originate in a jealousy unworthy of a great character; in Aristides the love of his country alone led to the opposition he displayed to the designs of his rival, in order to keep him from the seat of power. Their rivalship, however, yielded to the danger which threatened Greece. Datis, commissioned by the king of Persia, had disembarked at Marathon a considerable army, which had already ravaged the country, and approached towards Athens. Themistocles and Ari

stides were among the ten generals who were ordered to oppose the barbarians.

These ten generals alternately took the command. The day arriving during which Aristides was to direct the army, he committed the management of it to Miltiades, of whose military talents and approved valour he was fully sensible, feeling himself happy to obey a general of such superior experience. Aristides was present at the celebrated battle of Marathon, and was entrusted after the victory with the care of the prisoners and of the booty, in which office he acquitted himself to the entire satisfaction of the army. The following year he was appointed Archon, and received the distinguished epithet of the Just. His integrity was a pretext for his destruction. Themistocles having represented that his virtues were only exhibited as a means of elevating him to the supreme power, that conceiving mankind like himself, he had abolished the tribunals, and that he insensibly produced a monarchy divested of all pomp and attendants; the people of Athens, with consummate ingratitude, banished Aristides for ten years, by the medium of Ostracism. It was upon

this occasion that a countryman, who was ignorant of his person, requested him to inscribe on his shell the

name of Aristides. The illustrious Athenian asked him if the person he was desirous of banishing had done him an injury. "Not in the least," answered the peasant, "but it mortifies me exceedingly to hear him continually called the Just." Aristides, without making any reply, took the shell, wrote his name upon it, and returned it to him.

Aristides was recalled after an exile of three years, and his zeal contributed to the salvation of Greece, then threatened by the arms of Xerxes. This extraordinary man disregarded all his former dissensions with Themistocles, who had caused his banishment, offered his service to the general, and conduced greatly to the victory of Salamis. Aristides was afterwards chosen to command the Athenian troops. He vanquished Mardonius, the lieutenant of the Persian monarch, at the battle of Platea. This great action is the only memorable exploit which history has preserved of him.

A little time after, we behold Aristides undertaking the defence of Themistocles, whom the people had condemned to exile, representing the services which this officer had rendered the state, extolling his valour, the extent of his genius, and the brilliancy of his conquests. In conducting himself with such magnanimity, Aristides shewed himself truly the man of all others in the republic whose desires seemed to concentrate in the welfare of the state. Appointed a third time general with Cimon, Aristides so ably conciliated the heads of the Greeks, dissatisfied with Pausanias, king of Lacedæmon, that he persuaded them to give to the Athenians the government of Greece. On this occasion he was made choice of to take cognizance

of the wealth of all the Greek cities, and to regulate what each ought to pay annually into the treasury established in the Isle of Delos. In this delicate, but honourable employ, he deported himself with such probity, prudence, and disinterestedness, that he satisfied every mind, and merited that the period of his administration should be denominated the golden age.

The year of the death of this great man is uncertain. According to the concurrent testimony of historians, he died in indigence; it is even pretended that the charges of his funeral were defrayed by the republic, and Plutarch assures us that his daughters were married at the expence of the Prytaneum.