The ancient Greek historians (Harvard lectures) by J. B. Bury.

128 ANCIENT GREEK HISTORIANS LECT.

with that of a great Athenian statesman of a former
age, Themistocles. They were both banished from
Athens; both conspired with her enemies against
her; and Alcibiades like Themistocles became a
trusted adviser of the Persians. But another
point of likeness is indicated by Thucydides, Xa/7rpoT7r. It is not for nothing that he describes
Themistocles and Pausanias as the most magnificent or luxurious of the Greeks of their time
(Xa/LT7rpordrovs). That was a weak point in the case
of Themistocles as in that of Alcibiades; it led to
the suspicion of tyranny. This parallel suggests
that one motive of the digression on Themistocles
was to point it. At all events it throws light on
the view of the historian. Athens produced three
men who had the faculty, which cannot be learned
by study, for guiding the affairs of a great state,
Themistocles, Pericles, and Alcibiades. Two of
them fell into the snare of luxurious splendour,
which ruined their careers. Pericles avoided that
pitfall, and won and retained the public confidence.
This contrast, I would observe, gives special point
to a famous phrase in the Epitaphios. Pericles
himself was XA/caXoa /Ite-' erev7\ela9, he was not
Xa/7prp6o, he indulged his private tastes without
undue or obtrusive expense.
This analysis, which is furnished by the historian's own comments, eliminates entirely the
dim superstitious notions of doom and nemesis,
which do duty for Providence in Herodotus and
dispense the spectator from any deeper study of