FOUR FAMOUS MEN OF ATHENS 185

Aristides, asked him to write his own name on the
tile used as a voting tablet. He did so, but first in-
quired, “Has Aristides done you aninjury?” “ No,”
was the answer; “I do not even know him, but I
am tired of hearing him always called ‘Aristides the
Just.” On leaving the city Aristides prayed that
the people should never have any occasion to regret
their action.

This occasion quickly came. In less than’ three
years he was recalled to aid his country in the Per-
sian invasion. Landing at Salamis, he served Athens
in the manner we have already told. The command
of the army which Aristides surrendered to Miltia-
des at the battle of Marathon fell to himself in the
battle of Plata, for on that great day he led the
Athenians and played an important part in the vic-
tory that followed. He commanded the Athenian
forces in a later war, and by his prudence and mild-
ness won for Athens the supremacy in the Greek
confederation that was afterwards formed.

At a later date, leader of the aristocrats as he was,
to avert a revolution he proposed a change in the
constitution that made Athens completely demo-
cratic, and enabled the lowliest citizen to rise to the
highest office of the state. In 468 n.c. died this great
and noble citizen of Athens, one of the most illus-
trious of ancient statesmen and patriots, and one of
the most virtuous public men of any age or nation.
He died so poor that it is said he did not leave
enough money to pay his funeral expenses, and for
several generations his descendants were kept at
the charge of the state.

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