THE LIFE OF PERICLES.	383
his enemies occasion falsly to accuse him : that from thenceforth, he gaue all the lands and tenements he had in the country, vnto the common wealth.    So it fortuned  that   the  Lacedaemonians with   all   their friends and confederates, brought a maruellous army into the countrey of Attica, vnder the leading of King Archidamus : who burning and spoiling all the country he came alongst, they came vnto the towne of Acharnes, where they encamped, supposing the Athenians would neuer suffer them to approach so neare, but that they would giue them battell for the honour and defence of their countrey, and to shew that they were no cowards.    But Pericles wisely considered how the daunger was too great to hazard battell, where the losse of the citie of Athens stood in perill, seeing they were threescore thousand footmen of the Pelo-ponnesians, and of the Boeotians together:  for so many was their number in the first voyage they made against the Athenians.    And as for those that were very desirous to fight, and to put themselues to any hazard, being mad to see their country thus wasted and destroyed before their eyes, Pericles did comfort & pacific them with these words : That trees being cut and hewne downe, did spring againe in short time: but men being once dead, by no possibilitie could be brought againe.    Therefore he neuer durst assemble the people in counsell, fearing lest he should be inforced by the multitude, to do something still against his will.    But as a wise Pilote, when he seeth a storme comming on the sea, doth straight giue order to make all things safe in the shippe, preparing euery thing ready to defend the storme, according to his art and skill, not hearkening to the passengers fearefull cries and pitifull teares, who thinke themselues cast away : euen so did Pericles rule all things .  according to his wisedome, hauing walled the city substantially about,  and set good watch in  euery