THEMISTOCLES IS OSTRACISED
For many years Themistocles had been a favourite with the Athenians.
But soon after the walls of the city were complete he began to grow
less popular.
Perhaps this was his own fault, for he tired the people by boasting
continually of the good he had done to the city. It was known too that
he did not hesitate to take bribes, and the citizens were indignant
that he should have grown rich in this dishonourable way.
One day, as he was talking in public with Aristides, he said, ‘The
chief excellence of a statesman is to be able to prove and frustrate
the designs of public enemies.’ Aristides answered, ‘Another very
excellent and necessary quality in a statesman is to have clean hands.’
And those who listened applauded Aristides the Just, for they knew well
that he had never soiled his hands with the gold of his country’s foes.
In 471 B.C., the people determined to ostracise Themistocles, so weary
had they grown of the claims he made upon their gratitude. At the time
of Pausanias’ death he was living at Argos, which city lies south of
Corinth. When the papers of the traitor were read it was found that
Themistocles had written to him. There was nothing in his letters to
show that he had meant to help Pausanias to betray his country, yet he
was accused of treason.
When he heard of the charge that was brought against him, he wrote to
the council at Athens, ‘I, Themistocles, who was born to command and
not to serve others, could not sell myself, and Greece with me, into
servitude to the enemy.’
These proud words only angered the Athenians the more, and the council
sent men to arrest him. But Themistocles did not wait to be captured.
He fled from Greece to Epirus, where he hoped that King Admetus, whom
he had once befriended, would shelter him from his foes.
Admetus was not at home when the exile reached the palace, so he threw
himself upon the mercy of the queen.
She bade him take her little son in his arms and go sit by the hearth
until her lord returned.
Then, when the king arrived, Themistocles arose, and begged Admetus to
protect him, while the little prince stretched out suppliant arms to
his royal father.
This was the most sacred way to proffer a request, and according to the
custom of his country the king was pleased to do as Themistocles asked.
He refused to give him up to the Athenians, and sent him in safety to
the Persian court, where Artaxerxes now reigned.
Themistocles begged one of the officers to take him to Artaxerxes,
saying that he was a Greek who had come to see the king on important
matters.
‘If you will promise to prostrate yourself before the monarch, as is
the custom in my country, I will do as you wish,’ answered the Persian.
Some Greeks would have refused to prostrate themselves before any king,
but it was easy for Themistocles to conform to the customs of the
country in which he found himself.
‘I that come hither,’ he said, ‘to increase the power and glory of the
king, will not only submit myself to his laws, but will also cause many
more to be worshippers and adorers of the king.’
‘Who shall we tell him you are?’ asked the officer, ‘for your words
signify you to be no ordinary person.’
‘No man,’ replied Themistocles, ‘must be informed of this before the
king himself.’
So at length the Athenian was brought into the presence of Artaxerxes,
and after having prostrated himself he stood silent before the king.
‘Who art thou?’ asked Artaxerxes.
‘O king,’ answered the exile, ‘I am Themistocles the Athenian, driven
into banishment by the Greeks. I come with a mind suited to my present
calamities; prepared alike for favours and for anger. If you save me
you will save your suppliant; if otherwise, you will destroy an enemy
of the Greeks.’
Artaxerxes liked the courage the exile showed, but he gave him no
answer that day. At night, in his sleep, he was heard to cry aloud for
joy three times, ‘I have Themistocles the Athenian.’
In the morning he commanded his courtiers and captains to assemble in
the hall, while the stranger was brought before him.
As the Athenian passed close to the captains, one of them whispered to
him, ‘You subtle Greek serpent, the king’s good genius hath brought
thee hither.’
Themistocles thought these were ominous words, but to his surprise the
king greeted him kindly.
A reward had been offered to whoever should bring the famous Athenian
to the court of the great king. This reward Artaxerxes now declared
should be given to Themistocles himself.
The Greek besought the king to grant him a year in which to learn the
Persian language. He promised that when he could speak without an
interpreter he would tell Artaxerxes the best way to subdue Greece.
Artaxerxes not only granted his request, but showed him great kindness.
For he gave to him three cities, and ordered the inhabitants to supply
him with bread, meat, wine and whatever else he might need for himself
and his family.
In Magnesia, one of these cities, the Athenian lived content for many
years. But at length Artaxerxes assembled an army to invade Greece,
and he sent for the Greek to come to lead it into his own country.
But whatever promises he had made to ensure his own safety,
Themistocles had never really meant to harm the land he loved so well.
So when the message of Artaxerxes reached him, the Athenian invited
his friends to a feast, and after bidding them farewell he offered
sacrifices to the gods. He then took poison and soon after died.
Artaxerxes respected the Athenian, because he had died rather than
betray his country, and he ordered his family to be treated with
kindness.
Themistocles was buried without the walls of Magnesia, and the
Magnesians erected a statue to him in their market place, because he
had been the ‘Saviour of Greece.’
In 464 B.C., three years after the death of Themistocles, Aristides
died. The Athenians, both rich and poor, mourned for his loss, because
his rare justice, his true patriotism, had made him to be loved and
honoured by all who knew him.
[Illustration: He stood silent before the king]