“Not just to seem, but just he loves to be;
    And deep he ploughs his noble mind with thought,
    To reap a harvest thence of great designs,”

all men turned and looked towards Aristeides, thinking that he came nearest to this ideal virtue.

IV.  He stood up vigorously for justice, not merely when it was his interest and that of his friends, but when it was in favour of his enemies and contrary to his own personal feelings to do so.  It is said that once when arguing a cause against one of his enemies in a court of law, the judges refused to hear the other party speak in his own defence, after listening to the speech of Aristeides, but were about to condemn him unheard.  At this Aristeides came forward and vigorously supported his antagonist’s claim to be allowed his legal right of reply.  Again, when acting as arbitrator between two persons, one of them said that his adversary had done much wrong to Aristeides.  “My good man,” said he, “do not tell me of this, but tell me whether he has wronged you or not, for I am judging your cause, not my own.”

When elected to administer the revenues of the state he proved that not only his own colleagues, but those who had previously held office, had embezzled large sums, especially Themistokles,

     “A clever man, but with an itching palm.”

For this cause Themistokles, when Aristeides’ accounts were audited, prosecuted him on a charge of malversation, and, according to Idomeneus, obtained a verdict.

However, the better class of citizens being grieved at this, not only remitted the fine, but at once elected him to the same office.  He now pretended to regret his former rigour, and was much more remiss in performing his duties, which rendered him very popular with those who were in the habit of embezzling the public money, so that they were loud in his praise, and canvassed the people on his behalf, trusting that he might be re-elected archon.  But when the voting was about to begin, he rose and rebuked the Athenians.  “When,” he said, “I did you true and honourable service, I was disgraced by you; now, when I have permitted much of the public money to be stolen, I am thought to be an excellent citizen.  But I myself am more ashamed of the honour which you now pay me, than I am of my former conviction, and I am sorry for you, because among you it is esteemed more honourable to abet evil-doers than to guard the national property.”

By speaking thus and exposing the peculation which was being practised, he closed the mouths of all those who were so loudly commending him as an honest man, but gained the applause of all true and honourable men.