At which Aegias joking with him and saying； 〃So； you wise man； for the
sake of a little gold you have broken into the king's treasure； when
you might； if you chose； get money in abundance for a single hour's
work； burglary； you know； and treason being punished with the same
death。〃 Erginus laughed and told him then； he would break the thing to
Diocles （for he did not altogether trust his other brothers）； and；
returning within a few days； he bargained to conduct Aratus to that
part of the wall where it was no more than fifteen feet high； and to
do what else should be necessary； together with his brother Diocles。
Aratus； therefore； agreed to give them sixty talents if he
succeeded； but if he failed in his enterprise； and yet he and they
came off safe； then he would give each of them a house and a talent。
Now the threescore talents being to be deposited in the hands of
Aegias for Erginus and his partners； and Aratus neither having so much
by him； nor willing； by borrowing it from others； to give any one a
suspicion of his design； he pawned his plate and his wife's golden
ornaments to Aegias for the money。 For so high was his temper； and
so strong his passion for noble actions； that； even as he had heard
that Phocion and Epaminondas were the best and justest of the
Greeks； because they refused the greatest presents； and would not
surrender their duty for money； so he now chose to be at the expense
of this enterprise privately； and to advance all the cost out of his
own property； taking the whole hazard on himself for the sake of the
rest that did not so much as know what was doing。 And who indeed can
withhold； even now； his admiration for and his sympathy with the
generous mind of one； who paid so largely to purchase so great a risk；
and lent out his richest possessions to have an opportunity to
expose his own life； by entering among his enemies in the dead of
the night； without desiring any other security for them than the
hope of a noble success。
Now the enterprise； though dangerous enough in itself； was made much
more so by an error happening through mistake in the very beginning。
For Technon； one of Aratus's servants； was sent away to Diocles；
that they might together view the wall。 Now he had never seen Diocles；
but made no question of knowing him by the marks Erginus had given him
of him； namely； that he had curly hair； a swarthy complexion； and no
beard。 Being come； therefore； to the appointed place； he stayed
waiting for Erginus and Diocles outside the town； in front of the
place called Ornis。 In the meantime； Dionysius； elder brother to
Erginus and Diocles； who knew nothing at all of the matter； but much
resembled Diocles； happened to pass by。 Technon； upon this likeness；
all being in accordance with what he had been told； asked him if he
knew Erginus； and on his replying that he was his brother； taking it
for granted that he was speaking with Diocles； not so much as asking
his name or staying for any other token； he gave him his hand； and
began to discourse with him and ask him questions about matters agreed
upon with Erginus。 Dionysius； cunningly taking the advantage of his
mistake； seemed to understand him very well； and returning towards the
city； led him on； still talking； without any suspicion。 And being
now near the gate； he was just about to seize on him when by chance
again Erginus met them； and； apprehending the cheat and the danger
beckoned to Technon to make his escape； and immediately both of
them； betaking themselves to their heels； ran away as fast as they
could to Aratus； who for all this despaired not； but immediately
sent away Erginus to Dionysius to bribe him to hold his tongue。 And he
not only effected that； but also brought him along with him to Aratus。
But when they had him； they no longer left him at liberty； but binding
him； they kept him close shut up in a room； whilst they prepared for
executing their design。
All things being now ready； he commanded the rest of his forces to
pass the night by their arms； and taking with him four hundred
chosen men； few of whom knew what they were going about； he led them
to the gates by the temple of Juno。 It was the midst of summer and the
moon was at full； and the night so clear without any clouds； that
there was danger lest the arms glistening in the moonlight should
discover them。 But as the foremost of them came near the city； a
mist came off from the sea； and darkened the city itself and the
outskirts about it。 Then the rest of them； sitting down； put off their
shoes； because men both make less noise and also climb surer if they
go up ladders barefooted； but Erginus； taking with him seven young men
dressed like travellers； got unobserved to the gate； and killed the
sentry with the other guards。 And at the same time the ladders were
clapped to the walls； and Aratus； having in great haste got up a
hundred men； commanded the rest to follow as they could； and
immediately drawing up his ladders after him； he marched through the
city with his hundred men towards the castle； being already
overjoyed that he was undiscovered； and not doubting of the success。
