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itself； against sixty thousand men…at…arms of Peloponnesians and
Boeotians； for so many they were in number that made the inroad at
first； and he endeavoured to appease those who were desirous to fight；
and were grieved and discontented to see how things went； and gave
them good words； saying； that 〃trees； when they are lopped and cut；
grow up again in a short time； but men； being once lost； cannot easily
be recovered。〃 He did not convene the people into an assembly； for
fear lest they should force him to act against his judgment； but； like
a skilful steersman or pilot of a ship； who； when a sudden squall
comes on； out at sea； makes all his arrangements； sees that all is
tight and fast； and then follows the dictates of his skill； and
minds the business of the ship； taking no notice of the tears and
entreaties of the sea…sick and fearful passengers； so he； having
shut up the city gates； and placed guards at all posts for security；
followed his own reason and judgment； little regarding those that
cried out against him and were angry at his management； although there
were a great many of his friends that urged him with requests； and
many of his enemies threatened and accused him for doing as he did；
and many made songs and lampoons upon him； which were sung about the
town to his disgrace； reproaching him with the cowardly exercise of
his office of general； and the tame abandonment of everything to the
enemy's hands。
Cleon； also； already was among his assailants； making use of the
feeling against him as a step to the leadership of the people； as
appears in the anapaestic verses of Hermippus…
〃Satyr…king； instead of swords；
Will you always handle words？
Very brave indeed we find them；
But a Teles lurks behind them。
〃Yet to gnash your teeth you're seen；
When the little dagger keen；
Whetted every day anew；
Of sharp Cleon touches you。〃
Pericles； however； was not at all moved by any attacks； but took all
patiently； and submitted in silence to the disgrace they threw upon
him and the ill…will they bore him； and； sending out a fleet of a
hundred galleys to Peloponnesus； he did not go along with it in
person； but stayed behind； that he might watch at home and keep the
city under his own control； till the Peloponnesians broke up their
camp and were gone。 Yet to soothe the common people； jaded and
distressed with the war； he relieved them with distributions of public
moneys； and ordained new divisions of subject land。 For having
turned out all the people of Aegina； he parted the island among the
Athenians according to lot。 Some comfort also； and ease in their
miseries； they might receive from what their enemies endured。 For
the fleet； sailing round the Peloponnese； ravaged a great deal of
the country； and pillaged and plundered the towns and smaller
cities； and by land he himself entered with an army the Megarian
country； and made havoc of it all。 Whence it is clear that the
Peloponnesians； though they did the Athenians much mischief by land；
yet suffering as much themselves from them by sea； would not have
protracted the war to such a length； but would quickly have given it
over； as Pericles at first foretold they would； had not some divine
power crossed human purposes。
In the first place； the pestilential disease； or plague； seized upon
the city； and ate up all the flower and prime of their youth and
strength。 Upon occasion of which； the people； distempered and
afflicted in their souls； as well as in their bodies； were utterly
enraged like madmen against Pericles； and； like patients grown
delirious； sought to lay violent hands on their physician； or； as it
were； their father。 They had been possessed； by his enemies； with
the belief that the occasion of the plague was the crowding of the
country people together into the town forced as they were now； in
the heat of the summer…weather； to dwell many of them together even as
they could； in small tenements and stifling hovels； and to be tied
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 t