by Ephialtes, who declared that it would be no way advisable to assist them, or to make a rival city powerful by their assistance.

11. On the other hand, Cimon espoused the cause of Sparta, declaring that it was weak and inconsistent to maim the Grecian confederacy, by suffering one of its members to be tamely lopped away. His opinion for this time prevailed; he was permitted to march forth at the head of a numerous body to their relief, and the insurrection was quelled at their approach. But shortly after the mischief broke out afresh. The Helotes possessed themselves of the strong fortress of Ithome, and the Spartans again petitioned for Athenian assistance.

12. It was now that the party of Pericles was found to prevail, and the Lacedæmonians were refused a compliance with their demands. Thus, left to finish the war with their insurgent slaves in the best manner they could, after besieging Ithome, which held out for ten years, they at last became masters of it, sparing the lives of those who defended it, upon condition of leaving Peloponnesus ever after.

13. In the mean time, the refusal on the side of Athens, and some indignities, said to be received on the side of Lacedæmon, revived a jealousy that had long subsisted between these rival states, which continued thenceforward to operate with greater or diminished influence, until both were utterly unable to withstand the smallest efforts of foreign invasion.

14. The first instance the Athenians gave of their resentment, was to banish Cimon, who had been a favourer of the Spartan cause, for ten years from the city. They next dissolved their alliance with Sparta; and entered into a treaty with the Argives, the professed enemies of the former. The slaves of Ithome were also taken under Athenian protection; and settled with their families at Naupactus.

15. But what contributed to widen the breach still more, the city of Megara, revolting from its alliance with Sparta, was protected and garrisoned by the Athenians: thus was laid the foundation of an inveterate hatred, which ended in mutual destruction.

16. As, in all beginning enmities, several treaties were entered into, and several leagues concluded on both sides, till at last they came to a formal rupture. Two pitched battles between the Athenians and Corinthians, in which either side was alternately victorious, sounded the alarm.

17. Another followed between the Athenians and Spartans, at Tangara, in which Cimon, forgetting the injury he had-sustained from his country, came in to its assistance; but the Athenians suffered a defeat. A month or two after repaired the disgrace, and the Athenians were in their turn victorious. The

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conduct of Cimon again restored him to public favour; he was recalled from banishment, in which he had spent five years; and it was Pericles, his rival, who first proposed the decree.

18. The first use Cimon made of his return was, to reconcile the two rival states to each other; and this was so far effected, outwardly, that a truce for five years was concluded between them. This led the way to exerting the power of the state. upon a more distant enemy.

19. By his advice, a fleet of two hundred sail was manned, and destined, under his command, to conquer the island of Cyprus. He quickly sailed, overran the island, and laid siege to Citium. Here, being either wounded by the defendants, or wasted by sickness, he began to perceive the approaches of dis solution; but, still mindful of his duty, he ordered his attendants to conceal his death, until their schemes were crowned with success. They obeyed with secrecy and success. Thirty days after he was dead, the army, which still supposed itself under his command, gained a signal victory: thus he died not only in the arms of conquest, but gained battles merely by the efficacy of his name.

20. With Cimon, in a great measure, expired the spirit of glory in Athens. As he was the last, so he was the most successful of the Grecian heroes. Such was the terror of the Persians at his name, that they universally deserted the sea-coasts, and would not come within four hundred furlongs of the place where he could be possibly expected.

21. Pericles, being now by the death of Cimon, freed from a potent rival, set himself to complete the work of ambition which he had begun ; and by dividing the conquered lands, amusing the people with shows, and adorning the city with public buildings, he gained such an ascendant over the minds of the people, that he might be said to have obtained a monarchical power in Athens.

22. He found means to maintain, for eight months in the year, a great number of poor citizens, by putting them on board the fleet, consisting of three-score ships, which he fitted out every year. He planted several colonies in the many places which had lately submitted to Athens. By this he cleared the city of a great number of idle persons, who were ever ready to disturb his government; and were, at the same time, unable to subsist themselves, by reason of his oppression.

23. But the public buildings which he raised, the ruins of some of which exist to this day, are sufficient to convey his name to posterity. It is surprising, that in a city not noted for the number of its inhabitants, and in so short a space of time as that of his "administration, such laborious, expensive, and mag

nificent works could be performed. All the arts of architecture, sculpture, and painting, were exhausted in his designs; and what still remain,continue to this hour as inimitable models of perfection.

24. To effect these great works, he, in some measure, had recourse to injustice; and availed himself of those treasures which had been supplied by Greece for carrying on the war with Persia: and which, having been lodged at Delos, he had address enough to get transported to Athens, where he expended them in securing his own power by all the arts of popularity.

25. By these means, Athens became so much admired and envied by her neighbours, that it went by the name of ORNAMENT; and when it was urged that the common treasure was squandered away in these works of show, Pericles answered, that the people of Athens were not accountable to any for their conduct; for they had the best right to the treasures of the confederate states, who took the greatest care to defend them. He added that it was fit ingenious artisans should have their share of the public money, since there was still enough left for carrying on the war.

