Themistocles

At the Amphictyonic or Holy Alliance conventions, the Lacedaemonians introduced motions that all cities be excluded from the Alliance which had not taken part in fighting against the Mede. So Themistocles, fearing lest, if they should succeed in excluding the Thessalians and the Argives and the Thebans too from the convention, they would control the votes completely and carry through their own wishes, spoke in behalf of the protesting cities,

and changed the sentiments of the delegates by showing that only thirty-one cities had taken part in the war, and that the most of these were altogether small; it would be intolerable, then, if the rest of Hellas should be excluded and the convention be at the mercy of the two or three largest cities. It was for this reason particularly that he became obnoxious to the Lacedaemonians, and they therefore tried to advance Cimon in public favour, making him the political rival of Themistocles.

He made himself hateful to the allies also, by sailing round to the islands and trying to exact money from them. When, for instance, he demanded money of the Andrians, Herodotus[*](Hdt. 8.111) says he made a speech to them and got reply as follows: he said he came escorting two gods, Persuasion and Compulsion; and they replied that they already had two great gods, Penury and Powerlessness, who hindered them from giving him money.

Timocreon, the lyric poet of Rhodes, assailed Themistocles very bitterly in a song, to the effect that for bribes he had secured the restoration of other exiles, but had abandoned him, though a host and a friend, and all for money. The song runs thus:—[*]( No attempt is made in the translations of Timocreon to imitate the meter of the original.)

1. Come, if thou praisest Pausanias, or if Xanthippus,
2. Or if Leotychidas, then I shall praise Aristides,
3. The one best man of all
4. Who came from sacred Athens; since Leto loathes Themistocles,

1. The liar, cheat, and traitor, who, though Timocreon was his host,
2. By knavish moneys was induced not to bring him back
3. Into his native Ialysus,
4. But took three talents of silver and went cruising off,—to perdition,
5. Restoring some exiles unjustly, chasing some away, and slaying some,
6. Gorged with moneys; yet at the
7. Isthmus he played ridiculous host with the stale meats set before his guests;
8. Who ate thereof and prayed Heaven no happy return of the day for Themistocles!