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sailors, being generally dissolute, might corrupt the manners of the citizens. This was effected with so much rapidity and caution, that it was completed before the Spartans, whom alone he feared, were well aware of what was doing.

Another hero of distinguished name now appears in Athenian story-Cimon, the son of Miltiades. At this time he was abroad with Aristides in command of the Athenian forces, watching the movements of Persia; and by their justness and generosity they were gaining greatly upon the influence of the proud Spartans among the states of Greece. On occasion of a general tax being proposed to defray the expense of the Persian war, the management of it was given to Aristides, and all Greece was satisfied with his arrangements. Themistocles could ill bear the reputation of his rival, and is said to have remarked in the assembly that the merit of Aristides was no more than that of a money chestof keeping safely what was committed to it. Thus were the disputes of rivalship renewed, as soon as external enemies were repulsed.

Themistocles had made himself yet more formidable enemies in the Lacedæmonians. Their king, Pausanias, being convicted of negociating with Persia, they accused Themistocles of having conspired with him to betray the states of Greece. Poets and orators began to write libels and utter satyrs upon him, and Cimon, the new aspirant to greatness, is said to have fomented the publick animosity against him. In the issue, an Ostracism was demanded, and Themistocles was banished from Athens-for no reason that appears, but his own greatness and glory. It does not seem that Themistocles, when first banished, had any design of taking vengeance on his country, or retiring to Persia. But the Lacedæmonians pursued him with restless hatred. Wherever he took refuge, they insisted on his been expelled; till finding no quiet in Greece, he was forced to escape to Persia. There a high price having been

set on his head, as the greatest enemy of Asia, he had much risk to incur, and through many dangers reached the court of Artaxerxes. The same address that had so often saved his country, did not fail him in his personal need. He presented himself boldly as the willing servant of Persia and the publick enemy of Greece. It is told that Artaxerxes was so much delighted with the circumstance, as to exclaim several times in his sleep that night, "I have Themistocles, the Athenian." The next morning the king sent for him again, and said to him, "I am in your debt two hundred talents; for so much I promised to him who should bring Themistocles," and then bade him speak his mind freely on the affairs of Greece. Themistocles immediately accommodated himself to his new situation, learned the language, assumed the manners, and adopted the religion of Persia. The revenue of three cities was given him for a maintenance, and he lived in all the style and magnificence of a Persian grandee. It does not appear that he ever meditated evil against his ungrateful country; nor is it by any means certain how he died; though it has been asserted that, pressed by Artaxerxes to undertake an expedition against Greece, he drank poison to avoid fulfilling his engagements with the Persian against his people. The character of Themistocles is so deeply stained by his total want of honesty and truth, it scarcely can remain upon the mind as an object of admiration. The brilliancy of his success was rather the fruit than the counterbalance of these vices. With talents to achieve any purpose, he never scrupled the means, and made open boast of his deceptions; while the jealousy and animosity he ever evinced towards the rigid integrity of Aristides, betrayed the want of real nobility of mind, as well as of the love of it.

Cimon, who was now to take the lead in Athens, was the son of Miltiades by the daughter of the king of Thrace. No one of the Grecian heroes bears a more

spotless character, being said to have all Themistocles' powers, without his duplicity. On his father's death, he was put in chains for his fine, which was payed before he was released. His youth scarcely promised much; being disinclined to learning, a thing very uncommon in an Athenian, and of dissipated habits. On occasion of the Persian invasion, he began to show his better character; being the first to set about removing his goods on board the fleet, and much distinguished in the succeeding wars. Having a command at sea, he gained many victories, seizing an immense number of Phoenician and other vessels, as well as plundering the enemy's towns and fortresses on the coast: by which he accumulated immense booty, and became as remarkable for wealth as for valour. In the magnificent and patriotic expenditure of this wealth he much distinguished himself, and of course added not a little to the popularity his virtues acquired him. Besides many publick works, such as adorning the forum with palm trees, and beautifying the academy with walks and gardens for the accommodation of the citizens, he affected the utmost extravagance in his own expenditure. The inclosure of his grounds and gardens was removed, that all might enter freely and take of their productions. His table was always open, and spread with the most expensive delicacies, of which the poorest man in Athens might come and eat freely. When he went abroad, he was attended by a train of young gentlemen, whose pockets were well filled with money. If by chance he met an ancient citizen in tattered garments, he made one of his attendants change cloaks with him: or if the person was of too high rank to be openly relieved, he took a sum of money from his attendants, and conveyed it privily into the pocket of the distressed person. The desire of popularity does not appear to have been the motive of this liberality, as it so usually is-for Cimon always took part with the nobility, and

