CHAPTER 125

On the return of Themistocles to Athens, Timodemus of Aphidnae, who was one of his enemies, but otherwise a man of no repute, became so maddened with envy that he openly railed against him, and, reproaching him with his journey to Sparta, said - "'Twas not his own merit that had won him honour from the men of Lacedaemon, but the fame of Athens, his country." Then Themistocles, seeing that Timodemus repeated this phrase unceasingly, replied -

"Thus stands the case, friend. I had never got this honour from the Spartans, had I been a Belbinite - nor thou, hadst thou been an Athenian!"