in
five years' time； Mnesicles being the principal architect。 A strange
accident happened in the course of building； which showed that the
goddess was not averse to the work； but was aiding and co…operating to
bring it to perfection。 One of the artificers； the quickest and the
handiest workman among them all； with a slip of his foot fell down
from a great height； and lay in a miserable condition； the
physicians having no hope of his recovery。 When Pericles was in
distress about this； Minerva appeared to him at night in a dream；
and ordered a course of treatment； which he applied； and in a short
time and with great ease cured the man。 And upon this occasion it
was that he set up a brass statue of Minerva； surnamed Health； in
the citadel near the altar； which they say was there before。 But it
was Phidias who wrought the goddess's image in gold； and he has his
name inscribed on the pedestal as the workman of it； and indeed the
whole work in a manner was under his charge； and he had； as we have
said already； the oversight over all the artists and workmen；
through Pericles's friendship for him； and this； indeed； made him much
envied； and his patron shamefully slandered with stories； as if
Phidias were in the habit of receiving； for Pericles's use； freeborn
women that came to see the works。 The comic writers of the town；
when they had got hold of this story； made much of it； and bespattered
him with all the ribaldry they could invent； charging him falsely with
the wife of Menippus； one who was his friend and served as
lieutenant under him in the wars； and with the birds kept by
Pyrilampes； an acquaintance of Pericles； who； they pretended； used
to give presents of peacocks to Pericles's female friends。 And how can
one wonder at any number of strange assertions from men whose whole
lives were devoted to mockery； and who were ready at any time to
sacrifice the reputation of their superiors to vulgar envy and
spite； as to some evil genius； when even Stesimbrotus the Thracian has
dared to lay to the charge of Pericles a monstrous and fabulous
piece of criminality with his son's wife？ So very difficult a matter
is it to trace and find out the truth of anything by history； when； on
the one hand； those who afterwards write it find long periods of
time intercepting their view； and； on the other hand； the contemporary
records of any actions and lives； partly through envy and ill…will；
partly through favour and flattery； pervert and distort truth。
When the orators； who sided with Thucydides and his party； were at
one time crying out； as their custom was； against Pericles； as one who
squandered away the public money； and made havoc of the state
revenues； he rose in the open assembly and put the question to the
people； whether they thought that he had laid out much； and they
saying； 〃Too much； a great deal；〃 〃Then；〃 said he； 〃since it is so；
let the cost not go to your account； but to mine； and let the
inscription upon the buildings stand in my name。〃 When they heard
him say thus； whether it were out of a surprise to see the greatness
of his spirit or out of emulation of the glory of the works； they
cried aloud； bidding him to spend on； and lay out what he thought
fit from the public purse； and to spare no cost； till all were
finished。
At length； coming to a final contest with Thucydides which of the
two should ostracism the other out of the country； and having gone
through this peril； he threw his antagonist out； and broke up the
confederacy that had been organized against him。 So that now all
schism and division being at an end； and the city brought to
evenness and unity； he got all Athens and all affairs that pertained
to the Athenians into his own hands； their tributes； their armies； and
their galleys； the islands； the sea； and their wide…extended power；
partly over other Greeks and partly over barbarians； and all that
empire； which they possessed； founded and fortified upon subject
nations and royal friendships and alliance。
After this he was no longer the same man he had been before； nor
as tame and gentle and familiar as formerly with the populace； so as
readily to yield to their pleasures and to comply with the desires
of the multitude； as a steersman shifts with the winds。 Quitting
that loose； remiss； and； in some cases； licentious court of the
popular will； he turned those soft and flowery modulations to the
austerity of aristocratical and regal rule； and employing this
uprightly and undeviatingly for the country's best interests； he was
able generally to lead the people along； with their own wills and
consents； by persuading and showing them what was to be done； and
sometimes； too； urging and pressing them forward extremely against
their will； he made them； whether they would or no； yield submission
to what was for their advantage。 In which； to say the truth； he did
but like a skilful physician； who； in a complicated and chronic
disease； as he sees occasion； at one while allows his patient the
moderate use of such things as please him； at another while gives
him keen pains and drug to work the cure。 For there arising and
growing up； as was natural； all manner of distempered feelings among a
people which had so vast a command and dominion； he alone； as a
great master； knowing how to handle and deal fitly with each one of
them； and； in an especial manner； making that use of hopes and
fears； as his two chief rudders； with the one to check the career of
their confidence at any time； with the other to raise them up and
cheer them when under any discouragement； plainly showed by this； that
rhetoric； or the art of speaking； is； in Plato's language； the
government of the souls of men； and that her chief business is to
address the affections and passions； which are as it were the
strings and keys to the soul； and require a skilful and careful
touch to be played on as they should be。 The source of this
predominance was not barely his power of language； but； as
Thucydides assures us； the reputation of his life； and the
confidence felt in his character； his manifest freedom from every kind
of corruption； and superiority to all considerations of money。
Notwithstanding he had made the city of Athens； wh