But while still they were some way off； a watch of four men came
with a light； who did not see them； because they were still in the
shade of the moon； but were seen plainly enough themselves as they
came on directly towards them。 So withdrawing a little way amongst
some walls and plots for houses； they lay in wait for them； and
three of them they killed。 But the fourth； being wounded in the head
with a sword； fled； crying out that the enemy was in the city。 And
immediately the trumpets sounded； and all the city was in an uproar at
what had happened； and the streets were full of people running up
and down； and many lights were seen shining both below in the town；
and above in the castle； and a confused noise was to be heard in all
parts。
In the meantime； Aratus was hard at work struggling to get up the
rocks； at first slowly and with much difficulty； straying
continually from the path； which lay deep； and was overshadowed with
the crags； leading to the wall with many windings and turnings； but
the moon immediately； and as if by miracle； it is said； dispersing the
clouds； shone out and gave light to the most difficult part of the
way； until he got to that part of the wall he desired； and there she
overshadowed and hid him； the clouds coming together again。 Those
soldiers whom Aratus had left outside the gate； near Juno's temple； to
the number of three hundred； entering the town； now full of tumult and
lights； and not knowing the way by which the former had gone； and
finding no track of them； slunk aside； and crowded together in one
body under a flank of the cliff that cast a strong shadow； and there
stood and waited in great distress and perplexity。 For； by this
time； those that had gone with Aratus were attacked with missiles from
the citadel； and were busy fighting； and a sound of cries of battle
came down from above； and a loud noise； echoed back and back from
the mountain sides； and therefore confused and uncertain whence it
proceeded； was heard on all sides。 They being thus in doubt which
way to turn themselves； Archelaus； the commander of Antigonus's
troops； having a great number of soldiers with him； made up towards
the castle with great shouts and noise of trumpets to fall upon
Aratus's people； and passed by the three hundred； who； as if they
had risen out of an ambush； immediately charged him； killing the first
they encountered； and so affrighted the rest； together with Archelaus；
that they put them to flight and pursued them until they had quite
broken and dispersed them about the city。 No sooner were these
defeated； but Erginus came to them from those that were fighting
above； to acquaint them that Aratus was engaged with the enemy； who
defended themselves very stoutly； and there was a fierce conflict at
the very wall； and need of speedy help。 They therefore desired him
to lead them on without delay； and； marching up； by their shouts
made their friends understand who they were； and encouraged them；
and the full moon； shining on their arms； made them； in the long
line by which they advanced； appear more in number to the enemy than
they were； and the echo of the night multiplied their shouts。 In
short； falling on with the rest； they made the enemy give way； and
were masters of the castle and garrison； day now beginning to be
bright； and the rising sun shining out upon their success。 By this
time； also； the rest of his army came up to Aratus from Sicyon； the
Corinthians joyfully receiving them at the gates and helping them to
secure the king's party。
And now； having put all things into a safe posture； he came down
from the castle to the theatre； an infinite number of people
crowding thither to see him and to hear what he would say to the
Corinthians。 Therefore drawing up the Achaeans on each side of the
stage…passages； he came forward himself upon the stage； with his
corselet still on； and his face showing the effects of all his hard
work and want of sleep； so that his natural exultation and
joyfulness of mind were overborne by the weariness of his body。 The
people； as soon as he came forth； breaking out into great applauses
and congratulations； he took his spear in his right hand； and； resting
his body upon it with his knee a little bent； stood a good while in
that posture； silently receiving their shouts and acclamations；
while they extolled his valour and wondered at his fortune； which
being over； standing up； he began an oration in the name of the
Achaeans； suitable to the late action； persuading the Corinthians to
associate themselves to the Achaeans； and withal delivered up to
them the keys of their gates； which had never been in their power
since the time of King Philip。 Of the captains of Antigonus； he
dismissed Archelaus； whom he had taken prisoner； and Theophrastus； who
refused to quit his post； he put to death。 As for Persaeus； when he
saw the castle was lost； he had got away to Cenchreae； where； some
time after； discoursing with one that said to him that the wise man
only is a true general； 〃Indeed；〃 he replied； 〃none of Zeno's maxims
once pleased m