required for the expenses of a long and costly war, as that
these men had accustomed the people to largesses of money, dramatic
representations, and the erection of statues and temples. Themistokles
was the only man who had sneered at the great reputation which
Aristeides had won by his assessment of the Greek states, saying that
the praise which was lavished on him was not suitable to a man, but to
a chest which kept money safe. This he said as a retort to a saying of
Aristeides, who once, when Themistokles said that he thought it the
most valuable quality for a general to be able to divine beforehand
what the enemy would do, answered, "That, Themistokles, is very true,
but it is also the part of an honourable general to keep his hands
clean."

XXV. Aristeides, moreover, bound all the Greeks by an oath to keep the
league against the Persians, and himself swore on behalf of Athens,
throwing wedges of red hot iron into the sea after the oath was taken,
and praying that the gods might so deal with those that broke their
faith. But afterwards, when circumstances forced the Athenians to
govern with a stronger hand, he bade the Athenians act as they
pleased, for he would take upon himself any guilt of perjury which
they might incur. And throughout his life Theophrastus observes that
Aristeides, though scrupulously just in his dealings with his
fellow-citizens, yet sometimes in dealing with other states was guided
rather by advantage than by equity. For instance, when the Athenians
were debating a proposal of the Samians, that the treasure of the
league should be removed from Delos to Athens, a thing distinctly
contrary to the articles of the alliance, Aristeides said that it was
not just, but that it was expedient to do so. He himself, at the end
of his life, after raising his city to be the ruler of so many people,
remained in his original poverty, and took no less pride in his
poverty than in the victories which he had won. This is proved by the
following anecdote. Kallias, the torch-bearer in the Eleusinian
mysteries, a relation of his, was being prosecuted on a capital charge
by his private enemies. After speaking with great moderation upon the
subject of the indictment, they used the following argument to the
jury: "Gentlemen, you all know Aristeides the son of Lysimachus, whose
name is renowned throughout Greece. How think you that man fares at
home, when you see him appearing in public with such a worn-out cloak?
Ma