Melanthus。
For the Sicyonian pieces were still in the height of their
reputation； as being the only ones whose colours were lasting； so that
Apelles himself； even after he had become well known and admired； went
thither； and gave a talent to be admitted into the society of the
painters there； not so much to partake of their skill； which he wanted
not； but of their credit。 And accordingly Aratus； when he freed the
city； immediately took down the representations of the rest of the
tyrants； but demurred a long time about that of Aristratus； who
flourished in the time of Philip。 For this Aristratus was painted by
Melanthus and his scholars； standing by a chariot； in which a figure
of Victory was carried； Apelles himself having had a hand in it； as
Polemon the geographer reports。 It was an extraordinary piece； and
therefore Aratus was fain to spare it for the workmanship； and yet；
instigated by the hatred he bore the tyrants； commanded it to be taken
down。 But Neacles the painter； one of Aratus's friends； entreated him；
it is said； with tears in his eyes； to spare it； and； finding he did
not prevail with him； told him at last he should carry on his war with
the tyrants； but with the tyrants alone： 〃Let therefore the chariot
and the Victory stand； and I will take means for the removal of
Aristratus；〃 to which Aratus consenting； Neacles blotted out
Aristratus； and in his place painted a palm…tree； not daring to add
anything else of his own invention。 The feet of the defaced figure
of Aristratus are said to have escaped notice； and to be hid under the
chariot。 By these means Aratus got favour with the king； who； after he
was more fully acquainted with him； loved him so much the more； and
gave him for the relief of his city one hundred and fifty talents；
forty of which he immediately carried away with him； when he sailed to
Peloponnesus； but the rest the king divided into instalments； and sent
them to him afterwards at different times。
Assuredly it was a great thing to procure for his fellow…citizens
a sum of money； a small portion of which had been sufficient； when
presented by a king to other captains and popular leaders； to induce
them to turn dishonest； and betray and give away their native
countries to him。 But it was a much greater； that by means of this
money he effected a reconciliation and good understanding between
the rich and poor； and created quiet and security for the whole
people。 His moderation； also； amidst so great power was very
admirable。 For being declared sole arbitrator and plenipotentiary
for settling the questions of property in the case of the exiles； he
would not accept the commission alone； but； associating with himself
fifteen of the citizens； with great pains and trouble he succeeded
in adjusting matters； and established peace and good…will in the city；
for which good service； not only all the citizens in general
bestowed extraordinary honours upon him； but the exiles； apart by
themselves； erecting his statue in brass； inscribed on it these
elegiac verses：…
〃Your counsels； deeds； and skill for Greece in war
Known beyond Hercules's pillars are；
But we this image； O Aratus； gave；
Of you who saved us； to the gods who save；
By you from exile to our homes restored；
That virtue and that justice to record；
To which the blessing Sicyon owes this day
Of wealth that's shared alike； and laws that all obey。〃
By his success in effecting these things； Aratus secured himself
from the envy of his fellow…citizens； on account of the benefits
they felt he had done them； but King Antigonus being troubled in his
mind about him； and designing either wholly to bring him over to his
party； or else to make him suspected by Ptolemy； besides other marks
of his favour shown to him； who had little mind to receive them； added
this too； that； sacrificing to the gods in Corinth； he sent portions
to Aratus at Sicyon； and at the feast； where were many guests； he said
openly； 〃I thought this Sicyonian youth had been only a lover of
liberty and of his fellow…citizens； but now I look upon him as a
good judge of the manners and actions of kings。 For formerly he
despised us； and； placing his hopes further off； admired the
Egyptian riches； hearing so much of their elephants； fleets； and
palaces。 But after seeing all these at a nearer distance； perceiving
them to be but mere stage show and pageantry； he is now come over to
us。 And for my part I willingly receive him； and； resolving to make
great use of him myself； command you to look upon him as a friend。〃
These words were soon taken hold of by those that envied and
maligned him； who strove which of them should； in their letters to
Ptolemy； attack him with the worst calumnies； so that Ptolemy sent
to expostulate the matter with him； so much envy and ill…will did
there always attend the so much contended for； and so ardently and
passionately aspired to； friendships of princes and great men。
But Aratus； being now for the first time chosen general of the
Achaeans ravaged the country of Locris and Calydon； just over
