Page:History of the Literature of Ancient Greece (Müller) 2ed.djvu/302

280 280 HISTORY OF THE country to the ravages of the enemy : embarking in their ships, they decide the sea-fights in favour of the Greeks, and again they are in the land-war the steadiest supporters of the Spartans. The wise modera- tion with which, for the sake of the general good, they submitted to the supreme command of Sparta, combined with a bold and enterprising- spirit, which Sparta did not possess, is soon rewarded to an extent which must have exceeded the most sanguine hopes of the Athenian statesmen. The attachment of the Ionians to their metropolis, Athens, which had been awakened before the battle of Marathon, soon led to a closer connexion between nearly all the Greeks of the Asiatic coast and this state. Shortly afterwards, Sparta withdrew, with the other Greeks of the mother country, from any further concern in the contest ; and an Athenian alliance was formed for the termination of the national war, which was changed, by gradual yet rapid transitions, into a dominion of Athens over her allies ; so that she became the sovereign of a large and flourishing empire, comprehending the islands and coasts of the yEgean, and a part of the Euxine seas. In this manner, Athens gained a wide basis for the lofty edifice of political glory which was raised by her statesmen. § 5. The completion of this splendid structure was due to Pericles, during his administration, which lasted from about b.c. 464, to his death (b.c. 429). Pericles changed the allies of Athens into her subjects, by declaring the common treasure to be the treasure of the Athenian state ; and he resolutely maintained the supremacy of Athens, by punishing with severity every attempt at defection. Through his influence, Athens became a dominant community, whose chief business it was to administer the affairs of an extensive empire, flourishino- in. agriculture, mechanical industry, and commerce. Pericles, however, did not make the acquisition of this power the highest object of his exertions, nor did he wish the Athenians to consider it as their greatest good. His aim was to realise in Athens the idea which he had con- ceived of human greatness. He wished that great and noble thoughts should pervade the whole mass of the ruling people; and this was in fact the case, so long as his influence lasted, to a greater degree than has occurred in any other period of history. Pericles stood among the citizens of Athens, without any public office which gave him extensive legal power*; and yet he exercised an influence over the multitude which has been rarely possessed by an hereditary ruler. The breaking out of the Peloponnesian war ; but, although this office required an ac- curate knowledge of the finances of Athens, it did not confer any hgal power. It is assumed that the times are excepted, in which Pericles was strategus, particnlaily at the beginning of the Peloponnesian war, when the strati gus had a very extensive executive power, because Athens, being in a state of siege, was treated" like a for tined camp.
 * Pericles was indeed treasurer of the administration ( h Ur) rn; %icix.wicai) at the