HOW ATHENS ROSE FROM ITS ASHES, 191

their way into Athens, until that city became fuller
of bustle, energy, political and scholarly activity, and
incessant industry than any of the other cities of the
ancient world,

In a city like this, free and equal as were its citi-
zens, and democratic as were its institutions, some
men were sure to rise to the surface and gain con-
trolling influence. In the period in question there
were two such men, Cimon and Pericles, men of such
eminence that we cannot pass them by unconsidered.
Cimon was the son of Miltiades, the hero of Mara-
thon, and became the leader of aristocratic Athens,
Pericles was the great-grandson of Cleisthenes, the
democratic law-giver, and, though of the most aris-
tocratic descent, became the leader of the popular
party of his native city.

The struggle for precedence between these two men
resembled that between Themistocles and Aristides.
Cimon was a strong advocate of an alliance with
Sparta, which Pericles opposed. He was brilliant as
a soldier, gained important victories against Persia,
but was finally ostracized as a result of his friend-
ship for Sparta. He came back to Athens after-
wards, but his influence could not be regained.

It is, however, of Pericles that we desire particu-
larly to speak,—Pericles, who found Athens poor and
made her magnificent, found her weak and made
her glorious. This celebrated statesman had not the
dashing qualities of his rival. He was by nature
quiet but deep, serene but profound, the most elo-
quent orator of his day, and one of the most learned
and able of men. He was dignified and composed in