against Achaea and then went to assist the Boeotians with ten thousand
soldiers； but came not up to them until after the battle near
Chaeronea had been fought； in which they were beaten by the Aetolians；
with the loss of Aboeocritus the Boeotarch； and a thousand men
besides。 A year after； being again elected general； he resolved to
attempt the capture of the Acro…Corinthus； not so much for the
advantage of the Sicyonians or Achaeans； as considering that by
expelling the Macedonian garrison he should free all Greece alike from
a tyranny which oppressed every part of her。 Chares； the Athenian；
having the good fortune to get the better； in a certain battle； of the
king's generals； wrote to the people of Athens that this victory was
〃sister to that at Marathon。〃 And so may this action be very safely
termed sister to those of Pelopidas the Theban and Thrasybulus the
Athenian； in which they slew the tyrants； except； perhaps； it exceed
them upon this account； that it was not against natural Grecians；
but against a foreign and stranger domination。 The Isthmus； rising
like a bank between the seas； collects into a single spot and
compresses together the whole continent of Greece； and Acro…Corinthus；
being a high mountain springing up out of the very middle of what here
is Greece； whensoever it is held with a garrison； stands in the way
and cuts off all Peloponnesus from intercourse of every kind； free
passage of men and arms； and all traffic by sea and land； and makes
him lord of all that is master of it。 Wherefore the younger Philip did
not jest； but said very true； when he called the city of Corinth
〃the fetters of Greece。〃 So that this post was always much contended
for； especially by the kings and tyrants； and so vehemently was it
longed for by Antigonus； that his passion for it came little short
of that of frantic love； he was continually occupied with devising how
to take it by surprise from those that were then masters of it；
since he despaired to do it by open force。
Therefore Alexander； who held the place； being dead； poisoned by
him； as is reported； and his wife Nicaea succeeding in the
government and the possession of Acro…Corinthus； he immediately made
use of his son； Demetrius； and； giving her pleasing hopes of a royal
marriage and of a happy life with a youth； whom a woman now growing
old might well find agreeable； with this lure of his son he
succeeded in taking her； but the place itself she did not deliver
up； but continued to hold it with a very strong garrison； of which
he seeming to take no notice； celebrated the wedding in Corinth；
entertaining them with shows and banquets every day； as one that had
nothing else in his mind but to give himself up for a while to
indulgence in pleasure and mirth。 But when the moment came； and
Amoebeus began to sing in the theatre； he waited himself upon Nicaea
to the play； she being carried in a royally decorated chair； extremely
pleased with her new honour； not dreaming of what was intended。 As
soon； therefore； as they were come to the turning which led up to
the citadel； he desired her to go on before him to the theatre； but
for himself； bidding farewell to the music； farewell to the wedding；
he went on faster than one would have thought his age would have
admitted to the Acro…Corinthus； and； finding the gate shut； knocked
with his staff； commanding them to open； which they within； being
amazed； did。 And having thus made himself master of the place； he
could not contain himself for joy； but； though an old man； and one
that had seen so many turns of fortune； he must needs revel it in
the open streets and the midst of the market…place； crowned with
garlands and attended with flute…women； inviting everybody he met to
partake in his festivity。 So much more does joy without discretion
transport and agitate the mind than either fear or sorrow。
Antigonus； therefore； having in this manner possessed himself of
Acro…Corinthus； put a garrison into it of those he trusted most；
making Persaeus the philosopher governor。
Now Aratus； even in the lifetime of Alexander； had made an
attempt； but； a confederacy being made between Alexander and the
Achaeans； he desisted。 But now he started afresh； with a new plan of
effecting the thing； which was this： there were in Corinth four
brothers； Syrians born； one of whom； called Diocles； served as a
soldier in the garrison； but the three others； having stolen some gold
of the king's； came to Sicyon； to one Aegias； a banker； whom Aratus
made use of in his business。 To him they immediately sold part of
their gold； and the rest； one of them； called Erginus； coming often
thither； exchanged by parcels。 Becoming； by this means； familiarly
acquainted with Aegias； and being by him led into discourses
concerning the fortress； he told him that in going up to his brother
he had observed； in the face of the rock； a side cleft； leading to
that part of the wall of the castle which was lower than the rest。
At which Aegias joking with him and saying； 〃So； you wise man； for the
sake of a little gold you have