286 HISTORY OF GREECE. above Perikles. 1 Such a criticism, from Aristotle, deserves respectful attention, though the facts before us completely belie so lofty an estimate. It marks, however, the position occupied by Nikias in Athenian politics, as the principal person of what may be called the oligarchical party, succeeding Kimon and Thu- cydides, and preceding Theramenes. In looking to the conditions under which this party continued to subsist, we shall see that, during the interval between Thucydides (son of Melesias) and Nikias, the democratical forms had acquired such confirmed ascendency, that it would not have suited the purpose of any politician to betray evidence of positive hostility to them, prior to the Sicilian expedition, and the great embarrassment in the foreign relations of Athens which arose out of that disaster. After that change, the Athenian oligarchs became emboldened and aggressive, so that we shall find Theramenes among the chief conspirators in the revolution of the Four Hundred : but Nikias represents the oligarchical party in its previous state of quiescence and torpidity, accommodating itself to a sovereign democracy, and existing in the form of common sentiment rather than of common purposes. And it is a remarkable illustration of the real temper of the Athenian people, that a man of this character, known as an oligarch but not feared as such, and doing his duty sincerely to the democracy, should have remained until his death the most esteemed and influential man in the city. He was a man of a sort of even mediocrity, in intellect, in education, and in oratory : forward in his military duties, and not only per- sonally courageous in the field, but also competent as a general under ordinary circumstances : 2 assiduous in the discharge of all political duties at home, especially in the post of strategus, or one of the ten generals of the state, to which he was frequently chosen and rechosen. Of the many valuable qualities combined in his predecessor Perikles, the recollection of whom was yet fresh in 1 Plutarch, Nikias, c. 2, 3. 3 Kalroi eyuyt KOI rifiuuat. IK TOV TOIOVTOV (says Nikias, in the Athenian assembly, Thucyd. vi, 9) KO.I fyaaov iripuv irepl ru cfiavrov aufiart bppuSu- vo/j.iuv Oftoiuc uyadbv TtohiTrjv elvat, bf uv Kai roi oufiarof TI Kal r^f ovaias irpovorjTai. The whole conduct of Nikias before Syracuse, under the mcst trying cir-
cumstances, more than bears out this boast.
