Now as
Themistocles pondered these matters, he decided that he should not make public announcement of
his plan, knowing with certainty that the Lacedaemonians would endeavour to stop it; and so he
announced to the citizens in Assembly that he wished both to advise upon and to introduce
important matters which were also to the advantage of the city. But what these matters were, he
added, it was not in the public interest to state openly, but it was fitting that a few men
should be charged with putting them into effect; and he therefore asked the people to select
two men in whom they had the greatest confidence and to entrust to them to pass upon the matter
in question.
[
2]
The people acceded to his advice, and the
Assembly chose two men, Aristeides and Xanthippus, selecting them not only because of their
upright character, but also because they saw that these men were in active rivalry with
Themistocles for glory and leadership and were therefore opposed to him.
[
3]
These men heard privately from Themistocles about his plan and then
declared to the Assembly that what Themistocles had disclosed to them was of great importance,
was to the advantage of the state, and was feasible.
[
4]
The people admired the man and at the same time harboured
suspicions of him, lest it should be with the purpose of preparing some sort of tyranny for
himself that he was embarking upon plans of such magnitude and importance, and they urged him
to declare openly what he had decided upon. But he made the same reply, that it was not to the
interests of the state that there should be a public disclosure of his intentions.
[
5]
Thereupon the people were far the more amazed at the man's shrewdness
and greatness of mind, and they urged him to disclose his ideas secretly to the Council,
assuring him that, if that body decided that what he said was feasible and advantageous, then
they would advise it to carry his plan to completion.
[
6]
Consequently, when the Council learned all the details and decided that what he said was for
the advantage of the state and was feasible, the people, without more ado, agreed with the
Council, and Themistocles received authority to do whatever he wished. And every man departed
from the Assembly in admiration of the high character of the man, being also elated in spirit
and expectant of the outcome of the plan.