gain, when acting as arbitrator between two persons, one of
them said that his adversary had done much wrong to Aristeides. "My
good man," said he, "do not tell me of this, but tell me whether he
has wronged you or not, for I am judging your cause, not my own."

When elected to administer the revenues of the state he proved that
not only his own colleagues, but those who had previously held office,
had embezzled large sums, especially Themistokles,

"A clever man, but with an itching palm."

For this cause Themistokles, when Aristeides' accounts were audited,
prosecuted him on a charge of malversation, and, according to
Idomeneus, obtained a verdict.

However, the better class of citizens being grieved at this, not only
remitted the fine, but at once elected him to the same office. He now
pretended to regret his former rigour, and was much more remiss in
performing his duties, which rendered him very popular with those who
were in the habit of embezzling the public money, so that they were
loud in his praise, and canvassed the people on his behalf, trusting
that he might be re-elected archon. But when the voting was about to
begin, he rose and rebuked the Athenians. "When," he said, "I did you
true and honourable service, I was disgraced by you; now, when I have
permitted much of the public money to be stolen, I am thought to be an
excellent citizen. But I myself am more ashamed of the honour which
you now pay me, than I am of my former conviction, and I am sorry for
you, because among you it is esteemed more honourable to abet
evil-doers than to guard the national property."

By speaking thus and exposing the peculation which was being
practised, he closed the mouths of all those who were so loudly
commending him as an honest man, but gained the applause of all true
and honourable men.

V. When Datis was sent by Darius, nominally to punish the Athenians
for the burning of Sardis, but really to enslave the whole of Greece,
he landed at Marathon, and commenced laying waste the country. Of the
ten generals appointed by the Athenians for the conduct of the war,
Miltiades had the highest reputation, while Aristeides held the
second place. He used his influence in the council of war to support
the proposition of Miltiades to fight the enemy at once, and also, as
each general had sole command for one day, when his day came round, he
gave it to Miltiades, thus teaching his colleagues that obedience to
those who kno