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For； indeed； there was from the beginning a sort of concealed split；
or seam； as it might be in a piece of iron； marking the different
popular and aristocratical tendencies； but the open rivalry and
contention of these two opponents made the gash deep； and severed
the city into the two parties of the people and the few。 And so
Pericles； at that time； more than at any other； let loose the reins to
the people； and made his policy subservient to their pleasure；
contriving continually to have some great public show or solemnity；
some banquet； or some procession or other in the town to please
them； coaxing his countrymen like children with such delights and
pleasures as were not； however； unedifying。 Besides that every year he
sent out threescore galleys； on board of which there were numbers of
the citizens； who were in pay eight months； learning at the same
time and practising the art of seamanship。
He sent； moreover； a thousand of them into the Chersonese as
planters； to share the land among them by lot； and five hundred more
into the isle of Naxos； and half that number to Andros； a thousand
into Thrace to dwell among the Bisaltae； and others into Italy； when
the city Sybaris； which now was called Thurii； was to be repeopled。
And this he did to ease and discharge the city of an idle； and； by
reason of their idleness； a busy meddling crowd of people； and at
the same time to meet the necessities and restore the fortunes of
the poor townsmen； and to intimidate； also； and check their allies
from attempting any change； by posting such garrisons； as it were；
in the midst of them。
That which gave most pleasure and ornament to the city of Athens；
and the greatest admiration and even astonishment to all strangers；
and that which now is Greece's only evidence that the power she boasts
of and her ancient wealth are no romance or idle story； was his
construction of the public and sacred buildings。 Yet this was that
of all his actions in the government which his enemies most looked
askance upon and cavilled at in the popular assemblies； crying out how
that the commonwealth of Athens had lost its reputation and was
ill…spoken of abroad for removing the common treasure of the Greeks
from the isle of Delos into their own custody； and how that their
fairest excuse for so doing； namely； that they took it away for fear
the barbarians should seize it； and on purpose to secure it in a
safe place； this Pericles had made unavailable； and how that 〃Greece
cannot but resent it as an insufferable affront； and consider
herself to be tyrannized over openly； when she sees the treasure；
which was contributed by her upon a necessity for the war； wantonly
lavished out by us upon our city； to gild her all over； and to adorn
and set her forth； as it were some vain woman； hung round with
precious stones and figures and temples； which cost a world of money。〃
Pericles； on the other hand； informed the people； that they were
in no way obliged to give any account of those moneys to their allies；
so long as they maintained their defence； and kept off the
barbarians from attacking them； while in the meantime they did not
so much as supply one horse or man or ship； but only found money for
the service； 〃which money；〃 said he； 〃is not theirs that give it；
but theirs that receive it； if so be they perform the conditions
upon which they receive it。〃 And that it was good reason； that； now
the city was sufficiently provided and stored with all things
necessary for the war； they should convert the overplus of its
wealth to such undertakings as would hereafter； when completed； give
them eternal honour； and； for the present； while in process； freely
supply all the inhabitants with plenty。 With their variety of
workmanship and of occasions for service； which summon all arts and
trades and require all hands to be employed about them； they do
actually put the whole city； in a manner； into state…pay； while at the
same time she is both beautiful and maintained by herself。 For as
those who are of age and strength for war are provided for and
maintained in the armaments abroad by their pay out of the public
stock； so； it being his desire and design that the undisciplined
mechanic multitude that stayed at home should not go without their
share of public salaries； and yet should not have them given them
for sitting still and doing nothing； to that end he thought fit to
bring in among them； with the approbation of the people； these vast
projects of buildings and designs of work； that would be of some
continuance before they were finished； and would give employment to
numerous arts； so that the part of the people that stayed at home
might； no less than those that were at sea or in garrisons or on
expeditions； have a fair and just occasion of receiving the benefit
and having their share of the public moneys。
The materials were stone； brass； ivory； gold； ebony； cypresswood；
and the arts or trades that wrought and fashioned them were smiths and
carpenters； moulders； founders and braziers； stone…cutters； dyers；
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 t