his
present honor than of the former sentence; and I pity your condition,
with whom is more praiseworthy to oblige bad men than to preserve the
revenue of public."

When Datis was sent by Darius under pretense of punishing the Athenians
for their burning of Sardis, but in reality to reduce the Greeks under
his dominion, and had landed at Marathon and laid waste the country,
among the ten commanders appointed by the Athenians for the war,
Miltiades was of the greatest name; but the second place, both for
reputation and power, was possessed by Aristides: and when his opinion
to join battle was added to that of Miltiades, it did much to incline
the balance. Every leader by his day having the command in chief, when
it came to Aristides' turn, he delivered it into the hands of Miltiades,
showing his fellow officers, that it is not dishonorable to obey and
follow wise and able men, but, on the contrary, noble and prudent. So
appeasing their rivalry, and bringing them to acquiesce in the best
advice, he confirmed Miltiades in the strength of undivided and
unmolested authority. And now every one, yielding his day of command,
looked for orders only to him. During the fight the main body of the
Athenians being the hardest pressed, the barbarians, for a long time,
making opposition there against the tribes Leontis and Antiochis,
Themistocles and Aristides being ranged together, fought valiantly; the
one being of the tribe Leontis, the other of the Antiochis. But, after
they had beaten the barbarians back to their ships, and perceived that
they did sail for the isles, but were driven in by the force of sea and
wind towards the country of Attica, fearing lest they should take the
city, they hurried away thither with nine tribes, and reached it the
same day.

Of all the virtues of Aristides, the common people were most affected
with his justice, because of its continual and common use; and thus,
although of mean fortune and ordinary birth, he possessed himself of the
most kingly and divine appellation of Just; which kings, however, and
tyrants have never sought after; but have taken delight to be surnamed
besiegers of cities, thunderers, conquerors, eagles and hawks;
affecting, it seems, the reputation which proceeds from power and
violence, rather than that of virtue.

Aristides, therefore, had at first the fortune to be beloved for this
surname, but at length envied. Especially when Themistocles spread a
rumor amongst the peopl