第 3 节
作者:缘圆      更新:2024-07-17 14:41      字数:9322
  harangued the people; and of his wielding a dreadful thunderbolt in
  his tongue。
  A saying also of Thucydides; the son of Melesias; stands on
  record; spoken by him by way of pleasantry upon Pericles's
  dexterity。 Thucydides was one of the noble and distinguished citizens;
  and had been his greatest opponent; and; when Archidamus; the King
  of the Lacedaemonians; asked him whether he or Pericles were the
  better wrestler; he made this answer: 〃When I;〃 said he; 〃have
  thrown him and given him a fair fall; by persisting that he had no
  fall; he gets the better of me; and makes the bystanders; in spite
  of their own eyes; believe him。〃 The truth; however; is; that Pericles
  himself was very careful what and how he was to speak; insomuch
  that; whenever he went up to the hustings; he prayed the gods that
  no one word might unawares slip from him unsuitable to the matter
  and the occasion。
  He has left nothing in writing behind him; except some decrees;
  and there are but very few of his sayings recorded; one; for
  example; is; that he said Aegina must; like a gathering in a man's
  eye; be removed from Piraeus; and another; that he said he saw already
  war moving on its way towards them out of Peloponnesus。 Again; when on
  a time Sophocles; who was his fellow…commissioner in the
  generalship; was going on board with him; and praised the beauty of
  a youth they met with in the way to the ship; 〃Sophocles;〃 said he; 〃a
  general ought not only to have clean hands but also clean eyes。〃 And
  Stesimbrotus tells us that; in his encomium on those who fell in
  battle at Samos; he said they were become immortal; as the gods
  were。 〃For;〃 said he; 〃we do not see them themselves; but only by
  the honours we pay them; and by the benefits they do us; attribute
  to them immortality; and the like attributes belong also to those that
  die in the service of their country。〃
  Since Thucydides describes the rule of Pericles as an aristocratical
  government; that went by the name of a democracy; but was; indeed; the
  supremacy of a single great man; while many others say; on the
  contrary; that by him the common people were first encouraged and
  led on to such evils as appropriations of subject territory;
  allowances for attending theatres; payments for performing public
  duties; and by these bad habits were; under the influence of his
  public measures; changed from a sober; thrifty people; that maintained
  themselves by their own labours; to lovers of expense; intemperance;
  and licence; let us examine the cause of this change by the actual
  matters of fact。
  At the first; as has been said; when he set himself against
  Cimon's great authority; he did caress the people。 Finding himself
  come short of his competitor in wealth and money; by which
  advantages the other was enabled to take care of the poor; inviting
  every day some one or other of the citizens that was in want to
  supper; and bestowing clothes on the aged people; and breaking down
  the hedges and enclosures of his grounds; that all that would might
  freely gather what fruit they pleased; Pericles; thus outdone in
  popular arts; by the advice of one Damonides of Oea; as Aristotle
  states; turned to the distribution of the public moneys; and in a
  short time having bought the people over; what with moneys allowed for
  shows and for service on juries; and what with other forms of pay
  and largess; he made use of them against the council of Areopagus of
  which he himself was no member; as having never been appointed by lot…
  either chief archon; or lawgiver; or king; or captain。 For from of old
  these offices were conferred on persons by lot; and they who had
  acquitted themselves duly in the discharge of them were advanced to
  the court of Areopagus。 And so Pericles; having secured his power in
  interest with the populace; directed the exertions of his party
  against this council with such success; that most of these causes
  and matters which had been used to be tried there were; by the
  agency of Ephialtes; removed from its cognisance; Cimon; also; was
  banished by ostracism as a favourer of the Lacedaemonians and a
  hater of the people; though in wealth and noble birth he was among the
  first; and had won several most glorious victories over the
  barbarians; and had filled the city with money and spoils of war; as
  is recorded in the history of his life。 So vast an authority had
  Pericles obtained among the people。
  The ostracism was limited by law to ten years; but the
  Lacedaemonians; in the meantime; entering with a great army into the
  territory of Tanagra; and the Athenians going out against them; Cimon;
