Page:History of Greece Vol V.djvu/267

 GRECIAN AFFAIRS AFTER THE PERSIAN INVASION. 243 left Attica unprotected, they owed their own salvation at Salamis altogether to the dexterity of Themistokles and the imposing Athenian naval force. Considering that the Peloponnesians had sustained little or no mischief by the invasion, while the Athenians had lost for the time even their city and country, with a large proportion of theii- movable property irrecoverably destroyed, — we might naturally expect to tind the former, if not lending their grateful and active aid to repair the damage in Attica, at least cordially welcoming the restoration of the ruined city by its former inhabitants. In- stead of this, we find the same selfishness again prevalent among them ; ill-will and mistrust for the future, aggravated by an admi- ration which they could not help feeling, overlays all their grati- tude and sympathy. The Athenians, on returning from Salamis after the battle of Plat?ea, found a desolate home to harbor them* Their country was laid waste, — their city burnt or destroyed,' so that there remained but a few houses standing, wherein the Per- sian oflicers had taken up their quarters, — and their fortifica- tions for the most part razed or overthrown. It was their first task to bring home their families and effects from the temporary places of shelter at Troezen, ^gina, and Salamis. After provid- ing what was indispensably necessary for immediate wants, they began to rebuild their city and its fortifications on a scale of enlarged size in every direction.' But as soon as they were seen to be employed on this indispensable work, Avithout which neither political existence nor personal safety was practicable, the allies took the alarm, preferred complaints to Sparta, and urged her to arrest the work : in the front of these complainants, probably, stood the ^ginetans, as the old enemies of Athens, and as having most to apprehend from her might at sea. The Spartans, per- fectly sympathizing with the jealousy and uneasiness of their allies, were even disposed, from old association, to carry their dislike of fortifications still farther, so that they would have been pleased to see all the other Grecian cities systematically defence- less like Sparta itself.2 But while sending an embassy to Athena, ' Thucyd. i. 89. im^eva relxoc £;^;ovra, -b de tzXeov, tuv ^vnfiaxuv e^OTpvvovTUv kqI <po^ov-
 * Thucyd. i, 90. tu jmIv koI avrol ij6iov uv opCivrer /xi/re EKEtvovg firjT'' u?./[ov