became the leader of
the aristocratic section of the people, as Themistocles did of the
democratic, and for years the city was divided between their adherents.
But the brilliancy of Themistocles was replaced in Aristides by a staid
and quiet disposition. He was natively austere, taciturn, and
deep-revolving, winning influence by silent methods, and retaining it by
the strictest honor and justice and a hatred of all forms of falsehood
or political deceit.

For years these two men divided the political power of Athens between
them, until in the end Aristides said that the city would have no peace
until it threw the pair of them into the pit kept for condemned
criminals. So just was Aristides that, on one of his enemies being
condemned by the court without a hearing, he rose in his seat and begged
the court not to impose sentence without giving the accused an
opportunity for defence.

Aristides was one of the generals at Marathon, and was left to guard the
spoils on the field of battle after the defeat of the Persians. At a
later date, by dint of false reports, Themistocles succeeded in having
him ostracized, obtaining the votes of the rabble against him. One of
these, not knowing Aristides, asked him to write his own name on the
tile used as a voting tablet. He did so, but first inquired, "Has
Aristides done you an injury?" "No," was the answer; "I do not even know
him, but I am tired of hearing him always called 'Aristides the Just.'"
On leaving the city Aristides prayed that the people should never have
any occasion to regret their action.

This occasion quickly came. In less than three years he was recalled to
aid his country in the Persian invasion. Landing at Salamis, he served
Athens in the manner we have already told. The command of the army which
Aristides surrendered to Miltiades at the battle of Marathon fell to
himself in the battle of Plataea, for on that great day he led the
Athenians and played an important part in the victory that followed. He
commanded the Athenian forces in a later war, and by his prudence and
mildness won for Athens the supremacy in the Greek confederation that
was afterwards formed.

At a later date, leader of the aristocrats as he was, to avert a
revolution he proposed a change in the constitution that made Athens
completely democratic, and enabled the lowliest citizen to rise to the
highest office of the state. In 468 B.C. died this great and noble
citizen of Athens, one of the