the Achaeans； who followed in such good order and with so much speed
and alacrity； that they were undiscovered by Aristippus； not only
whilst upon their march； but even when they got； still in the night；
into Cleonae； and drew up in order of battle。 As soon as it was
morning； the gates being opened and the trumpets sounding； he fell
upon the enemy with great cries and fury； routed them at once； and
kept close in pursuit； following the course which he most imagined
Aristippus would choose； there being many turns that might be taken。
And so the chase lasted as far as Mycenae； where the tyrant was
slain by a certain Cretan called Tragiscus； as Dinias reports。 Of
the common soldiers； there fell above fifteen hundred。 Yet though
Aratus had obtained so great a victory and that too without the loss
of a man； he could not make himself master of Argos； nor set it at
liberty； because Agias and the younger Aristomachus got into the
town with some of the king's forces； and seized upon the government。
However； by this exploit he spoiled the scoffs and jests of those that
flattered the tyrants； and in their raillery would say that the
Achaean general was usually troubled with a looseness when he was to
fight a battle； that the sound of a trumpet struck him with a
drowsiness and a giddiness； and that when he had drawn up his army and
given the word； he used to ask his lieutenants and officers whether
there was any further need of his presence now the die was cast； and
then went aloof； to await the result at a distance。 For indeed these
stories were so generally listened to； that； when the philosophers
disputed whether to have one's heart beat and to change colour upon
any apparent danger be an argument of fear； or rather of some
distemperature and chilliness of bodily constitution； Aratus was
always quoted as a good general who was always thus affected in time
of battle。
Having thus despatched Aristippus； he advised with himself how to
overthrow Lydiades； the Megalopolitan； who held usurped power over his
country。 This person was naturally of a generous temper； and not
insensible of true honour； and had been led into this wickedness；
not by the ordinary motives of other tyrants； licentiousness and
rapacity； but being young； and stimulated with the desire of glory； he
had let his mind be unwarily prepossessed with the vain and false
applauses given to tyranny； as some happy and glorious thing。 But he
no sooner seized the government； than he grew weary of the pomp and
burden of it。 And at once emulating the tranquillity and fearing the
policy of Aratus； he took the best resolutions； first； to free himself
from hatred and fear； from soldiers and guards； and； secondly； to be
the public benefactor of his country。 And sending for Aratus； he
resigned the government； and incorporated his city into the Achaean
community。 The Achaeans； applauding this generous action； chose him
their general； upon which； desiring to outdo Aratus in glory；
amongst many other uncalled…for things； he declared war against the
Lacedaemonians； which Aratus opposing was thought to do it out of
envy； and Lydiades was the second time chosen general； though Aratus
acted openly against him； and laboured to have the office conferred
upon another。 For Aratus himself had the command every other year；
as has been said。 Lydiades； however； succeeded so well in his
pretensions； that he was thrice chosen general； governing alternately；
as did Aratus； but at last； declaring himself his professed enemy； and
accusing him frequently to the Achaeans； he was rejected； and fell
into contempt； people now seeing that it was a contest between a
counterfeit and a true； unadulterated virtue； and； as Aesop tells us
that the cuckoo once； asking the little birds why they flew away
from her； was answered； because they feared she would one day prove
a hawk； so Lydiades's former tyranny still cast a doubt upon the
reality of his change。
But Aratus gained new honour in the Aetolian war。 For the Achaeans
resolving to fall upon the Aetolians on the Megarian confines； and
Agis also； the Lacedaemonian king； who came to their assistance with
an army； encouraging them to fight； Aratus opposed this determination。
And patiently enduring many reproaches； many scoffs and jeerings at
his soft and cowardly temper； he would not； for any appearance of
disgrace； abandon what he judged to be true common advantage； and
suffered the enemy to pass over Geranea into Peloponnesus without a
battle。 But when； after they passed by； news came that they had
suddenly captured Pellene； he was no longer the same man； nor would he
hear of any delay； or wait to draw together his whole force； but
marched towards the enemy； with such as he had about him； to fall upon
them； as they were indeed now much less formidable through the
intemperances and disorders committed in their success。 For as soon as
they entered the city； the common soldiers dispersed and went hither
and thither into the houses； quarrelling and fighting with one another
about the plunder； and the officers and commanders were running
