282 ARISTIDES.

evil ; telling us fhat the latter had not only a house of his own, but also seventy miui^ put out at interest with Crito. Aristides being the friend and supporter of that CU&- thenes, who settled the government after the expulsion of the tyrants, and emulating and admiring Lycurgus the Lacedcemonian above all politicians, adhered to the aristocratical principles of government ; and had Therais- tocles, son to Neocles, his adversary on the side of the populace. Some say that, being bo3"s and bred up to- gether from their infancy, they were always at variance with each other in all their words and actions as well seri- ous as playful, and that in this their early contention they soon made proof of their natural inclinations ; the one being read}^, adventurous, and subtle, engaging read- ily and eagerly in every thing ; the other of a staid and settled temper, intent on the exercise of justice, not admitting any degree of falsit}^ indecorum, or trickery, no, not so much as at his play. Ariston of Chios* says the first origin of the enmity which rose to so great a height, was a love affair ; they were rivals for the affec- tion of the beautiful Stesilaus of Ceos, and were passion- ate be3'ond all moderation, and did not lay aside their animosity when the beauty that had excited it passed away; but, as if it had only exercised them in it, immedi- ately carried their heats and difFei'ences into public business. Themistocles, therefore, joining an association of parti- sans, fortified himself with considerable strength ; inso- much that when some one told him that were he impar- tial, he would make a good magistrate ; " I wish," replied he, " I may never sit on that tribunal where my friends

• More correctly perhaps, both cal writere of tlie name, Ariston of

here and elsewhere, Ariston of Chios, a stoic, and Ariston of Ceos. Ceos. There were two philosophi- a Peripatetic.