NICIAS by Plutarch

NICIAS

There were some Spartans on an island near Athens, so Nicias besieged the island, but it took a long time. Cleon then started saying how he would do it faster and better. Nicias decided to just say: Prove yourself. That sounds good, doesn't it? I mean, usually they fail, and get laughed at, right? Well, this time that didn't happen. Cleon went, and within 20 days had got all of the Spartans still alive as prisoners. This was a great blow to Nicias, who had depended on Cleon's losing the battle to get rid of him. This was really bad and humiliating to Nicias. Not only had the people gotten grumpy at him, he was not respected! Nicias did great mischief to the city by giving up much of his power to Cleon. So Cleon had power. He did much damage to the city's reputation and peace. By peace I mean tranquility,without it being disturbed by brawls and such. Amongst other things, he did much damage to the decorum of public speaking. He was the first to tear his robes,slap his thigh, and run up and down while orating. He set the example, so everywhere there was discord and ruin.


I think that it would have been better if Cleon had not won that battle.  I think he would have been silenced for a long time. Instead, he put on airs, and was unbearable.

more later
Bell