Book II - Wilbourhall.org

Ixxvi INTRODUCTION. [iv.But the combination of the peace party and the extremedemocrats was not to be thus broken. Cleonknew that it would be useless to raise a definite chargeagainstPericles of misconducting the war: he couldonly have taken the line that vigorous action wasnecessary, and in that case he could not have obtainedthe support of the peace party. Now it was thecustom at Athens to pass a vote of confidence in eachof the ten strategi once in every prytany. A citizenmight then bring forward any complaint he choseagainst any strategus, and, if the complaint seemedwell founded, the vote of confidence was thrown out.Then the strategus was suspended, and the complaintwas referred to the law-courts. As Cleon was a skilfulfinancier, he determined to turn his knowledge toaccount by raising a charge of misappropriation ofpublic money (ypa(f)r] kAott^s Srjixocriwv \pr]iJ.a.T{av)against Pericles on the vote of confidence {k-m^iipo-Tovia). In this he succeeded : Pericles, who hadscarcely entered on his new year of office, and whohad not at present been entrusted with any extraordinaryauthority, was brought to trialand heavilyfined. He therefore could not obtain office againbefore the elections of 429. The charge was certainlyunfounded, but the ecclesia was carried away by thespeakers at a very trying moment.Sparta made very little out of the difficulties ofAthens. A fleet was sent to operate on the coast ofZacynthus, but the island remained firm to Athens.It is evident that Sparta was very anxious to obtainthe islands in the north-west on account of herrelations with Syracuse. The Ambraciots also took