nian ambassadors, who caused them to be arrested Artax. as disturbers of the publick peace, and afterwards to Longim. be sent to Athens, where, without suffering them to be heard, they were put to death the same day; and their bodies thrown into the open fields, by way of reprisal on the Lacedæmonians, who treated all who were not of their party in the same inhuman manner. It is scarce possible to conceive how two cities, which, a little before, were so strongly united, and ought to have shewn a mutual civility and forbearance for each other, could contract so inveterate an hatred, and break into such cruel acts of violence, as infringe all the laws of war, hu manity, and nations; and prompted them to exercise greater cruelties upon one another, than if they had been at war with Barbarians.

Potidea had now been besieged almost three years; when the inhabitants, reduced to extremities, and in such want of provisions that some fed on human flesh, and not expecting any succours from the Peloponnesians, whose attempts in Attica had all proved abortive, surrendered on conditions. The circumstances which made the Athenians treat them with lenity, were, the severity of the weather, which exceedingly annoyed the besiegers; and the prodigious expence of the siege, which had already cost * two thousand talents. They therefore came out of the city with their wives and children, as well citizens as foreigners, with each but one suit of clothes, and the women two, and only a little money to carry them home. The Athenians blamed their generals for granting this capitulation without their order; because otherwise, as the citizens were reduced to

The army which besieged Potidea consisted of three thou sand men, exclusive of the sixteen hundred who had been sent under the command of Phormio. Every soldier received (daily). two drachms, or twenty pence (French) for master and man; and those of the gallies had the same pay. Thucyd. 1. iii. p. 182. † Six millions.

t

Artax. the utmost extremities, they would have surrender. Longim. ed at discretion. They sent a colony thither.

The first thing Pericles did after his being re-elected generalissimo, was to propose the abrogating of that law, which he himself had caused to be enacted against bastards, when there were legitimate chil dren. It declared, that such only should be considered as true and legitimate Athenians, whose fathers and mothers were both natives of Athens; and it had been executed just before with the utmost rigour. For the * For the king of Egypt having sent to Athens a present of forty thousand measures of corn to be distributed among the people, the bastards, on account of this new law, were involved in a thousand difficulties, till then unpractised, and which had not been so much as thought of. Near five thousand of them were condemned and sold as slaves, whilst fourteen thousand and forty citizens were confirmed in their privileges, and recognized as true Athenians. It was thought very strange, that the author and promoter of this law should him- → self desire to have it repealed. But the Athenians were moved to compassion at the domestick calamities of Pericles; so that they permitted him to enter his bastard, in his own name, in the register of the ci tizens of his tribe.

A little after he himself was infected with the pestilence. Being extremely ill, and ready to breathe his last, the principal citizens, and such of his friends as had not forsaken him, discoursing together in his bed-chamber about his rare merit, they ran over his exploits, and computed the number of his victories; for whilst he was generalissimo of the Athenians, he had erected for the glory of their city nine trophies, in memory of as many battles gained by him. They

*Plutarch does not name this king. Perhaps it was Inarus, son to Psammetichus king of Lybia, who had caused part of the Egyptians to take up arms against Artaxerxes, and to whom the Athenians, above thirty years before, had sent succours against the Persians. Thucyd. 1 i. p. 68.

did not imagine that Pericles heard what they were Artax. saying, because he seemed to have lost his senses; Longim. but it was far otherwise, for not a single word of their discourse had escaped him; when, breaking suddenly from his silence; "I am surprized," says he," that you should treasure up so well in your "memories, and extol so highly a series of actions, "in which fortune had so great a share, and which "are common to me, with so many other generals

and at the same time should forget the most glo"rious circumstances in my life; I mean, my never

having caused a single citizen to put on mourning." Excellent words! which very few in high stations can declare with truth. The Athenians were deeply afflicted at his death.

