Untitled - 24grammata.com

176 ANCIENT GBEECE. [CHAP. xin.mander may rule a nation of barbarians but;the statesmanwho has no pretensionsto the qualifications of a general,finds no place except amonga cultivated people. To markmore distinctly the limits of the three periods, we will call thefirst that of Themistocles, the second that of Pericles, andthe third that of Demosthenes.In the first age it is easy to perceive, that the qualities ofa commander were of more importance than those of astatesman. The state was to be saved on the field of battle ;and yet prudence was needed for its safety no less thancourage.Themistocles himself may be regarded as the representative of this period. Destined by nature to becomehe was still forceda demagogue rather than a general,bythe character and the spirit of his age to build his politicalinfluence on his military fame. He owed his greatness tothe Persian war and Salamis. But as a general, he is perhaps the most perfect model of a popular leader, who effectsless by commands than by persuasion and knowledge ofmen. His nation recognisedin him the most prudent of itscitizens ;and he understood his nation better than any one,not merely collectively, but individually. Hence proceededhis influence." He was most distinguished," says Thucydides,1 for tlie strength of his natural powers and for this;"he is the most admirable of men. His understanding madehim the most acute observer of every unexpected incident,without any previous or subsequent inquiries and; gave himthe most accurate foresight of the future. Whatever heundertook, he was able to execute; and to form a truejudgment on whatever was new to him. In doubtful matters, he could best tell what was to be done or to beavoided ; and, in a word, he was the first for strength ofnatural powers, and for promptness of decision." Happythe state which is favoured with such a citizen ! Even init has no need to fear. He who considers thegreat dangerswhole history of Themistocles, will admire him less for hisdeeds of heroism, than for the manner in which he preserved the courage of his nation, and in the decisive moment brought them to the decisive measure, rather to entertheir ships and desert their native city, than subject themselves to the Persian yoke. Such things can be done only1i.Thucyd. 138.