For the fleet, sailing round the Peloponnesus, ravaged a
great deal of the country, and pillaged and plundered the towns
and smaller cities; and by land he himself entered with an army
the Megarian country, and made havoc of it all. Whence it is clear
that the Peloponnesians, though they did the Athenians much
mischief by land, yet suffering as much themselves from them by
sea, would not have protracted the war to such a length, but would
quickly have given it over, as Pericles at first foretold they
would, had not some divine power crossed human purposes.
In the first place, the pestilential disease, or plague, seized
upon the city, and ate up all the flour and prime of their youth
and strength. Upon occasion of which the people, distempered and
afflicted in their souls, as well as in their bodies, were utterly
enraged like madmen against Pericles, and, like patients grown
delirious, sought to lay violent hands on their physician, or, as
it were, their father.
Finding the Athenians ill affected and highly displeased with him,
he tried and endeavored what he could to appease and re-encourage
them. But he could not pacify or allay their anger nor persuade or
prevail with them anyway, til they freely passed their votes upon
him, resumed their power, took away his command from him, and
fined him in a sum of money.
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