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When Pericles； in giving up his accounts of this expedition；
stated a disbursement of ten talents； as laid out upon fit occasion；
the people； without any question； nor troubling themselves to
investigate the mystery； freely allowed of it。 And some historians； in
which number is Theophrastus the philosopher； have given it as a truth
that Pericles every year used to send privately the sum of ten talents
to Sparta； with which he complimented those in office； to keep off the
war； not to purchase peace neither； but time； that he might prepare at
leisure； and be the better able to carry on war hereafter。
Immediately after this； turning his forces against the revolters；
and passing over into the island of Euboea with fifty sail of ships
and five thousand men in arms； he reduced their cities； and drove
out the citizens of the Chalcidians； called Hippobotae； horse…feeders；
the chief persons for wealth and reputation among them； and removing
all the Histiaeans out of the country； brought in a plantation of
Athenians in their room； making them his one example of severity；
because they had captured an Attic ship and killed all on board。
After this； having made a truce between the Athenians and
Lacedaemonians for thirty years； he ordered； by public decree； the
expedition against the isle of Samos； on the ground； that； when they
were bid to leave off their war with the Milesians they had not
complied。 And as these measures against the Samians are thought to
have been taken to please Aspasia； this may be a fit point for inquiry
about the woman； what art or charming faculty she had that enabled her
to captivate； as she did； the greatest statesmen； and to give the
philosophers occasion to speak so much about her； and that； too； not
to her disparagement。 That she was a Milesian by birth； the daughter
of Axiochus； is a thing acknowledged。 And they say it was in emulation
of Thargelia； a courtesan of the old Ionian times； that she made her
addresses to men of great power。 Thargelia was a great beauty；
extremely charming； and at the same time sagacious； she had numerous
suitors among the Greeks； and brought all who had to do with her
over to the Persian interest； and by their means； being men of the
greatest power and station； sowed the seeds of the Median faction up
and down in several cities。 Aspasia； some say； was courted and
caressed by Pericles upon account of her knowledge and skill in
politics。 Socrates himself would sometimes go to visit her； and some
of his acquaintance with him； and those who frequented her company
would carry their wives with them to listen to her。 Her occupation was
anything but creditable； her house being a home for young
courtesans。 Aeschines tells us； also； that Lysicles； a sheep…dealer； a
man of low birth and character； by keeping Aspasia company after
Pericles's death； came to be a chief man in Athens。 And in Plato's
Menexenus； though we do not take the introduction as quite serious；
still thus much seems to be historical； that she had the repute of
being resorted to by many of the Athenians for instruction in the
art of speaking。 Pericles's inclination for her seems； however； to
have rather proceeded from the passion of love。 He had a wife that was
near of kin to him； who had been married first to Hipponicus； by
whom she had Callias； surnamed the Rich； and also she brought
Pericles； while she lived with him； two sons； Xanthippus and
Paralus。 Afterwards； when they did not well agree； nor like to live
together； he parted with her； with her own consent； to another man；
and himself took Aspasia； and loved her with wonderful affection；
every day； both as he went out and as he came in from the
market…place； he saluted and kissed her。
In the comedies she goes by the nicknames of the new Omphale and
Deianira； and again is styled Juno。 Cratinus； in downright terms；
calls her a harlot。
〃To find him a Juno the goddess of lust
Bore that harlot past shame；
Aspasia by name。〃
It should seem also that he had a son by her； Eupolis； in his Demi；
introduced Pericles asking after his safety； and Myronides replying…
〃My son？〃 〃He lives： a man he had been long；
But that the harlot…mother did him wrong。〃
Aspasia； they say； became so celebrated and renowned； that Cyrus； also
who made war against Artaxerxes for the Persian monarchy； gave her
whom he loved the best of all his concubines the name of Aspasia；
who before that was called Milto。 She was a Phocaean by birth； the
daughter of one Hermotimus； and； when Cyrus fell in battle； was
carried to the king； and had great influence at court。 These things
coming into my memory as I am writing this story； it would be
unnatural for me to omit them。
Pericles； however； was particularly charged with having proposed
to the assembly the war against the Samians； from favour to the
Milesians； upon the entreaty of Aspasia。 For the two states were at
war for the possession of Priene； and the Samians； getting the better；
refused to lay down their arms and to have the controversy betwixt
them decided by arbitration before the Athenians。 Pericles； therefore；
fitting out a fleet； went and broke up the oligarchical government
at Samos； and taking fifty of the principal men of the town as
hostages； and as many of their children； sent them to the isle of
Lemnos； there to be kept； though he had offers； as some relate； of a
talent apiece for himself from each one of the hostages； and of many
other presents from those who were anxious not to have a democracy。
Moreover； Pisuthnes the Persian； one of the king's lieutenants；
bearing some good…will to the Samians； sent him ten thousand pieces of
gold to excuse the city。 Pericles； however； would receive none of
all this； but after he had taken that course with the Samians which he
thought fit； and set up a democracy among them； sailed back to Athens。
But they； however； immediately revolted； Pisuthnes having privily
got away their hostages for them； and provided them with means for the
war。 Whereupon Pericles came out with a fleet a second time against
them； and found them not idle nor slinking away； but manfully resolved
to try for the dominion of the sea。 The issue was； that after a
sharp sea…fight about the island called Tragia； Pericles obtained a
decisive victory； having with forty…four ships routed seventy of the
enemy's； twenty of which were carrying soldiers。
Together with his victory and pursuit； having made himself master of
the port； he laid siege to the Samians； and blocked them up； who
yet； one way or another； still ventured to make sallies； and fight
under the city walls。 But after that another greater fleet from Athens
was arrived； and that the Samians were now shut up with a close
leaguer on every side； Pericles； taking with him sixty galleys； sailed
out into the main sea； with the intention； as most authors give the
account； to meet a squadron of Phoenician ships that were coming for
the Samians' relief； and to fight them at as great distance as could
be from the island； but； as Stesimbrotus says； with a design of
putting over to Cyprus； which does not seem to be probable。 But；
whichever of the two was his intention； it seems to have been a
miscalculation。 For on his departure； Melissus； the son of
Ithagenes； a philosopher； being at that time the general in Samos；
despising either the small number of the ships that were left or the
inexperience of the commanders； prevailed with the citizens to
attack the Athenians。 And the Samians having won the battle； and taken
several of the men prisoners； and disabled several of the ships；
were masters of the sea； and brought into port all necessaries they
wanted for the war； which they had not before。 Aristotle says； too；
that Pericles had been once before this worsted by this Melissus in
a sea…fight。
The Samians； that they might requite an affront which had before
been put upon them； branded the Athenians； whom they took prisoners；
in their foreheads； with the figure of an owl。 For so the Athenians
had marked them before with a Samaena； which is a sort of ship； low
and flat in the prow； so as to look snub…nosed； but wid