Thucydides chosen by the Aristocratic Party to oppose Pericles.—His
Policy.—Munificence of Pericles.—Sacred War.—Battle of Coronea.—
Revolt of Euboea and Megara.—Invasion and Retreat of the
Peloponnesians.—Reduction of Euboea.—Punishment of Histiaea—A
Thirty Years' Truce concluded with the Peloponnesians.—Ostracism of
Thucydides.
I. On the death of Cimon (B. C. 449) the aristocratic party in Athensfelt that the position of their antagonists and the temper of thetimes required a leader of abilities widely distinct from those whichhad characterized the son of Miltiades. Instead of a skilful andenterprising general, often absent from the city on dazzling butdistant expeditions, it was necessary to raise up a chief who couldcontend for their enfeebled and disputed privileges at home, and meetthe formidable Pericles, with no unequal advantages of civilexperience and oratorical talent, in the lists of the popularassembly, or in the stratagems of political intrigue. Accordinglytheir choice fell neither on Myronides nor Tolmides, but on one who,though not highly celebrated for military exploits, was deemedsuperior to Cimon, whether as a practical statesman or a popularorator. Thucydides, their new champion, united with natural giftswhatever advantage might result from the memory of Cimon; and hisconnexion with that distinguished warrior, to whom he wasbrother-in-law, served to keep together the various partisans of thefaction, and retain to the eupatrids something of the respect andenthusiasm which the services of Cimon could not fail to command, evenamong the democracy. The policy embraced by Thucydides was perhaps thebest which the state of affairs would permit; but it was one which wasfraught with much danger. Hitherto the eupatrids and the people, thoughever in dispute, had not been absolutely and totally divided; thestruggles of either faction being headed by nobles, scarcely permittedto the democracy the perilous advantage of the cry—that the people wereon one side, and the nobles on the other. But Thucydides, seeking torender his party as strong, as compact, and as united as possible,brought the main bulk of the eupatrids to act together in one body. Themeans by which he pursued and attained this object are not very clearlynarrated; but it was probably by the formation of a political club—aspecies of social combination, which afterward became very common to allclasses in Athens. The first effect of this policy favoured thearistocracy, and the energy and union they displayed restored for awhile the equilibrium of parties; but the aristocratic influence, thusmade clear and open, and brought into avowed hostility with the popularcause, the city was rent in two, and the community were plainly invitedto regard the nobles as their foes [251]. Pericles, thus more and morethrown upon the democracy, became identified with their interests, andhe sought, no less by taste than policy, to prove to the populace thatthey had grown up into a wealthy and splendid nation, that coulddispense with the bounty, the shows, and the exhibitions of individualnobles. He lavished the superfluous treasures of the state upon publicfestivals, stately processions, and theatrical pageants. As if desirousof elevating the commons to be themselves a nobility, all by which heappealed to their favour served to refine their taste and to inspire themeanest Athenian with a sense of the Athenian grandeur. It was said byhis enemies, and the old tale has been credulously repeated, that hisown private fortune