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the affairs of the state. He did so, and in a little time, became equal to his father in courage, to Themistocles in sagacity, and even not much inferior to his instructor himself in integrity. The first specimen he gave of his military talents was in scouring the Asiatic seas, and delivering all the Greek cities on the coast of Asia Minor from their dependance upon the Persian crown, and making them join. in the general confederacy of Greece against that very power to which they had formerly acknowledged allegiance. Some of these, however, that were strongly garrisoned by Persian troops made a desperate defence. The city of Eion deserves to be particularly mentioned. Boges, the governor, resolved either to preserve it, or to perish in the attempt. He accordingly defended the place with incredible fury, till finding his station no longer tenable, he killed his wife and children, and laying them on a funeral pile, which he had erected for the purpose, he immediately set it on fire, and rushing into the midst of the flames, in that manner expired.

While Cimon was employed in these operations, he received intelligence that the whole Persian fleet was anchored at the mouth of the river Eurymidon. He accordingly sailed thither, and pursuing the enemy up the stream, where they endeavoured to take shelter, he destroyed all their ships; and his men, jumping on shore in pursuit of the Persian mariners, who had abandoned their vessels, they soon put them to flight; thus obtaining a complete victory both by sea and land on the same occasion. This severe blow at last compelled the Persians to agree to a peace, the terms of which were as mortifying to them, as they were honourable to the Grecians. It was stipulated that the Greek cities in Asia should be left in quiet possession of their liberty, and that neither the sea nor the land forces of Persia should approach so near the Grecian coasts, as to give the least occasion for any kind of jealousy.

The treasures taken in this expedition Cimon laid out in beautifying his native city; and the Athenians gave examples in the art of architecture, that continue to be admired to this very day. About the same time lived the poet Simonides, some of whose works still remain; and these only leave us room to regret that the rest are long since irretrievably lost.

CHAPTER VIII.

FROM THE PEACE WITH PERSIA TO THE PEACE OF NICIAS.

THOUGH Cimon was for some time, after the death of Aristides, the most considerable man at Athens, he did not remain long without a rival. He was soon opposed by Pericles, who was much younger than he, and was a man of a very different character. Pericles was descended from the greatest and most illustrious families of Athens; his father Xanthippus defeated the Persians at Mycale: and his mother Agarista was niece to Calisthenes, who expelled the tyrants, and established a popular government in Athens. In the earlier part of his life he applied himself with success to all the different branches of philosophy; but the chief bent of his mind was directed to the study of eloquence, in which he is said to have outshone all his contemporaries. Even his great opponent, Thucydides, was often heard to say, that though he had frequently overthrown him, the power of his eloquence was such, that the audience could never perceive him fallen. He resembled the tyrant Pisistratus, not only in the sweetness of his voice, but the features of his face, and his whole air and manner. To these natural and acquired endowments he added those of fortune; he was very rich, and intimately connected with all the most powerful families of the state.

The established reputation of Cimon, however, was for some time a bar to the rise of Pericles; but as the form er was generally abroad, commanding the fleets or armies of the country; and the latter was always at home, haranguing and making interest with the people, he soon found means to overcome this obstacle. The first use he made of his popularity was to lessen the power, and consequently the character of the court of Areopagus. This he did chiefly by the assistance of one Ephialtes, another popular leader, who contrived to take away the decision of almost all causes from that celebrated tribunal, and to bring them before the assembly of the people. Cimon's interest, however, was still able to counteract, and even to overpower, that of Pericles, in a very important question. This was, Whether the Athenians should assist the Lacedæmonians in suppressing an insurrection of their Helots, or slaves, who had taken up arms to rescue themselves from bondage? Cimon gave his opinion in the affirmative; Pericles in the negative. But Cimon's opinion, as being the most generous, was for this time adopted, and he was allowed to conduct a large body of troops to Sparta, with which he effectually quelled the insurrection. But the Helots taking up arms a second time, and possessing themselves of the strong fortress of Ithome, the Spartans were once more obliged to apply to Athens for assistance. The influence, however, of Pericles now prevailed in its turn, and all kind of aid was denied them. Thus left to finish the war by themselves, they beseiged Ithome, which held out for ten years; at the end of which, however, they made themselves masters of it, though they spared the lives of those who defended it, upon condition of their leaving Peloponnesus for ever.

The conduct of the Athenians upon this occasion, and some insults they pretended to have received from the Lacedæmonians, revived a jealousy that had long subsisted

between these rival states, and which continued thenceforward to operate with greater or less influence, till both of them were reduced to such a low ebb of power, that neither of them was able to withstand the slightest invasion from abroad. 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 banished from Peloponnesus were taken under the protection of Athens, and settled with their families at Naupactus and all the privileges of Spartan subjects were demanded in behalf of those Athenians that resided in Lacedæmon. But what contributed to widen the breach still more, the city of Megara, breaking off its alliance with Sparta, was protected and garrisoned by the Athenians; and thus was laid the foundation of an inveterate hatred, that terminated in the destruction of both these states.

The chief motive to this insolent and treacherous conduct of the Athenians, was the high opinion they entertained of themselves ever since the battle of Platea. That victory had raised them to the same national eminence with the Lacedæmonians. But they were not satisfied with being their equals; they wanted to be their superiors. They, therefore, called themselves the Protectors of Greece; they desired that the convention of the states should be held at Athens, and they resolved to declare open war against any power that should dare to insult them.

Exasperated, however, as these two states were against each other, they did not immediately come to a rupture. They first endeavoured to strengthen themselves by leagues and alliances with the neighbouring states. At last the armies of the two republics came to an engagement near Tangara; and though Cimon, forgetting the injury he had

received from his country, came to its assistance, yet the Athenians suffered a defeat. A month or two after another action happened, and the Athenians were, in their turn, victorious. The conduct of Cimon upon this occasion reestablished him in the public favour; he was restored to his country, after a banishment of five years; and his rival, Pericles, was the first that proposed the decree for his recall.

Cimon's first care, after his return, was to compromise all differences between the rival states; and this was so far outwardly affected, that a truce was concluded for the space of five years. This furnished an opportunity for exerting the power of the state upon a more distant enemy. A fleet of two hundred sail was fitted out, and the command of it given to Cimon, for conquering the island of Cyprus. He accordingly sailed thither, over-ran the island, and laid siege to the capital, Citium. But being either wounded by some of the defendants, or wasted by sickness, he began to perceive the approaches of death. Still mindful, however, of his duty, he ordered his attendants to conceal his decease till their schemes were crowned with success. They did so; and thirty days after he was dead, the army, which still supposed itself under his command, obliged the place to surrender. Thus he not only died in the arms of victory, but he even gained battles by the terror of his name. In so great awe, indeed, did the Persians stand of him, that they universally deserted the sea-coasts, and would not come within four hundred leagues of any place where he could possibly be expected.

Pericles being now freed from the opposition of so powerful a rival, resolved to complete the work of ambition he had begun; and by dividing the conquered lands among the people, amusing them with shows, and adorning the city with public buildings, he at last acquired such an ascendancy over the minds of the populace, that he may actually be said

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