The reader has doubtless observed, from what has been said of Pericles, that in him were united most qualities which constitute the great man; as those of the admiral, by his great skill in naval affairs; of the great captain, by his conquests and victories; of the high treasurer, by the excellent order in which he put the finances; of the great politician, by the extent and justness of his views, by his eloquence in publick deliberations, and by the dexterity and address with which he transacted affairs; of a minister of state, by the methods he employed to increase the trade and promote the arts in general; in fine, of father of his country, by the happiness he procured to every individual, and which he always had in view, as the true scope and end of his administra

tion.

But I must not omit another characteristick which was peculiar to him. He acted with so much wisdom, moderation, disinterestedness and zeal for the publick good; he discovered, in all things, so great a superiority of talents, and gave so exalted an idea of his experience, capacity, and integrity, that he acquired the confidence of all the Athenians; and fixed (in his own favour) during forty years that he governed the Athenians, their natural fickleness and

inconstancy. He suppressed that jealousy, which an extreme fondness for liberty had made them entertain against all citizens distinguished by their merit and great authority. But the most surprizing circumstance is, he gained this great ascendant merely by persuasion, without employing force, mean artifices, or any of those arts which à mean politician excuses in himself upon the specious pretence, that the necessity of the publick affairs, and reasons of state, make them necessary.

b Anaxagoras died the same year as Pericles. Plutarch relates a circumstance concerning him, that happened some time before, which must not be omitted. He says that this philosopher, who had voluntarily reduced himself to excessive poverty, in order that he might have the greater leisure to pursue his studies; finding himself neglected, in his old age, by Pericles, who, in the multiplicity of the publick affairs, had not always time to think of him

wrapped his cloak about his head, and threw himself on the ground, in the fixed resolution to starve himself. Pericles hearing of this accidentally, ran with the utmost haste to the philosopher's house, in the deepest affliction. He conjured him, in the strongest and most moving terms, not to throw his life away; adding, that it was not Anaxagoras but himself that was to be lamented, if he was so unfortunate as to lose so wise and faithful a friend; one who was so capable of giving him wholesome counsels, with regard to the pressing occasions of the state. Anaxagoras then, uncovering a little his head, spoke thus to him; Pericles, those who use a lamp take care to feed it with oil. This was a gentle, and at the same time a strong and piercing reproach. Pericles ought to have supplied his wants unasked. Many lamps are extinguished in this manner in a country,

b Plut. in Pericl. P. 162.

It was the custom for those to cover their heads with their cloaks, who were reduced to despair, and resolved to die.

by the criminal negligence of those who ought to Artax. supply them.

SECT. III.

The Lacedæmonians besiege Plataa. Mi

tylene is taken by the Athenians. Plataa surrenders. The plague breaks out again in Athens.

Fourth and fifth years of the war.

Longim.

Ant. J.C.

428.

THE most memorable transaction of the follow A. M. ing years, was the siege of Platææ by the Lacedæmo- 3576. nians. This was one of the most famous sieges in an tiquity, on account of the vigorous efforts of both parties; but especially for the glorious resistance made by the besieged, and their bold and industrious stratagem, by which several of them got out of the city, and by that means escaped the fury of the enemy. The Lacedæmonians besieged this place in the beginning of the third campaign. As soon as they had pitched their camp round the city, in order to lay waste the places adjacent to it, the Platæans sent some deputies to Archidamus, who commanded on that occasion, to represent, that he could not attack them with the least shadow of justice, because that, after the famous battle of Platææ, Pausanias, the Grecian general, offering up a sacrifice in their city to Jupiter the deliverer, in presence of all the allies, had given them their freedom to reward their valour and zeal; and therefore, that they ought not to be disturbed in the enjoyment of their liberties, since it had been granted them by a Lacedæmonian. Archidamus answered, that their demand would be very reasonable, had they not joined with the Athenians, the professed enemies to the liberty of Greece; but that, if they would disengage themselves from their present alliance, or at least remain neuter, they then should be left in the full enjoyment of their privileges. The deputies replied, that they could not

Thucyd. 1, ü. p. 147-151. Diod. 1. xxii. p. 102-109.