CHAPTER LV
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.