294 NICIAS.

hazardous to carry on. He maintained there a multitude of slaves, and his wealth consisted chiefly in silver. Hence he had many hangers-on about him, begging and obtaining. For he gave to those who could do him mis- chief, no less than to those who deserved well. In short, his timidity was a revenue to rogues, and his humanity to honest men. We find testimony in the comic writers, as when Teleclides, speaking of one of the professed in- formers, says : — Charicles gave the man a pound, the matter not to name, That from inside a money-bag into the world he came ; And Nicias, also, paid him four ; I know the reason well, But Nicias is a worthy man, and so I will not tell. So, also, the informer whom Eupolis introduces in his Maricas, attacking a good, simple, poor man : — How long ago did you and Nicias meet ? I did but see him just now in the street. The man has seen him and denies it not, 'T is evident that they are in a plot. See you, O citizens ! 't is fact, Nicias is taken in the act. Taken, Fools ! take so good a man In aught that's wrong none will or can.* Cleon, in Aristophanes, makes it one of his threats : — I'll outscream all the speakers, and make Nicias stand aghast ! Phrynichus also implies his want of spirit, and his easiness to be intimidated in the verses, A noble man he was, I well can say, Nor walked like Nicias, cowering on his way.

• One half of the citizens take the part of the informer, the other

that of the accused.