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！
of corruption； and superiority to all considerations of money。
Notwithstanding he had made the city of Athens； which was great of
itself； as great and rich as can be imagined； and though he were
himself in power and interest more than equal to many kings and
absolute rulers； who some of them also bequeathed by will their
power to their children； he； for his part； did not make the
patrimony his father left him greater than it was by one drachma。
Thucydides； indeed； gives a plain statement of the greatness of
his power； and the comic poets； in their spiteful manner； more than
hint at it； styling his companions and friends the new
Pisistratidae； and calling on him to abjure any intention of
usurpation； as one whose eminence was too great to be any longer
proportionable to and compatible with a democracy or popular
government。 And Teleclides says the Athenians had surrendered up to
him…
〃The tribute of the cities； and with them； the cities too；
to do with them as he pleases； and undo；
To build up； if he likes； stone walls around a town； and again；
if so he likes； to pull them down；
Their treaties and alliances； power； empire； peace； and war；
their wealth and their success forever more。〃
Nor was all this the luck of some happy occasion； nor was it the
mere bloom and grace of a policy that flourished for a season； but
having for forty years together maintained the first place among
statesmen such as Ephialtes and Leocrates and Myronides and Cimon
and Tolmides and Thucydides were； after the defeat and banishment of
Thucydides； for no less than fifteen years longer； in the exercise
of one continuous unintermitted command in the office； to which he was
annually re…elected； of General； he preserved his integrity unspotted；
though otherwise he was not altogether idle or careless in looking
after his pecuniary advantage； his paternal estate； which of right
belonged to him； he so ordered that it might neither through
negligence he wasted or lessened； nor yet； being so full of business
as he was； cost him any great trouble or time with taking care of
it； and put it into such a way of management as he thought to be the
most easy for himself； and the most exact。 All his yearly products and
profits he sold together in a lump； and supplied his household needs
afterwards by buying everything that he or his family wanted out of
the market。 Upon which account； his children； when they grew to age；
were not well pleased with his management； and the women that lived
with him were treated with little cost； and complained of his way of
housekeeping； where everything was ordered and set down from day to
day； and reduced to the greatest exactness； since there was not there；
as is usual in a great family and a plentiful estate； anything to
spare； or over and above； but all that went out or came in； all
disbursements and all receipts； proceeded as it were by number and
measure。 His manager in all this was a single servant； Evangelus by
name； a man either naturally gifted or instructed by Pericles so as to
excel every one in this art of domestic economy。
All this； in truth； was very little in harmony with Anaxagoras's
wisdom； if； indeed； it be true that he； by a kind of divine impulse
and greatness of spirit； voluntarily quitted his house； and left his
land to lie fallow and to be grazed by sheep like a common。 But the
life of a contemplative philosopher and that of an active statesman
are； I presume； not the same thing； for the one merely employs； upon
great and good objects of thought； an intelligence that requires no
aid of instruments nor supply of any external materials； whereas the
other； who tempers and applies his virtue to human uses； may have
occasion for affluence； not as a matter of necessity； but as a noble
thing； which was Pericles's case； who relieved numerous poor citizens。
However； there is a story that Anaxagoras himself； while Pericles
was taken up with public affairs； lay neglected； and that； now being
grown old； he wrapped himself up with a resolution to die for want
of food； which being by chance brought to Pericles's ear； he was
horror…struck； and instantly ran thither； and used all the arguments
and entreaties he could to him； lamenting not so much Anaxagoras's
condition as his own； should he lose such a counsellor as he had found
him to be； and that； upon this； Anaxagoras unfolded his robe； and
showing himself； made answer： 〃Pericles；〃 said he； 〃even those who
have occasion for a lamp supply it with oil。〃
The Lacedaemonians beginning to show themselves troubled at the
growth of the Athenian power； Pericles； on the other hand； to
elevate the people's spirit yet more； and to raise them to the thought
of great actions； proposed a decree； to summon all the Greeks in what；
part soever； whether of Europe or Asia； every city； little as well
as great； to send their deputies to Athens to a general assembly； or
convention； there to consult and advise concerning the Greek temples
which the barbarians had burnt down； and the sacrifices which were due
from them upon vows they had made to their gods for the safety of
Greece when they fought against the barbarians； and also concerning
the navigation of the sea； that they might henceforward pass to and
fro and trade securely and be at peace among themselves。
Upon this errand there were twenty men； of such as were above
fifty years of age； sent by commission； five to summon the Ionians and
Dorians in Asia； and the islanders as far as Lesbos and Rhodes； five
to visit all the places in the Hellespont and Thrace； up to Byzantium；
and other five besides these to go to Boeotia and Phocis and
Peloponnesus； and from hence to pass through the Locrians over to
the neighbouring continent as far as Acarnania and Ambracia； and the
rest to take their course through Euboea to the Oetaeans and the
Malian Gulf； and to the Achaeans of Phthiotis and the Thessalians； all
of them to treat with the people as they passed； and persuade them
to come and take their part in the debates for settling the peace
and jointly regulating the affairs of Greece。
Nothing was effected； nor did the cities meet by their deputies；
as was desired； the Lacedaemonians； as it is said； crossing the design
underhand； and the attempt being disappointed and baffled first in
Peloponnesus。 I thought fit； however； to introduce the mention of
it； to show the spirit of the man and the greatness of his thoughts。
In his military conduct； he gained a great reputation for
wariness； he would not by his good…will engage in any fight which
had much uncertainty or hazard； he did not envy the glory of
generals whose rash adventures fortune favoured with brilliant
success； however they were admired by others； nor did he think them
worthy his imitation； but always used to say to his citizens that；
so far as lay in his power； they should continue immortal； and live
for ever。 Seeing Tolmides； the son of Tolmaeus； upon the confidence of
his former successes； and flushed with the honour his military actions
had procured him； making preparations to attack the Boeotians in their
own country when there was no likely opportu