Themistocles

Plutarch

Plutarch. Plutarch's Lives, Vol. II. Perrin, Bernadotte, translator. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann Ltd., 1914.

  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!

Much more wanton and extravagant was the raillery which Timocreon indulged in against Themistocles after the latter’s own exile and condemnation. Then he composed the song beginning:—

  1. O Muse grant that this song
  2. Be famed throughout all Hellas,
  3. As it is meet and just.
It is said that Timocreon was sent into exile on a charge of Medizing, and that Themistocles concurred in the vote of condemnation.

Accordingly, when Themistocles also was accused of Medizing, Timocreon composed these lines upon him:—

  1. Not Timocreon alone, then, made compacts with the Medes,
  2. But there are other wretches too; not I alone am brushless,
  3. There are other foxes too.