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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 advice of one Damonides of Oea； as Aristotle
states； turned to the distribution of the public moneys； and in a
short time having bought the people over； what with moneys allowed for
shows and for service on juries； and what with other forms of pay
and largess； he made use of them against the council of Areopagus of
which he himself was no member； as having never been appointed by lot…
either chief archon； or lawgiver； or king； or captain。 For from of old
these offices were conferred on persons by lot； and they who had
acquitted themselves duly in the discharge of them were advanced to
the court of Areopagus。 And so Pericles； having secured his power in
interest with the populace； directed the exertions of his party
against this council with such success； that most of these causes
and matters which had been used to be tried there were； by the
agency of Ephialtes； removed from its cognisance； Cimon； also； was
banished by ostracism as a favourer of the Lacedaemonians and a
hater of the people； though in wealth and noble birth he was among the
first； and had won several most glorious victories over the
barbarians； and had filled the city with money and spoils of war； as
is recorded in the history of his life。 So vast an authority had
Pericles obtained among the people。
The ostracism was limited by law to ten years； but the
Lacedaemonians； in the meantime； entering with a great army into the
territory of Tanagra； and the Athenians going out against them； Cimon；
coming from his banishment before his time was out； put himself in
arms and array with those of his fellow…citizens that were of his
own tribe； and desired by his deeds to wipe off the suspicion of his
favouring the Lacedaemonians； by venturing his own person along with
his countrymen。 But Pericles's friends； gathering in a body； forced
him to retire as a banished man。 For which cause also Pericles seems
to have exerted himself more in that than in any battle； and to have
been conspicuous above all for his exposure of himself to danger。
All Cimon's friends； also； to a man； fell together side by side；
whom Pericles had accused with him of taking part with the
Lacedaemonians。 Defeated in this battle on their own frontiers； and
expecting a new and perilous attack with return of spring； the
Athenians now felt regret and sorrow for the loss of Cimon； and
repentance for their expulsion of him。 Pericles； being sensible of
their feelings； did not hesitate or delay to gratify it； and himself
made the motion for recalling him home。 He； upon his return； concluded
a peace betwixt the two cities； for the Lacedaemonians entertained
as kindly feelings towards him as they did the reverse towards
Pericles and the other popular leaders。
Yet some there are who say that Pericles did not propose the order
for Cimon's return till some private articles of agreement had been
made between them； and this by means of Elpinice； Cimon's sister； that
Cimon； namely； should go out to sea with a fleet of two hundred ships；
and be commander…in…chief abroad； with a design to reduce th