only is a true general； 〃Indeed；〃 he replied； 〃none of Zeno's maxims
once pleased me better than this； but I have been converted to another
opinion by the young man of Sicyon。〃 This is told by many of Persaeus。
Aratus immediately after made himself master of the temple of Juno and
haven of Lechaeum； seized upon five…and…twenty of the king's ships；
together with five hundred horses and four hundred Syrians： these he
sold。 The Achaeans kept guard in the Acro…Corinthus with a body of
four hundred soldiers； and fifty dogs with as many keepers。
The Romans； extolling Philopoemen； called him the last of the
Grecians； as if no great man had ever since his time been bred amongst
them。 But I should call this capture of the Acro…Corinthus the last of
the Grecian exploits； being comparable to the best of them； both for
the daringness of it； and the success； as was presently seen by the
consequences。 For the Megarians； revolting from Antigonus； joined
Aratus； and the Troezenians and Epidaurians enrolled themselves in the
Achaean community； and issuing forth for the first time； he entered
Attica； and passing over into Salamis； he plundered the island；
turning the Achaean force every way； as if it were just let loose
out of prison and set at liberty。 All freemen whom he took he sent
back to the Athenians without ransom； as a sort of first invitation to
them to come over to the league。 He made Ptolemy become a
confederate of the Achaeans； with the privilege of command both by sea
and land。 And so great was his power with them； that since he could
not by law be chosen their general every year； yet every other year he
was； and by his counsels and actions was in effect always so。 For they
perceived that neither riches nor reputation； nor the friendship of
kings； nor the private interest of his own country； nor anything
else was so dear to him as the increase of the Achaeans' power and
greatness。 For he believed that the cities； weak individually； could
be preserved by nothing else but a mutual assistance under the closest
bond of the common interest； and； as the members of the body live
and breathe by the union of all in a single natural growth； and on the
dissolution of this； when once they separate； pine away and putrefy；
in the same manner are cities ruined by being dissevered； as well as
preserved when； as the members of one great body； they enjoy the
benefit of that province and counsel that govern the whole。
Now being distressed to see that； whereas the chief neighbouring
cities enjoyed their own laws and liberties； the Argives were in
bondage； he took counsel for destroying their tyrant； Aristomachus；
being very desirous both to pay his debt of gratitude to the city
where he had been bred up； by restoring it its liberty； and to add
so considerable a town to the Achaeans。 Nor were there some wanting
who had the courage to undertake the thing； of whom Aeschylus and
Charimenes the soothsayer were the chief。 But they wanted swords；
for the tyrant had prohibited the keeping of any under a great
penalty。 Therefore Aratus； having provided some small daggers at
Corinth and hidden them in the pack…saddles of some pack…horses that
carried ordinary ware； sent them to Argos。 But Charimenes letting
another person into the design； Aeschylus and his partners were
angry at it； and henceforth would have no more to do with him； and
took their measures by themselves； and Charimenes； on finding this；
went； out of anger； and informed against them； just as they were on
their way to attack the tyrant； however； the most of them made a shift
to escape out of the market…place； and fled to Corinth。 Not long
after； Aristomachus was slain by some slaves； and Aristippus； a
worse tyrant than he； seized the government。 Upon this； Aratus；
mustering all the Achaeans present that were of age； hurried away to
the aid of the city； believing that he should find the people ready to
join with him。 But the greater number being by this time habituated to
slavery and content to submit； and no one coming to join him； he was
obliged to retire； having moreover exposed the Achaeans to the
charge of committing acts of hostility in the midst of peace； upon
which account they were sued before the Mantineans； and； Aratus not
making his appearance； Aristippus gained the cause； and had damages
allowed him to the value of thirty minae。 And now hating and fearing
Aratus； he sought means to kill him； having the assistance herein of
King Antigonus； so that Aratus was perpetually dogged and watched by
those that waited for an opportunity to do this service。 But there
is no such safeguard of a ruler as the sincere and steady good…will of
his subjects； for where both the common people and the principal
citizens have their fears not of； but for； their governor； he sees
with many eyes and hears with many ears whatsoever is doing。 Therefore
I cannot but here stop short a little in the course of my narrative to
describe the manner of life which the so much envied arbitrary power
and the so much celebrated and admired pomp and pride of absolute
government obliged Aristippus to lead。
