introduced Pericles asking after his safety； and Myronides replying…
〃My son？〃 〃He lives： a man he had been long；
But that the harlot…mother did him wrong。〃
Aspasia； they say； became so celebrated and renowned； that Cyrus； also
who made war against Artaxerxes for the Persian monarchy； gave her
whom he loved the best of all his concubines the name of Aspasia；
who before that was called Milto。 She was a Phocaean by birth； the
daughter of one Hermotimus； and； when Cyrus fell in battle； was
carried to the king； and had great influence at court。 These things
coming into my memory as I am writing this story； it would be
unnatural for me to omit them。
Pericles； however； was particularly charged with having proposed
to the assembly the war against the Samians； from favour to the
Milesians； upon the entreaty of Aspasia。 For the two states were at
war for the possession of Priene； and the Samians； getting the better；
refused to lay down their arms and to have the controversy betwixt
them decided by arbitration before the Athenians。 Pericles； therefore；
fitting out a fleet； went and broke up the oligarchical government
at Samos； and taking fifty of the principal men of the town as
hostages； and as many of their children； sent them to the isle of
Lemnos； there to be kept； though he had offers； as some relate； of a
talent apiece for himself from each one of the hostages； and of many
other presents from those who were anxious not to have a democracy。
Moreover； Pisuthnes the Persian； one of the king's lieutenants；
bearing some good…will to the Samians； sent him ten thousand pieces of
gold to excuse the city。 Pericles； however； would receive none of
all this； but after he had taken that course with the Samians which he
thought fit； and set up a democracy among them； sailed back to Athens。
But they； however； immediately revolted； Pisuthnes having privily
got away their hostages for them； and provided them with means for the
war。 Whereupon Pericles came out with a fleet a second time against
them； and found them not idle nor slinking away； but manfully resolved
to try for the dominion of the sea。 The issue was； that after a
sharp sea…fight about the island called Tragia； Pericles obtained a
decisive victory； having with forty…four ships routed seventy of the
enemy's； twenty of which were carrying soldiers。
Together with his victory and pursuit； having made himself master of
the port； he laid siege to the Samians； and blocked them up； who
yet； one way or another； still ventured to make sallies； and fight
under the city walls。 But after that another greater fleet from Athens
was arrived； and that the Samians were now shut up with a close
leaguer on every side； Pericles； taking with him sixty galleys； sailed
out into the main sea； with the intention； as most authors give the
account； to meet a squadron of Phoenician ships that were coming for
the Samians' relief； and to fight them at as great distance as could
be from the island； but； as Stesimbrotus says； with a design of
putting over to Cyprus； which does not seem to be probable。 But；
whichever of the two was his intention； it seems to have been a
miscalculation。 For on his departure； Melissus； the son of
Ithagenes； a philosopher； being at that time the general in Samos；
despising either the small number of the ships that were left or the
inexperience of the commanders； prevailed with the citizens to
attack the Athenians。 And the Samians having won the battle； and taken
several of the men prisoners； and disabled several of the ships；
were masters of the sea； and brought into port all necessaries they
wanted for the war； which they had not before。 Aristotle says； too；
that Pericles had been once before this worsted by this Melissus in
a sea…fight。
The Samians； that they might requite an affront which had before
been put upon them； branded the Athenians； whom they took prisoners；
in their foreheads； with the figure of an owl。 For so the Athenians
had marked them before with a Samaena； which is a sort of ship； low
and flat in the prow； so as to look snub…nosed； but wide and large and
well…spread in the hold； by which it both carries a large cargo and
sails well。 And it was so called； because the first of that kind was
seen at Samos； having been built by order of Polycrates the tyrant。
These brands upon the Samians' foreheads； they say； are the allusion
in the passage of Aristophanes； where he says…
〃For； oh； the Samians are a lettered people。〃
Pericles； as soon as news was brought him of the disaster that had
befallen his army； made all the haste he could to come in to their
relief； and having defeated Melissus； who bore up against him； and put
the enemy to flight； he immediately proceeded to hem them in with a
wall； resolving to master them and take the town； rather with some
cost and time than with the wounds and hazards of his citizens。 But as
it was a hard matter to keep back the Athenians； who were vexed at the
delay； and were eagerly bent to fight； he divided the whole
multitude into eight parts； and arranged by lot that that part which
