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from those passages where they treat of the same subject。 The
execution of the Spartan heralds； Nicolaos and Aneristos； during
the Peloponnesian War is regarded by Herodotus as one of the most
supernatural instances of the workings of nemesis and the wrath of
an outraged hero； while the lengthened siege and ultimate fall of
Troy was brought about by the avenging hand of God desiring to
manifest unto men the mighty penalties which always follow upon
mighty sins。 But Thucydides either sees not； or desires not to
see； in either of these events the finger of Providence； or the
punishment of wicked doers。 The death of the heralds is merely an
Athenian retaliation for similar outrages committed by the opposite
side； the long agony of the ten years' siege is due merely to the
want of a good commissariat in the Greek army； while the fall of
the city is the result of a united military attack consequent on a
good supply of provisions。
Now； it is to be observed that in this latter passage； as well as
elsewhere； Thucydides is in no sense of the word a sceptic as
regards his attitude towards the truth of these ancient legends。
Agamemnon and Atreus； Theseus and Eurystheus； even Minos； about
whom Herodotus has some doubts； are to him as real personages as
Alcibiades or Gylippus。 The points in his historical criticism of
the past are； first； his rejection of all extra…natural
interference； and； secondly； the attributing to these ancient
heroes the motives and modes of thought of his own day。 The
present was to him the key to the explanation of the past； as it
was to the prediction of the future。
Now； as regards his attitude towards the supernatural he is at one
with modern science。 We too know that； just as the primeval coal…
beds reveal to us the traces of rain…drops and other atmospheric
phenomena similar to those of our own day； so； in estimating the
history of the past； the introduction of no force must be allowed
whose workings we cannot observe among the phenomena around us。 To
lay down canons of ultra…historical credibility for the explanation
of events which happen to have preceded us by a few thousand years；
is as thoroughly unscientific as it is to intermingle preternatural
in geological theories。
Whatever the canons of art may be； no difficulty in history is so
great as to warrant the introduction of a spirit of spirit ＇Greek
text which cannot be reproduced＇； in the sense of a violation of
the laws of nature。
Upon the other point； however； Thucydides falls into an
anachronism。 To refuse to allow the workings of chivalrous and
self…denying motives among the knights of the Trojan crusade；
because he saw none in the faction…loving Athenian of his own day；
is to show an entire ignorance of the various characteristics of
human nature developing under different circumstances； and to deny
to a primitive chieftain like Agamemnon that authority founded on
opinion； to which we give the name of divine right； is to fall into
an historical error quite as gross as attributing to Atreus the
courting of the populace （＇Greek text which cannot be reproduced＇）
with a view to the Mycenean throne。
The general method of historical criticism pursued by Thucydides
having been thus indicated； it remains to proceed more into detail
as regards those particular points where he claims for himself a
more rational method of estimating evidence than either the public
or his predecessors possessed。
'So little pains；' he remarks； 'do the vulgar take in the
investigation of truth； satisfied with their preconceived
opinions；' that the majority of the Greeks believe in a Pitanate
cohort of the Spartan army and in a double vote being the
prerogative of the Spartan kings； neither of which opinions has any
foundation in fact。 But the chief point on which he lays stress as
evincing the 'uncritical way with which men receive legends； even
the legends of their own country；' is the entire baselessness of
the common Athenian tradition in which Harmodios and Aristogeiton
were represented as the patriotic liberators of Athens from the
Peisistratid tyranny。 So far； he points out； from the love of
freedom being their motive； both of them were influenced by merely
personal considerations； Aristogeiton being jealous of Hipparchos'
attention to Harmodios； then a beautiful boy in the flower of Greek
loveliness； while the latter's indignation was aroused by an insult
offered to his sister by the prince。
Their motives； then； were personal revenge； while the result of
their conspiracy served only to rivet more tightly the chains of
servitude which bound Athens to the Peisistratid house； for
Hipparchos； whom they killed； was only the tyrant's younger
brother； and not the tyrant himself。
To prove his theory that Hippias was the elder； he appeals to the
evidence afforded by a public inscription in which his name occurs
immediately after that of his father； a point which he thinks shows
that he was the eldest； and so the heir。 This view he further
corroborates by another inscription； on the altar of Apollo； which
mentions the children of Hippias and not those of his brothers；
'for it was natural for the eldest to be married first'； and
besides this； on the score of general probability he points out
that； had Hippias been the younger； he would not have so easily
obtained the tyranny on the death of Hipparchos。
Now； what is important in Thucydides； as evinced in the treatment
of legend generally； is not the results he arrived at； but the
method by which he works。 The first great rationalistic historian；
he may be said to have paved the way for all those who followed
after him； though it must always be remembered that； while the
total absence in his pages of all the mystical paraphernalia of the
supernatural theory of life is an advance in the progress of
rationalism； and an era in scientific history； whose importance
could never be over…estimated； yet we find along with it a total
absence of any mention of those various social and economical
forces which form such important factors in the evolution of the
world； and to which Herodotus rightly gave great prominence in his
immortal work。 The history of Thucydides is essentially one…sided
and incomplete。 The intricate details of sieges and battles；
subjects with which the historian proper has really nothing to do
except so far as they may throw light on the spirit of the age； we
would readily exchange for some notice of the condition of private
society in Athens； or the influence and position of women。
There is an advance in the method of historical criticism； there is
an advance in the conception and motive of history itself； for in
Thucydides we may discern that natural reaction against the
intrusion of didactic and theological considerations into the
sphere of the pure intellect； the spirit of which may be found in
the Euripidean treatment of tragedy and the later schools of art；
as well as in the Platonic conception of science。
History； no doubt； has splendid lessons for our instruction； just
as all good art comes to us as the herald of the noblest truth。
But； to set before either the painter or the historian the
inculcation of moral lessons as an aim to be consciously pursued；
is to miss entirely the true motive and characteristic both of art
and history； which is in the one case the creation of beauty； in
the other the discovery of the laws of the evolution of progress：
IL NE FAUT DEMANDER DE L'ART QUE L'ART； DU PASSE QUE LE PASSE。
Herodotus wrote to illustrate the wonderful ways of Providence and
the nemesis that falls on sin； and his work is a good example of
the truth that nothing can dispense with criticism so much as a
moral aim。 Thucydides has no creed to preach； no doctrine to
prove。 He analyses the results which follow inevitably from
certain antecedents； in order that on a recurrence of the same
cri