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goldsmiths； ivory…workers； painters； embroiderers； turners； those
again that conveyed them to the town for use； merchants and mariners
and ship…masters by sea； and by land； cartwrights； cattle…breeders；
wagoners； rope…makers； flax…workers； shoemakers and
leather…dressers； road…makers； miners。 And every trade in the same
nature； as a captain in an army has his particular company of soldiers
under him； had its own hired company of journeymen and labourers
belonging to it banded together as in array； to be as it were the
instrument and body for the performance of the service。 Thus； to say
all in a word； the occasions and services of these public works
distributed plenty through every age and condition。
As then grew the works up； no less stately in size than exquisite in
form； the workmen striving to outvie the material and the design
with the beauty of their workmanship； yet the most wonderful thing
of all was the rapidity of their execution。
Undertakings； any one of which singly might have required； they
thought； for their completion； several successions and ages of men；
were every one of them accomplished in the height and prime of one
man's political service。 Although they say； too； that Zeuxis once；
having heard Agatharchus the painter boast of despatching his work
with speed and ease； replied； 〃I take a long time。〃 For ease and speed
in doing a thing do not give the work lasting solidity or exactness of
beauty； the expenditure of time allowed to a man's pains beforehand
for the production of a thing is repaid by way of interest with a
vital force for the preservation when once produced。 For which
reason Pericles's works are especially admired； as having been made
quickly； to last long。 For every particular piece of his work was
immediately； even at that time； for its beauty and elegance；
antique； and yet in its vigour and freshness looks to this day as if
it were just executed。 There is a sort of bloom of newness upon
those works of his； preserving them from the touch of time； as if they
had some perennial spirit and undying vitality mingled in the
composition of them。
Phidias had the oversight of all the works； and was
surveyor…general； though upon the various portions other great masters
and workmen were employed。 For Callicrates and Ictinus built the
Parthenon； the chapel at Eleusis； where the mysteries were celebrated；
was begun by Coroebus； who erected the pillars that stand upon the
floor or pavement； and joined them to the architraves； and after his
death Metagenes of Xypete added the frieze and the upper line of
columns； Xenocles of Cholargus roofed or arched the lantern on top
of the temple of Castor and Pollux； and the long wall； which
Socrates says he himself heard Pericles propose to the people； was
undertaken by Callicrates。 This work Cratinus ridicules； as long in
finishing…
〃'Tis long since Pericles； if words would do it；
Talked up the wall； yet adds not one mite to it。〃
The Odeum； or music…room； which in its interior was full of seats
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