about after the wives and daughters of the Pellenians； on whose
heads they put their own helmets； to mark each man his prize； and
prevent another from seizing it。 And in this posture were they when
news came that Aratus was ready to fall upon them。 And in the midst of
the consternation likely to ensue in the confusion they were in before
all of them heard of the danger； the outmost of them； engaging at
the gates and in the suburbs with the Achaeans； were already beaten
and put to flight； and as they came headlong back； filled with their
panic those who were collecting and advancing to their assistance。
In this confusion； one of the captives； daughter of Epigethes； a
citizen of repute； being extremely handsome and tall； happened to be
sitting in the temple of Diana； placed there by the commander of the
band of chosen men； who had taken her and put his crested helmet
upon her。 She； hearing the noise； and running out to see what was
the matter； stood in the temple gates； looking down from above upon
those that fought； having the helmet upon her head； in which posture
she seemed to the citizens to be something more than human； and struck
fear and dread into the enemy； who believed it to be a divine
apparition； so that they lost all courage to defend themselves。 But
the Pellenians tell us that the image of Diana stands usually
untouched； and when the priestess happens at any time to remove it
to some other place； nobody dares look upon it； but all turn their
faces from it； for not only is the sight of it terrible and hurtful to
mankind； but it makes even the trees； by which it happens to be
carried； become barren and cast fruit。 This image； therefore； they
say； the priestess produced at that time； and holding it directly in
the faces of the Aetolians； made them lose their reason and
judgment。 But Aratus mentions no such thing in his commentaries； but
saying that having put to flight the Aetolians； and falling in
pell…mell with them into the city； he drove them out by main force；
and killed seven hundred of them。 And the action was extolled as one
of the most famous exploits； and Timanthes the painter made a
picture of the battle； giving by his composition a most lively
representation of it。
But many great nations and potentates combining against the
Achaeans； Aratus immediately for friendly arrangements with the
Aetolians； and； making use of the assistance of Pantaleon； the most
powerful man amongst them； he not only made a peace； but an alliance
between them and the Achaeans。 But being desirous to free the
Athenians； he got into disgrace and ill…repute among the Achaeans；
because； notwithstanding the truce and suspension of arms made between
them and the Macedonians； he had attempted to take the Piraeus。 He
denies this fact in his commentaries； and lays the blame on Erginus；
by whose assistance he took Acro…Corinthus； alleging that he upon
his own private account attacked the Piraeus； and his ladders
happening to break； being hotly pursued； he called out upon Aratus； as
if present； by which means deceiving the enemy he got safely off。 This
excuse； however； sounds very improbable； for it is not in any way
likely that Erginus； a private man and a Syrian stranger； should
conceive in his mind so great an attempt； without Aratus at his
back； to tell him how and when to make it； and to supply him with
the means。 Nor was it twice or thrice； but very often； that； like an
obstinate lover； he repeated his attempts on the Piraeus； and was so
far from being discouraged by his disappointments； that his missing
his hopes but narrowly was an incentive to him to proceed the more
boldly in a new trial。 One time amongst the rest； in making his escape
through the Thrasian plain； he put his leg out of joint； and was
forced to submit to many operations with the knife before he was
cured； so that for a long time he was carried in a litter to the wars。
And when Antigonus was dead； and Demetrius succeeded him in the
kingdom； he was more bent than ever upon Athens； and in general
quite despised the Macedonians。 And so； being overthrown in battle
near Phylacia by Bithys； Demetrius's general； and there being a very
strong report that he was either taken or slain； Diogenes； the
governor of the Piraeus； sent letters to Corinth； commanding the
Achaeans to quit that city； seeing Aratus was dead。 When these letters
came to Corinth； Aratus happened to be there in person； so that
Diogenes's messengers being sufficiently mocked and derided； were
forced to return to their master。 King Demetrius himself also sent a
ship； wherein Aratus was to be brought to him in chains。 And the
Athenians； exceeding all possible fickleness of flattery to the
Macedonians； crowned themselves with garlands upon the first news of
his death。 And so in anger he went at once and invaded Attica； and
penetrated as far as the Academy； but then suffering himself to be
pacified he did no further act of hostility。 And the Athenians
afterwards； coming to a due sense of his virtue when upon the death of
Demetrius they attempted to recover their liberty； called him to the