openly opposed those who endeavoured to give power into the hands of the people.

The riches which Cimon's victories brought into Athens tended greatly to her general corruption: but himself, with all his splendour, is considered to have been as little influenced and corrupted by wealth, as Aristides in his voluntary poverty. Aristides had always loved him, and endeavoured early to bring him forward, in hope by his openness and integrity to defeat the craft of Themistocles.

A train of petty but successful warfare against the surrounding states and islands, brought Athens at this period to her highest reach of prosperity, and Cimon to the summit of renown. It was now that Lacedæmon, endangered by the rebellion of her slaves, condescended to ask aid of Athens. Some would have refused it, as impolitic to preserve a rival and an enemy: but Cimon, a friend always to the Spartans by whom he had been supported against Themistocles, prevailed, led an army to their assistance, and returned with added glory. On occasion, however, of a second expedition for the same purpose, the Athenians, as we mentioned in Spartan history, were rudely dismissed, and thus the previous animosity of the states was confirmed.

It was now that, as mentioned elsewhere, Athens interfered between Persia and Egypt, and carried her arms into the latter kingdom, though not eventually with any advantage to themselves.

Aristides lived only four years after the banishment of Themistocles. Though he had held repeatedly the highest offices in the commonwealth, and largely participated in the wars by which immense riches were amassed, he was so poor as barely to maintain himself, and had nothing to bequeath to his children, but the honour of being descended from him, which procured for them a publick maintenance. There is no stain upon his character, of which strict integrity seems to have been the prominent feature. In all probability his

talents were less brilliant than those of his rival Themistocles; and though more trusted and beloved, he does not appear, at any time, to have had equal influence in the affairs of Athens, or in the management of her foreign politicks. The versatile and crafty character of Themistocles, was perhaps better suited to this capricious people, than the rigid virtue and simplicity of Aristides.

The same factious spirit continued in Athens between the nobility and the people, who, after the loss of Themistocles, found a leader in the orator Pericles; Cimon, revered and beloved by all, having placed himself at the head of the Aristocratic party, to suppress the encroachments of the commons, struggling perpetually to deprive the nobles of the small degree of power and superiority remaining to them. Pericles had extraordinary talents, and an eloquence that surpassed all his contemporaries; but he was long obliged to conceal his powers, the Athenians regarding him with jealousy, because he resembled Pisistratus in person, and in his powers of oratory. To lall these suspicions, he long declined holding any office, or speaking in publick. Now that Aristides was dead, Themistocles in banishment, and Cimon generally engaged in foreign warfare, Pericles prepared to act his part. From seeing it the only path to distinction not pre-occupied, rather than from principle or natural disposition, he paid court only to the lowest of the people. The behaviour he assumed was altogether singular: he left off all company; neither received visits nor paid them; and but once in all his administration was present at a feast, whence he then retired early. He never went abroad but to the assembly: in his looks, speech, and gesture, he maintained an immoveable gravity, and always prayed before he delivered an oration. The liberality of Cimon, which Pericles had not the means to imitate, was the greatest obstacle to his schemes of popularity: but this he surmounted by scattering of the publick money what he had not of his own, increasing the salaries and allowances of the lower