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4 Plutarch. Op. iii. p. 202. 5 Called al \ipvcu.178 ANCIENT GREECE. [CHAP. xm.less than to Themistocles, who had been his rival fromyouth.If politicaland moral principles rendered the unionof the two impossible, (nothing but the urgent necessities ofthe country effected itfor a short time,)it must not be forgotten, that Aristides, though probably of no 1opulent family,belonged by his birth to the class of the Eupatridse.Cimon, the son of Miltiades, the third whom we shouldname in this first period, connects it,as it were, with thesucceeding. He too was more of a general than a statesman. His policy had but one object, continual war againstthe Persians, as the means of preserving the unity of theGreeks. This he pursued through his whole life, from thebattle of Salamis, (and he had been the first to give the example of deserting the city and entering the 2ships, ) tillshortly before the glorious peace which he had promoted,but did not live to see concluded. 3He seems, therefore, tohave taken no further share in the internal affairs, than hewas forced to do byhis situation. For descended from anoble family, and a pupil of Aristides, possessing the principles of his political instructer, he desired the favour of thepeople, only as the means of preservinghis character as amilitary commander; and yet he did not escape the lotwhich had fallen to Themistocles and Aristides. But hismilitary fame procured his speedy return and; confirmedhim, as it increased, in the possession of his place. It wasby the means which Cimon used to preserve the favour of thepeople, that he held a place, as we have observed, betweenthe first and second period. His liberality was not confinedto citizens alone; even he began to attract attention bypublic improvements, made for the most part at his own expense. Themistocles had fortified the city and the Pirseeus ;and Cimoia beganto ornament them. With the Persianspoils he built a 4part of the walls of the citadel. He causedthe marshy ground at its side 5 to be dried and paved; herevenue of the several states ;and fixed accordingly the tribute of each stateto general satisfaction." Plutarch. Op. ii. p. 535. But even before thattime it was his character, which had gained for Athens the supremacy. Forthe allies desired a president like him ;and even invited him to assume thesupreme command." Plutarch, ii. p. 532. He was at that time general of theAthenians with Cimon.1How uncertain this was, appears from Plutarch, iii. p. 4/8.* Plutarch. Op. iii. p. 18 1. 3He died in the year 449 B C