hat while we assign the palm for moderation and
self-denial to the latter, that for courage and generalship be
bestowed upon the former.

LIFE OF KIMON.

Peripoltas, the soothsayer, after he had brought back King Opheltas
and the people under him to Boeotia, left a family which remained in
high repute for many generations, and chiefly settled in Chaeronea,
which was the first city which they conquered when they drove out the
barbarians. As the men of this race were all brave and warlike, they
were almost reduced to extinction in the wars with the Persians, and
in later times with the Gauls during their invasion of Greece, so that
there remained but one male of the family, a youth of the name of
Damon, who was surnamed Peripoltas, and who far surpassed all the
youth of his time in beauty and spirit, although he was uneducated and
harsh-tempered. The commander of a detachment of Roman soldiers who
were quartered during the winter in Chaeronea conceived a criminal
passion for Damon, who was then a mere lad, and as he could not effect
his purpose by fair means it was evident that he would not hesitate to
use force, as our city was then much decayed, and was despised, being
so small and poor. Damon, alarmed and irritated at the man's
behaviour, formed a conspiracy with a few young men of his own age,
not many, for secrecy's sake, but consisting of sixteen in all. These
men smeared their faces with soot, excited themselves by strong drink,
and assaulted the Roman officer just at daybreak, while he was
offering sacrifice in the market-place. They killed him and several of
his attendants, and then made their escape out of the city. During the
confusion which followed, the senate of the city of Chaeronea assembled
and condemned the conspirators to death--a decree which was intended
to excuse the city to the Romans for what had happened. But that
evening, when the chief magistrates, as is their custom, were dining
together, Damon and his party broke into the senate-house, murdered
them all, and again escaped out of the city. It chanced that at this
time Lucius Lucullus was passing near Chaeronea with an armed force. He
halted his troops, and, after investigating the circumstances,
declared that the city was not to blame, but had been the injured
party. As for Damon, who was living by brigandage and plunder of the
country, and who threatened to attack the city itself, the citizens
sent an embassy to him, and passed a dec