had the white bean should have leave to feast and take their ease
while the other seven were fighting。 And this is the reason； they say；
that people； when at any time they have been merry； and enjoyed
themselves； called it white day； in allusion to this white bean。
Ephorus the historian tells us besides； that Pericles made use of
engines of battery in this siege； being much taken with the
curiousness of the invention； with the aid and presence of Artemon
himself； the engineer； who； being lame； used to be carried about in
a litter； where the works required his attendance； and for that reason
was called Periphoretus。 But Heraclides Ponticus disproves this out of
Anacreon's poems； where mention is made of this Artemon Periphoretus
several ages before the Samian war； or any of these occurrences。 And
he says that Artemon； being a man who loved his ease； and had a
great apprehension of danger； for the most part kept close within
doors； having two of his servants to hold a brazen shield over his
head； that nothing might fall upon him from above； and if he were at
any time forced upon necessity to go abroad； that he was carried about
in a little hanging bed； close to the very ground； and that for this
reason he was called Periphoretus。
In the ninth month； the Samians surrendering themselves and
delivering up the town； Pericles pulled down their walls； and seized
their shipping； and set a fine of a large sum of money upon them； part
of which they paid down at once； and they agreed to bring in the
rest by a certain time； and gave hostages for security。 Duris the
Samian makes a tragical drama out of these events； charging the
Athenians and Pericles with a great deal of cruelty； which neither
Thucydides； nor Ephorus； nor Aristotle have given any relation of； and
probably with little regard to truth； how； for example； he brought the
captains and soldiers of the alleys into the market…place at
Miletus； and there having bound them fast to boards for ten days；
then； when they were already all but half dead； gave order to have
them killed by beating out their brains with clubs； and their dead
bodies to be flung out into the open streets and fields； unburied。
Duris however； who； even where he has no private feeling concerned； is
not wont to keep his narratives within the limits of truth； is the
more likely upon this occasion to have exaggerated the calamities
which befell his country； to create odium against the Athenians。
Pericles however； after the reduction of Samos； returning back to
Athens； took care that those who died in the war should be
honourably buried； and made a funeral harangue； as the custom is； in
their commendation at their graves； for which he gained great
admiration。 As he came down from the stage on which he spoke； the rest
of the women came and complimented him； taking him by the hand； and
crowning him with garlands and ribbons； like a victorious athlete in
the games； but Elpinice； coming near to him； said； 〃These are brave
deeds； Pericles； that you have done； and such as deserve our chaplets；
who have lost us many a worthy citizen； not in a war with
Phoenicians or Medes； like my brother Cimon； but for the overthrow
of an allied and kindred city。〃 As Elpinice spoke these words； he；
smiling quietly； as it is said； returned her answer with this verse：…
〃Old women should not seek to be perfumed。〃
Ion says of him； that upon this exploit of his； conquering the
Samians； he indulged very high and proud thoughts of himself：
whereas Agamemnon was ten years taking a barbarous city； he had in
nine months' time vanquished and taken the greatest and most
powerful of the Ionians。 And indeed it was not without reason that
he assumed this glory to himself； for； in real truth； there was much
uncertainty and great hazard in this great war； if so be； as
Thucydides tells us； the Samian state were within a very little of
wresting the whole power and dominion of the sea out of the Athenians'
hands。
After this was over； the Peloponnesian war beginning to break out in
full tide； he advised the people to send help to the Corcyraeans；
who were attacked by the Corinthians； and to secure to themselves an
island possessed of great naval resources； since the Peloponnesians
were already all but in actual hostilities against them。 The people
readily consenting to the motion； and voting an aid and succour for
them； he despatched Lacedaemonius； Cimon's son； having only ten
ships with him； as it were out of a design to affront him； for there
was a great kindness and friendship betwixt Cimon's family and the
Lacedaemonians； so； in order that Lacedaemonius might lie the more
open to a charge； or suspicion at least； of favouring the
Lacedaemonians and playing false； if he performed no considerable
exploit in this service； he allowed him a small number of ships； and
sent him out against his will； and indeed he made it somewhat his
business to hinder Cimon's sons from rising in the state； professing
that by their very names they were not to be looked upon as native and
true Athenians； but foreigners