For though Antigonus was his friend and ally； and though he
maintained numerous soldiers to act as his body…guard； and had not
left one enemy of his alive in the city； yet he was forced to make his
guards encamp in the colonnade about his house； and for his
servants； he turned them all out immediately after supper； and then
shutting the doors upon them； he crept up into a small upper
chamber； together with his mistress； through a trap…door； upon which
he placed his bed； and there slept after such a fashion； as one in his
condition can be supposed to sleep； that is； interruptedly and in
fear。 The ladder was taken away by the woman's mother； and locked up
in another room； in the morning she brought it again； and putting it
to； called up this brave and wonderful tyrant； who came crawling out
like some creeping thing out of its hole。 Whereas Aratus； not by force
of arms； but lawfully and by his virtue； lived in possession of a
firmly settled command； wearing the ordinary coat and cloak； being the
common and declared enemy of all tyrants； and has left behind him a
noble race of descendants surviving among the Grecians to this day；
while those occupiers of citadels and maintainers of body…guards；
who made all this use of arms and gates and bolts to protect their
lives； in some few cases perhaps escaped like the bare from the
hunters； but in no instance have we either house or family； or so much
as a tomb to which any respect is shown； remaining to preserve the
memory of any one of them。
Against this Aristippus； therefore； Aratus made many open and many
secret attempts； whilst he endeavoured to take Argos； though without
success； once； particularly； clapping scaling ladders in the night
to the walls； he desperately got up upon it with a few of his
soldiers； and killed the guards that opposed him。 But the day
appearing； the tyrant set upon him on all hands； whilst the Argives；
as if it had not been their liberty that was contended for； but some
Nemean game going on for which it was their privilege to assign the
prize； like fair and impartial judges； sat looking on in great
quietness。 Aratus； fighting bravely； was run through the thigh with
a lance； yet he maintained his ground against the enemy till night；
and； had he been able to go on and hold out that night also； he had
gained his point； for the tyrant thought of nothing but flying； and
had already shipped most of his goods。 But Aratus； having no
intelligence of this； and wanting water； being disabled himself by his
wound； retreated with his soldiers。
Despairing henceforth to do any good this way； he fell openly with
his army into Argolis； and plundered it； and in a fierce battle with
Aristippus near the river Chares； he was accused of having withdrawn
out of the fight； and thereby abandoned the victory。 For whereas one
part of his army had unmistakably got the better； and was pursuing the
enemy at a good distance from him； he yet retreated in confusion
into his camp； not so much because he was overpressed by those with
whom he was engaged； as out of mistrust of success and through a panic
fear。 But when the other wing； returning from the pursuit； showed
themselves extremely vexed； that though they had put the enemy to
flight and killed many more of his men than they had lost； yet those
that were in a manner conquered should erect a trophy as conquerors；
being much ashamed he resolved to fight them again about the trophy；
and the next day but one drew up his army to give them battle。 But；
perceiving that they were reinforced with fresh troops； and came on
with better courage than before； he durst not hazard a fight； but
retired and sent to request a truce to bury his dead。 However； by
his dexterity in dealing personally with men and managing political
affairs； and by his general favour； he excused and obliterated this
fault； and brought in Cleonae to the Achaean association； and
celebrated the Nemean games at Cleonae； as the proper and more ancient
place for them。 The games were also celebrated by the Argives at the
same time； which gave the first occasion to the violation of the
privilege of safe conduct and immunity always granted to those that
came to compete for the prizes； the Achaeans at that time selling as
enemies all those they caught going through their country after
joining in the games at Argos。 So vehement and implacable a hater
was he of the tyrants。
Not long after； having notice that Aristippus had a design upon
Cleonae； but was afraid of him； because he then was staying in
Corinth； he assembled an army by public proclamation； and commanding
them to take along with them provisions for several days； he marched
to Cenchreae； hoping by this stratagem to entice Aristippus to fall
upon Cleonae； when he supposed him far enough off。 And so it happened；
for he immediately brought his forces against it from Argos。 But
Aratus； returning from Cenchreae to Corinth in the dusk of the
evening； and setting posts of his troops in all the roads； led on
the Achaeans； who followed in such good order and with so much speed
and alacrity；