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untowardly treatment of him he undertook the public affairs once more；
and； being chosen general； requested that the statute concerning
base…born children； which he himself had formerly caused to be made；
might be suspended； that so the name and race of his family might not；
for absolute want of a lawful heir to succeed； be wholly lost and
extinguished。 The case of the statute was thus： Pericles； when long
ago at the height of his power in the state； having then； as has
been said； children lawfully begotten； proposed a law that those
only should be reputed true citizens of Athens who were born of such
parents as were both Athenians。 After this； the King of Egypt having
sent to the people； by way of present； forty thousand bushels of
wheat； which were to be shared out among the citizens； a great many
actions and suits about legitimacy occurred； by virtue of that
edict； cases which； till that time； had not been known nor taken
notice of； and several persons suffered by false accusations。 There
were little less than five thousand who were convicted and sold for
slaves； those who； enduring the test； remained in the government and
passed muster for true Athenians were found upon the poll to be
fourteen thousand and forty persons in number。
It looked strange； that a law； which had been carried so far against
so many people； should be cancelled again by the same man that made
it； yet the present calamity and distress which Pericles laboured
under in his family broke through all objections； and prevailed with
the Athenians to pity him； as one whose losses and misfortunes had
sufficiently punished his former arrogance and haughtiness。 His
sufferings deserved； they thought； their pity； and even indignation；
and his request was such as became a man to ask and men to grant； they
gave him permission to enrol his son in the register of his
fraternity； giving him his own name。 This son afterward； after
having defeated the Peloponnesians at Arginusae； was； with his
fellow…generals； put to death by the people。
About the time when his son was enrolled； it should seem the
plague seized Pericles； not with sharp and violent fits； as it did
others that had it； but with a dull and lingering distemper；
attended with various changes and alterations； leisurely； by little
and little； wasting the strength of his body； and undermining the
noble faculties of his soul。 So that Theophrastus； in his Morals； when
discussing whether men's characters change with their circumstances；
and their moral habits； disturbed by the ailings of their bodies；
start aside from the rules of virtue； has left it upon record； that
Pericles； when he was sick； showed one of his friends that came to
visit him an amulet or charm that the women had hung about his neck；
as much as to say； that he was very sick indeed when he would admit of
such a foolery as that was。
When he was now near his end； the best of the citizens and those
of his friends who were left alive； sitting about him； were speaking
of the greatness of his merit； and his power； and reckoning up his
famous actions and the number of his victories； for there were no less
than nine trophies； which； as their chief commander and conqueror of
their enemies； he had set up for the honour of the city。 They talked
thus together among themselves； as though he were unable to understand
or mind what they said； but had now lost his consciousness。 He had
listened； however； all the while； and attended to all； and； speaking
out among them； said that he wondered they should commend and take
notice of things which were as much owing to fortune as to anything
else； and had happened to many other commanders； and； at the same
time； should not speak or make mention of that which was the most
excellent and greatest thing of all。 〃For；〃 said he； 〃no Athenian；
through my means； ever wore mourning。〃
He was indeed a character deserving our high admiration not only for
his equitable and mild temper； which all along in the many affairs
of his life； and the great animosities which he incurred； he
constantly maintained； but also for the high spirit and feeling
which made him regard it； the noblest of all his honours that； in
the exercise of such immense power； he never had gratified his envy or
his passion； nor ever had treated any enemy as irreconcilably
opposed to him。 And to me it appears that this one thing gives that
otherwise childish and arrogant title a fitting and becoming
significance； so dispassionate a temper； a life so pure and
unblemished； in the height of power and place； might well be called
Olympian； in accordance with our conceptions of the divine beings；
to whom； as the natural authors of all good and of nothing evil； we
ascribe the rule and government of the world。 Not as the poets
represent； who； while confounding us with their ignorant fancies；
are themselves confuted by their own poems and fictions； and call
the place； indeed； where they say the gods make their abode； a
secure and quiet seat； free from all hazards and commotions；
untroubled with winds or with clouds； and equally through all time
illumined with a soft serenity and a pure light as though such were
a home most agreeable for a blessed and immortal nature； and yet； in
the meanwhile； affirm that the gods themselves are full of trouble and
enmity and anger and other passions； which no way become or belong
to even men that have any understanding。 But this will； perhaps seem a
subject fitter for some other consideration； and that ought to be
treated of in some other place。
The course of public affairs after his death produced a quick and
speedy sense of the loss of Pericles。 Those who； while he lived；
resented his great authority； as that which eclipsed themselves；
presently after his quitting the stage； making trial of other
orators and demagogues； readily acknowledged that there never had been
in nature such a disposition as his was； more moderate and
reasonable in the height of that state he took upon him； or more grave
and impressive in the mildness which he used。 And that invidious
arbitrary power； to which formerly they gave the name of monarchy
and tyranny； did then appear to have been the chief bulwark of
public safety； so great a corruption and such a flood of mischief
and vice followed which he； by keeping weak and low； had withheld from
notice； and had prevented from attaining incurable height through a
licentious impunity。
THE END