powerful fleet, without which it was impossible for them to humble
their rival. There was at this time a large surplus in the public
treasury, arising from the produce of the silver-mines at Laurium. It
had been recently proposed to distribute this surplus among the
Athenian citizens; but Themistocles persuaded them to sacrifice their
private advantage to the public good, and to appropriate the money to
building a fleet of 200 ships.

The two leading citizens of Athens at this period were Themistocles and
Aristides. These two eminent men formed a striking contrast to each
other. Themistocles possessed abilities of the most extraordinary
kind; but they were marred by a want of honesty. Aristides was
inferior to Themistocles in ability, but was incomparably superior to
him in honesty and integrity. His uprightness and justice were so
universally acknowledged that he received the surname of the "Just."
Themistocles was the leader of the democratical, and Aristides of the
conservative party at Athens. After three or four years of bitter
rivalry, the two chiefs appealed to the ostracism, and Aristides was
banished (B.C. 483). We are told that an unlettered countryman gave
his vote against Aristides at the ostracism, because he was tired of
hearing him always called the Just.

CHAPTER VIII.

THE PERSIAN WARS.--THE BATTLES OF THERMOPYLAE, SALAMIS, AND PLATAEA,
B.C. 480-479.

The defeat of the Persians at Marathon served only to increase the
resentment of Darius. He now resolved to collect the whole forces of
his empire, and to lead them in person against Athens. For three years
busy preparations were made throughout his vast dominions. In the
fourth year his attention was distracted by a revolt of the Egyptians;
and before he could reduce them to subjection he was surprised by
death, after a reign of 37 years (B.C. 485). Xerxes, the son and
successor of Darius, had received the education of an eastern despot,
and been surrounded with slaves from his cradle. In person he was the
tallest and handsomest man amidst the vast hosts which he led against
Greece; but there was nothing in his mind to correspond to this fair
exterior. His character was marked by faint-hearted timidity and
childish vanity. Xerxes had not inherited his father's animosity
against Greece; but he was surrounded by men who urged him to continue
the enterprise. Foremost among these was Mardonius, who was eager to
retrieve his reputatio