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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； at length； by this means； they came to
enact a decree； at the motion of Dracontides； that Pericles should
bring in the accounts of the moneys he had expended； and lodge them
with the Prytanes； and that the judges； carrying their suffrage from
the altar in the Acropolis； should examine and determine the
business in the city。 This last clause Hagnon took out of the
decree； and moved that the causes should be tried before fifteen
hundred jurors； whether they should be styled prosecutions for
robbery； or bribery； or any kind of malversation。 Aspasia； Pericles
begged off； shedding； as Aeschines says； many tears at the trial；
and personally entreating the jurors。 But fearing how it might go with
Anaxagoras； he sent him out of the city。 And finding that in Phidias's
case he had miscarried with the people； being afraid of impeachment；
he kindled the war； which hitherto had lingered and smothered； and
blew it up into a flame； hoping； by that means； to disperse and
scatter these complaints and charges； and to allay their jealousy； the
city usually throwing herself upon him alone； and trusting to his sole
conduct； upon the urgency of great affairs and public dangers； by
reason of his authority and the sway he bore。
These are given out to have been the reasons which induced
Pericles not to suffer the people of Athens to yield to the
proposals of the Lacedaemonians； but their truth is uncertain。
The Lacedaemonians； for their part； feeling sure that if they
could once remove him； they might be at what terms they pleased with
the Athenians； sent them word that they should expel the 〃Pollution〃
with which Pericles on the mother's side was tainted； as Thucydides
tells us。 But the issue proved quite contrary to what those who sent
the message expected； instead of bringing Pericles under suspicion and
reproach； they raised him into yet greater credit and esteem with
the citizens； as a man whom their enemies most hated and feared。 In
the same way； also； before Archidamus； who was at the head of the
Peloponnesians； made his invasion into Attica； he told the Athenians
beforehand； that if Archidamus； while he laid waste the rest of the
country； should forbear and spare his estate； either on the ground
of friendship or right of hospitality that was betwixt them； or on
purpose to give his enemies an occasion of traducing him； that then he
did freely bestow upon the state all his land and the buildings upon
it for the public use。 The Lacedaemonians； therefore； and their
allies； with a great army； invaded the Athenian territories； under the
conduct of King Archidamus； and laying waste the country； marched on
as far as Acharnae； and there pitched their camp； presuming that the
Athenians would never endure that； but would come out and fight them
for their country's and their honour's sake。 But Pericles looked
upon it as dangerous to engage in battle； to the risk of the city
itself； against sixty thousand men…at…arms of Peloponnesians and
Boeotians； for so many they were in number that made the inroad