History of the Peloponnesian War

And as to those who were called “the good and true” men,[*](ie. the aristocrats.) he said that the allies believed that they would bring them no less trouble than the popular party, being as they were providers[*](The πορισταὶ at Athens were a board appointed in times of financial difficulty to devise and propose (ἐσηγεῖσθαι) new sources of revenue.) and proposers to the people of evil projects from which they themselves got the most benefit. Indeed, so far as it rested with these men, they, the allies, would be put to death not only without trial but by methods even more violent, whereas the people were a refuge to themselves and a check upon the oligarchs.