The hystory writtone by Thucidides the Athenyan of the warre, whiche was betwene the Peloponesians and the Athenyans, translated oute of Frenche into the Englysh language by Thomas Nicolls citezeine and goldesmyth of London

¶ Of the vertues and laudable conditions of Pericles. ☞The tenth Chapter.

BY suche talke and wordes, Pericles enforced hymself to appayse the anger of y^e Athenyans, and to cause thē to forgett the euylls and dō∣mages, that they had. And for effecte, they all in generall agrede vnto hym. In such sorte, that afterwardes they sente none Ambassadours towardes the Lacedemonyans, but desposed themselfe to the warre. Neuerthe∣les in particuler, they were sore agreued to indure all the dyffycultyes. to wytt, the common people, for that, that the litle goodes whiche they had, was consu∣med by the warre: and the ryche and noble men, for that they had loste the fayre possessyons and the sumptuous houses, that they had in the feldes. And this was the most grief: that they had warre, in stede of peace. By reasone of whiche thynges, they remytted not the hatred that they had agaynste Pericles, but cō∣dempned hym in a somme of monney. And neuertheles, wythin a smal tyme af∣ter (lyke as is the cvstome of the people to be varyable) dyd chose•• hym agayne to be theyr Duke, and gaue hym full puissance and auctoryte in all thynges. For al¦though that they were nowe weakened by the euyls and dammages that they had suffred in particuler: yet in thynges, that concerned the weale and gouerne∣ment of the common wealthe, they knewe that they had nede of hym, and that he was the most suffycyent man, that they had. Also for trouthe, so longe as he had the gouernaunce, durynge the peace, he admynystred moderately and defen∣ded it intierly, and also augmented and amplefyed it greately. And afterwardes, whan there was questyon of the warre, he knewe and vnderstoode ryghte well the strength and puissance of the cytye, lyke as it appereth by that, which therin hath be done. But sithens hys death, which was two yeares and a halfe after the warre begonne, men knowe muche more hys prudence and prouidence. For he had alwayes shewed them, that they shulde haue the victory of that warre, yf they kepte themselfe from fayghtynge agaynste the enemyes on lande, and dyd execute theyr feate by sea. wythout alwayes to searche to gette a newe seignyory, and wythoute puttynge the cytye in daunger. wherin, after hys deathe, they dyd the whole contrarye. And moreouer, touchynge the other thynges, that concer∣ned not the warre: they, whiche had the administratyon, dyd euery one after hys ambition and particular couetice, bothe to the greate preiudyce of the common welthe, and also of themselfe. For theyr enterpryses were suche, that whan it thā came to theyr intente, it redounded to the honnoure and proffite of particulers, more than of the commone. But chaunsynge to the contrarye, it was the per∣dition and losse of the common welthe. And the cause of thys disorder, was for

that, that durynge the tyme, that the same Pericles was in auctoryte, he had the reputacyon, the myndes and affectyons, and assured fealtie and truste. Also with out all doubte, he was ryght wyse, and wolde not be corrupte. For thys cause he easely refrayned and appaysed the people. For that also he shewed hymselfe to¦wardes them, rather a compaignyon, than a duke and gouernour. Furthermore he got not the auctoryte by vnlaufull meanes, nother dyd speake any thynge for to please, but in kepyng hys grauitie, whan men proponed and sett fourth anye thing invtile and v••profytable, he spake frankely agaynst it, though that, in that doing, he incurred the indignatyon of the people. And so often, as he vnderstode, that they Imagyned to do any thynge before that it were tyme, or by crueltye, rather, than by reasone: he reprehended and resrayned them by hys graue spea∣kyng, and by hys auctoryte. And also, whan he sawe them afrayde for any incon∣uenyent, he put them agayne in courage. In such sorte, that in apparance the go∣uernaunce of the towne was in the name of the people, but in effecte, al the aucto∣rytie was in hym. Wherethroughe, after that he was deade, it chaunced y^t those whiche succeded in hys place, beinge equalle in auctoryte, dyd searche euerye one of them to obteigne the principalite, ouer the other. And to brynge that to passe, they enforced them selues, for to please the will of the people. Which doing, they commytted very many great faultes, lyke as it chaūceth in suche cases in a great cytye, whiche hath empyre and seignyory, but amonge other, the greatest was, that they made a nauigation into Sycile. For they offended, not onely agaynste them, whome they wente to oultrage (begynnyng to warre, vpon them whiche thinge they shulde not haue done) but also againste them, whome they had sent thyder, for that, that they prouided not wel in theyr case by meanes of the trou∣bles and questyons that happened in the cytye, by occasion of thadministration, & of the auctorytye•• for the which, the princyyall dyd stryue and debate, through iniuryes and through accusatyons. And by that meane, the sayd armye was de∣feated in Sycile. And also afterwardes, was loste a greate parte of the armye by sea wyth the apparayle which they had set fourth agayne. And notwitstandynge the sayde losse, and that they were trauaylled in the cytye by cyuile seditions and questyons, and that they had gottone the Syciliens for enemyes besydes the o∣ther, and also that the more parte of the allyes had habandoned and forsakē thē, & fynally y^e Cyrus sene of the kyng of Perse was allyed with the Peloponesiās, and had geuen them money for to make an armye by sea: yet dyd they resist thre yeares, and coulde not be vainquyshed. vntyl suche tyme, as they being oppressed & troubled by their cyuyle dissensyons, were constrayned to render thēself. where∣fore it is clerely apparaūt, y^• whan Pericles faylled them, they had yet suche puis∣sance, y^t w^t his conducte, they might easely haue had the victory of y^e same warre.