26. These were rather the arguments of power than persuasion; of a man already in possession, than willing, upon just grounds to relinquish what he had claimed. It was seen not only by the wiser citizens, but by all the states of Greece, that he was daily striding into power; and would, as Pisistratus had done before, make the people the fabricators of their own chains. For remedying this growing evil, the heads of the city opposed Thucydides to his growing power; and attempted to restrain his career by opposing eloquence to popularity.

27. Thucydides was brother-in-law to Cimon, and had displayed his wisdom on numberless occasions. He was not possessed of the military talents of his rival; but his eloquence gave him a very powerful influence over the people. As he never left the city, he still combated Pericles in all his measures; and, for a while, brought down the ambition of his rival to the standard of reason.

28. But his efforts could not long avail against the persuasive power and corrupt influence of his opponent. Pericles every day gained new ground, till he at last found himself possessed of the whole authority of the state. It was then that he began to change his behaviour, and from acting the fawning and humble suppliant, he assumed the haughty airs of royalty. He now no longer submitted himself to the caprice of the people: but changed the democratic state of Athens into a kind of monarchy.

29. He would sometimes, indeed, win his fellow-citizens over to his will; but, at other times, when he found them obstinate,

he would in a manner compel them to consult their own interests. Thus, between power and persuasion, public profusion and private economy, political falsehood, and private integrity, Pericles became the principal ruler at Athens; and all such as were his enemies became the enemies of the state.

30. It was not to be wondered at, that this magnificent state of Athens was not a little displeasing to the rival states of Greece, especially as its state of splendour was, in some measure, formed from their contributions. The Spartans, particularly, still continued to regard this growing city with envy; and soon showed their displeasure, by refusing to send deputies to Athens to consult about repairing the temple, that had been burnt down during the wars with Persia.

31. The successes of Pericles against the enemy in Thrace, still more increased their uneasiness; and particularly when sailing round Peloponnesus with a hundred ships, he protected the allies of Greece, and granted their cities all they thought fit to ask him. These successes raised the indignation of Sparta, while they intoxicated Athens with ideas of ambition, and opened new inlets for meditating conquest.

32. The citizens now began to talk of attempts upon Egypt; of attacking the maritime provinces of Persia; of carrying their arms into Sicily, and of extending their conquest from Italy to Carthage. These were 'views beyond their power, and that rather marked their pride than ability.

33. An expedition against Samos, in favour of the Melisians, who had craved their assistance, was the beginning of this rupture, which never. after was closed up. It is pretended that Pericles fomented this war to please a famous courtezan, named Aspasia, of whom he was particularly enamoured.

34. After several events and battles not worth the regard of history, Pericles besieged the capital of Samos with tortoises and battering rams, which was the first time these military engines had been employed in sieges. The Samians, after suffering a nine months' siege, surrendered. Pericles razed their walls; dispossessed them of their ships, and demanded immense sums to defray the expenses of the war. Flushed with this sucsess he returned to Athens; buried all those who lost their lives in the siege in the most splendid manner, and pronounced their funeral oration.

35. A rupture now between the Athenians and Lacedæmonians seemed inevitable. Pericles, therefore, to anticiA. M. pate the designs of his rival state, advised that aid should be sent to the people of Corcyra, whom the Corinthians, assisted by the Lacedæmonians, had invaded.

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36. As the quarrel between the Corcyreans and Corinthians gave rise to the great Peloponnesian war, which soon after involved all Greece, it will be necessary to give a slight account of its original. Epidamus was a colony of the Corcyreans, which growing first rich, and soon after factious, banished the chief of her citizens. The exiles joining with the Illyrians, brought the Epidamians so low, that they were obliged to send to Corcyra, their parent city, for assistance.

37. The Corcyreans rejecting their request, they had recourse to Corinth; and giving themselves up to that state, were taken under its protection. This, however, the Corcyreans began to resent; and, having been remiss in affording assistance themselves, resolved to punish such as should offer any. A rupture ensued between the Corinthians and Corcyreans; some naval engagements ensued, in which the Corcyreans being worsted, had recourse, as has already been observed, to the Athenian's for support, who sent some naval succours, which, however, proved of no efficacy in their defence.

38. From this war arose another; for Potidæa, a city belonging to Athens, declaring for Corinth, these two states, from being accessories, became principals; and drew their forces into the field near Potidæa, where a battle ensued, in which the Athenians had the victory. It was in this battle that Socrates saved the life of Alcibiades, his pupil; and after the battle was over, procured him the prize of valour, which he himself had more justly earned.

39. The city of Potidea was soon after besieged in consequence of this victory, and the Corinthians complained to the states of Greece against the Athenians, as having infringed the articles of peace. The Lacedæmonians in particular admitted them to an audience; where the deputies of Corinth endeavoured to rouse them into a sense of their danger from the ambitious designs of Athens; and threatened, if left unprotected, to put themselves under the command of a power strong enough to grant them protection and safety.

40. After hearing what the Athenians had to reply, the Spartans came to a close debate among themselves, wherein it was universally agreed that the Athenians were the aggressors; and that they should be reduced to a just sense of their duty. But the dispute was, whether war should be immediately declared against them, or remonstrances made to bring them to reason.

41. Archidamus, one of their kings, a man of prudence and temper, was of opinion that they were not at this time a match for Athens; and endeavoured to dissuade them from rushing into a thoughtless and improvident war. But Sthenelaides, one of the