An aristocratic supporting politician stood up walking to the center of the room to be heard by all other members of the council. "We are now confronting the issue of this plague that has taken a hold on our city. There are some who would like to speak before you today on this controversial topic, but first I shall give a description of what is currently happening. Death ravages the city, carcasses lying upon each other. The piles upon piles of bodies creates a stench that follows you everywhere you may go. There is no escaping it. No one knows what this horrid plague is, or how to treat it.The symptoms showing in the patients are the worst we have seen yet. Many burn from the inside out to the point that they would rather go about unclothed. Their thirst is unquenchable, and you will see them jumping into the water cisterns out of their minds." The man walked back to his seat in the arena like council. Another nobleman stood before the council. Clearing his throat, he dove into his speech. "As my friend stated before, those infected by the sickness are losing their minds and go insane with the disease. People turn to superstitions, and pure enjoyment thinking that it will be their last day in this glorious city. One day Athens was at the height of its glory, the marble temples glistening in the sun, and the next there is death everywhere you turn. We believe that the cause of this plague that rakes our city, is from the Spartans. They must have slipped a substance into our water supply, or our food we are shipping from Egypt. There is no doubting that this came from the war, my fellow citizens. The war has caused these problems, this uproar of disease in our beautiful city. This war, that was suggested by Pericles himself! This disease would not be here if it were not for Pericles! People are dying because of his decision. He is unwise and not fit to be on this council." The nobleman standing there, at the center of the people, went silent. He let the intention of his speech sink into the other citizens minds. He watched as they realized what he had said, the accusation he was making. One after another, they all began to speak, whether it be loudly or not. There was an uproar in the council. Everyone talking over another in disbelief. Then there was a sudden outpouring of cries. "Pericles started this! Pericles started this! Pericles started this!" Over and over again they chanted this as it spread throughout the throngs of people. The nobleman smiled, he had accomplished what his intention had been. As all this went on, Pericles was thinking to himself:
This has slowed my plans concerning the war with Sparta. We are no longer able to
confront them, we may in the future, but not now. We are to weak with this horror.
This has all been blamed on me, the plague, the war we have started with
Sparta.The people of this city believe that because I suggested the war,
and the plague was "brought upon by the war", that I am responsible for it. They
wish to cut all ties with me after everything I have done for them.
I have nothing but the best interest of Athens at heart. I have never once let
them down, and now the one time I do, they turn on me. They listen to the
words of a silly noblemen rather than to me, and do not think of how I have
lead them so far. They have gone mad in the times of trouble that we are
facing now. Almost everyone has had a loved one pass from this illness.
My own son has died. Oh how I wish I could have saved him, how I wish
I could take back our arguments and have a wonderful time with my son.
He was a wonderful boy, but what is done, is done. We do not need a person
to blame all our troubles for, they originate from each and everyone of us. These
people here seem to not know this. I will lose most of my political standing
because of this nobleman's idiotic deed. No matter, I will always be there for Athens.
I will always be willing to be taken back into her embrace, because Athens is worth
everything. It is a wondrous place, and once you have lived here, you will never enjoy
another place again.
The citizens crowded together had agreed upon taking Pericles' power from him. They then sent him off, out of the meeting and on his own.
********
One Year Later
An old man cowered in the corner of his lavish estate. He clutched at his bald skull, his black eyes ablaze with madness. He wore no clothes, and continued to run his tongue slowly over his cracked lips. Memories pulsated quickly through his mind; flashes of images from past times.
A motionless young man lay on a funeral pyre not long after Pericles
was banished from the senate. His limp body was the same as it had
been a few days before his death. A stolid man stepped forward brushing
the young man's silky brown hair from his unfocussed eyes. A tear slid down
the man's wrinkled cheek. He tried to keep his composure, but it slid completely
out of his grasp. Tears began to stream down his face. He had always been
a model of regal composure; today he was everything but. Onlookers from the
Senate were moved by this sight. They saw that he wanted to take care of Athens,
that he wanted the best for it, and that no other man could do the job but him.
Soon he was reinstated back into the senate as the head of the military. He lead
them for a while against Sparta.
The man was placed in a bed right next to his corner. His eyes closed for a moment. Two young men watched him as he lay there speaking to one another.
"He has done so much for Athens. He restored her after the Persian wars, and developed democracy." one said. The other nodded in agreement.
"He is an amazing man. He was able to lead all of these people, make wonderful decisions for them that would be best. He was always there for Athens. He never once let us down, even after we betrayed him."
"He truly is amazing." The both nodded in agreement, reflecting on what had been said. Pericles opened his eyes and sat up to stare both men in the eyes. He needed to share one thing before he died.
"You have forgotten what I am most proud of, my greatest achievement." rumbled from his chest slowly.
Both young men looked at him in shock, they hadn't known he was still awake. "You have forgotten how I lead the Athenians with moderation of tyrannical power. I was very good about that." The men agreed vehemently and he closed his eyes welcoming the end of his pain.
The fight with Sparta continued when the Athenians had gained back some of their
former strength. They fought on without Pericles, though nothing was ever as good
as it was when he lead the people of Athens.....
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