  coming from his banishment before his time was out; put himself in
  arms and array with those of his fellow…citizens that were of his
  own tribe; and desired by his deeds to wipe off the suspicion of his
  favouring the Lacedaemonians; by venturing his own person along with
  his countrymen。 But Pericles's friends; gathering in a body; forced
  him to retire as a banished man。 For which cause also Pericles seems
  to have exerted himself more in that than in any battle; and to have
  been conspicuous above all for his exposure of himself to danger。
  All Cimon's friends; also; to a man; fell together side by side;
  whom Pericles had accused with him of taking part with the
  Lacedaemonians。 Defeated in this battle on their own frontiers; and
  expecting a new and perilous attack with return of spring; the
  Athenians now felt regret and sorrow for the loss of Cimon; and
  repentance for their expulsion of him。 Pericles; being sensible of
  their feelings; did not hesitate or delay to gratify it; and himself
  made the motion for recalling him home。 He; upon his return; concluded
  a peace betwixt the two cities; for the Lacedaemonians entertained
  as kindly feelings towards him as they did the reverse towards
  Pericles and the other popular leaders。
  Yet some there are who say that Pericles did not propose the order
  for Cimon's return till some private articles of agreement had been
  made between them; and this by means of Elpinice; Cimon's sister; that
  Cimon; namely; should go out to sea with a fleet of two hundred ships;
  and be commander…in…chief abroad; with a design to reduce the King
  of Persia's territories; and that Pericles should have the power at
  home。
  This Elpinice; it was thought; had before this time procured some
  favour for her brother Cimon at Pericles's hands; and induced him to
  be more remiss and gentle in urging the charge when Cimon was tried
  for his life; for Pericles was one of the committee appointed by the
  commons to plead against him。 And when Elpinice came and besought
  him in her brother's behalf; he answered; with a smile; 〃O Elpinice;
  you are too old a woman to undertake such business as this。〃 But; when
  he appeared to impeach him; he stood up but once to speak; merely to
  acquit himself of his commission; and went out of court; having done
  Cimon the least prejudice of any of his accusers。
  How; then; can one believe Idomeneus; who charges Pericles as if
  he had by treachery procured the murder of Ephialtes; the popular
  statesman; one who was his friend; and of his own party in all his
  political course; out of jealousy; forsooth; and envy of his great
  reputation? This historian; it seems; having raked up these stories; I
  know not whence; has befouled with them a man who; perchance; was
  not altogether free from fault or blame; but yet had a noble spirit;
  and a soul that was bent on honour; and where such qualities are;
  there can no such cruel and brutal passion find harbour or gain
  admittance。 As to Ephialtes; the truth of the story; as Aristotle
  has told it; is this: that having made himself formidable to the
  oligarchical party; by being an uncompromising asserter of the
  people's rights in calling to account and prosecuting those who any
  way wronged them; his enemies; lying in wait for him; by the means
  of Aristodicus the Tanagraean; privately despatched him。
  Cimon; while he was admiral; ended his days in the Isle of Cyprus。
  And the aristocratical party; seeing that Pericles was already
  before this grown to be the greatest and foremost man of all the city;
  but nevertheless wishing there should be somebody set up against
  him; to blunt and turn the edge of his power; that it might not
  altogether prove a monarchy; put forward Thucydides of Alopece; a
  discreet person; and a near kinsman of Cimon's; to conduct the
  opposition against him; who; indeed; though less skilled in warlike
  affairs than Cimon was; yet was better versed in speaking and
  political business and keeping close guard in the city; and;
  engaging with Pericles on the hustings; in a short time brought the
  government to an equality of parties。 For he would not suffer those
  who were called the honest and good (persons of worth and distinction)
  to be scattered up and down and mix themselves and be lost among the
  populace; as formerly; diminishing and obscuring their superiority
  amongst the masses; but taking them apart by themselves and uniting
  them in one body; by their combined weight he was able; as it were
  upon the balance; to make a counterpoise to the other party。
  For; indeed; there was from the beginning a sort of concealed split;
  or seam; as it might be i