按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
name； a man either naturally gifted or instructed by Pericles so as to
excel every one in this art of domestic economy。
All this； in truth； was very little in harmony with Anaxagoras's
wisdom； if； indeed； it be true that he； by a kind of divine impulse
and greatness of spirit； voluntarily quitted his house； and left his
land to lie fallow and to be grazed by sheep like a common。 But the
life of a contemplative philosopher and that of an active statesman
are； I presume； not the same thing； for the one merely employs； upon
great and good objects of thought； an intelligence that requires no
aid of instruments nor supply of any external materials； whereas the
other； who tempers and applies his virtue to human uses； may have
occasion for affluence； not as a matter of necessity； but as a noble
thing； which was Pericles's case； who relieved numerous poor citizens。
However； there is a story that Anaxagoras himself； while Pericles
was taken up with public affairs； lay neglected； and that； now being
grown old； he wrapped himself up with a resolution to die for want
of food； which being by chance brought to Pericles's ear； he was
horror…struck； and instantly ran thither； and used all the arguments
and entreaties he could to him； lamenting not so much Anaxagoras's
condition as his own； should he lose such a counsellor as he had found
him to be； and that； upon this； Anaxagoras unfolded his robe； and
showing himself； made answer： 〃Pericles；〃 said he； 〃even those who
have occasion for a lamp supply it with oil。〃
The Lacedaemonians beginning to show themselves troubled at the
growth of the Athenian power； Pericles； on the other hand； to
elevate the people's spirit yet more； and to raise them to the thought
of great actions； proposed a decree； to summon all the Greeks in what；
part soever； whether of Europe or Asia； every city； little as well
as great； to send their deputies to Athens to a general assembly； or
convention； there to consult and advise concerning the Greek temples
which the barbarians had burnt down； and the sacrifices which were due
from them upon vows they had made to their gods for the safety of
Greece when they fought against the barbarians； and also concerning
the navigation of the sea； that they might henceforward pass to and
fro and trade securely and be at peace among themselves。
Upon this errand there were twenty men； of such as were above
fifty years of age； sent by commission； five to summon the Ionians and
Dorians in Asia； and the islanders as far as Lesbos and Rhodes； five
to visit all the places in the Hellespont and Thrace； up to Byzantium；
and other five besides these to go to Boeotia and Phocis and
Peloponnesus； and from hence to pass through the Locrians over to
the neighbouring continent as far as Acarnania and Ambracia； and the
rest to take their course through Euboea to the Oetaeans and the
Malian Gulf； and to the Achaeans of Phthiotis and the Thessalians； all
of them to treat with the people as they passed； and persuade them
to come and take their part in the debates for settling the peace
and jointly regulating the affairs of Greece。
Nothing was effected； nor did the cities meet by their deputies；
as was desired； the Lacedaemonians； as it is said； crossing the design
underhand； and the attempt being disappointed and baffled first in
Peloponnesus。 I thought fit； however； to introduce the mention of
it； to show the spirit of the man and the greatness of his thoughts。
In his military conduct； he gained a great reputation for
wariness； he would not by his good…will engage in any fight which
had much uncertainty or hazard； he did not envy the glory of
generals whose rash adventures fortune favoured with brilliant
success； however they were admired by others； nor did he think them
worthy his imitation； but always used to say to his citizens that；
so far as lay in his power； they should continue immortal； and live
for ever。 Seeing Tolmides； the son of Tolmaeus； upon the confidence of
his former successes； and flushed with the honour his military actions
had procured him； making preparations to attack the Boeotians in their
own country when there was no likely opportunity； and that he had
prevailed with the bravest and most enterprising of the youth to
enlist themselves as volunteers in the service； who besides his
other force made up a thousand； he endeavoured to withhold him and
to advise him from it in the public assembly； telling him in a
memorable saying of his； which still goes about； that； if he would not
take Pericles's advice； yet he would not do amiss to wait and be ruled
by time； the wisest counsellor of all。 This saying； at that time；
was but slightly commended； but within a few days after； when news was
brought that Tolmides himself had been defeated and slain in battle
near Coronea； and that many brave citizens had fallen with him； it
gained him great repute as well as good…will among the people； for
wisdom and for love of his countrymen。
But of all his expeditions； that to the Chersonese gave most
satisfaction and pleasure； having proved the safety of the Greeks
who inhabited there。 For not only by carrying along with him a
thousand fresh citizens of Athens he gave new strength and vigour to
the cities； but also by belting the neck of land； which joins the
peninsula to the continent； with bulwarks and forts from sea to sea；
he put a stop to the inroads of the Thracians； who lay all about the
Chersonese； and closed the door against a continual and grievous
war； with which that country had been long harassed； lying exposed
to the encroachments and influx of barbarous neighbours； and
groaning under the evils of a predatory population both upon and
within its borders。
Nor was he less admired and talked of abroad for his sailing
around the Peloponnesus； having set out from Pegae； or The
Fountains； the port of Megara； with a hundred galleys。 For he not only
laid waste the sea…coast； as Tolmides had done before； but also；
advancing far up into the mainland with the soldiers he had on
board； by the terror of his appearance drove many within their
walls； and at Nemea； with main force； routed and raised a trophy
over the Sicyonians； who stood their ground and joined battle with
him。 And having taken on board a supply of soldiers into the galleys
out of Achaia； then in league with Athens； he crossed with the fleet
to the opposite continent； and； sailing along by the mouth of the
river Achelous； overran Acarnania and shut up the Oeniadae within
their city walls； and having ravaged and wasted their country； weighed
anchor for home with the double advantage of having shown himself
formidable to his enemies； and at the same time safe and energetic
to his fellow citizens； for there was not so much as any chance
miscarriage that happened； the whole voyage through； to those who were
under his charge。
Entering also the Euxine Sea with a large and finely equipped fleet；
he obtained for the Greek cities any new arrangements they wanted； and
entered into friendly relations with them； and to the barbarous
nations； and kings and chiefs round about them； displayed the
greatness of the power of the Athenians； their perfect ability avid
confidence to sail where…ever they had a mind； and to bring the
whole sea under their control。 He left the Sinopians thirteen ships of
war； with soldiers under the command of Lamachus； to assist them
against Timesileus the tyrant； and when he and his accomplices had
been thrown out； obtained a decree that six hundred of the Athenians
that were willing should sail to Sinope and plant themselves there
with the Sinopians； sharing among them the houses and land which the
tyrant and his party had previously held。
But in other things he did not comply with the giddy impulses of the
citizens； nor quit his own resolutions to follow their fancies；
when； carried away with the thought of their strength and great
success； they were eager to interfere again in Egypt； and to disturb
the King of Persia's maritime dominions。 Nay； there were a good many
who were； even then； possessed with that unblest and inauspicious
passion for Sicily； which afterward the orators of Alcibiades's
party blew up into a flame。 There were some also who dreamt of Tuscany
and Carthage； and not without plausible reason in their present
large dominion and prosperous course of their affairs。
But Pericles curbed this passion for foreign conquest； and
unsparingly pruned and cut down their ever busy fancies for a
multitude of undertakings； and directed their power for the most
part to securing and consolidating what they had already got；
supposing it would be quite enough for them to do； if they could
keep the Lacedaemonians in check； to whom he entertained all along a
sense of opposition； which； as upon many other occasions； so he
particularly showed by what he did in the time of the holy war。 The
Lacedaemonians； having gone with an army to Delphi； restored
Apollo's temple； which the Phocians had got into their possession；
to the Delphians； immediately after their departure； Pericles； with
another army； came and restored the Phocians。 And the
Lacedaemonians； having engraven the record of th