afterwards； coming to a due sense of his virtue when upon the death of
Demetrius they attempted to recover their liberty； called him to their
assistance； although at that time another person was general of the
Achaeans； and he himself had long kept his bed with a sickness； yet
rather than fail the city in a time of need； he was carried thither in
a litter； and helped to persuade Diogenes the governor to deliver up
the Piraeus； Munychia； Salamis； and Sunium to the Athenians in
consideration of a hundred and fifty talents； of which Aratus
himself contributed twenty to the city。 Upon this； the Aeginetans
and the Hermionians immediately joined the Achaeans； and the
greatest part of Arcadia entered their confederacy； and the
Macedonians being occupied with various wars upon their own confines
and with their neighbours； the Achaean power； the Aetolians also being
in alliance with them； rose to great height。
But Aratus； still bent on effecting his old project； and impatient
that tyranny should maintain itself in so near a city as Argos； sent
to Aristomachus to persuade him to restore liberty to that city； and
to associate it to the Achaeans； and that； following Lydiades's
example； he should rather choose to be the general of a great
nation； with esteem and honour； than the tyrant of one city； with
continual hatred and danger。 Aristomachus slighted not the message；
but desired Aratus to send him fifty talents； with which he might
pay off the soldiers。 In the meantime； whilst the money was providing；
Lydiades； being then general； and extremely ambitious that this
advantage might seem to be of his procuring for the Achaeans；
accused Aratus to Aristomachus； as one that bore an irreconcilable
hatred to the tyrants； and； persuading him to commit the affair to his
management； he presented him to the Achaeans。 But there the Achaean
council gave a manifest proof of the great credit Aratus had with them
and the good…will they bore him。 For when he； in anger； spoke
against Aristomachus's being admitted into the association； they
rejected the proposal； but when he was afterwards pacified and came
himself and spoke in its favour； they voted everything cheerfully
and readily； and decreed that the Argives and Phliasians should be
incorporated into their commonwealth； and the next year they chose
Aristomachus general。 He； being in good credit with the Achaeans；
was very desirous to invade Laconia； and for that purpose sent for
Aratus from Athens。 Aratus wrote to him to dissuade him as far as he
could from that expedition； being very unwilling the Achaeans should
be engaged in a quarrel with Cleomenes； who was a daring man； and
making extraordinary advances to power。 But Aristomachus resolving
to go on； he obeyed and served in person； on which occasion he
hindered Aristomachus from fighting a battle when Cleomenes came
upon them at Pallantium； and for this act was accused by Lydiades；
and； coming to an open conflict with him in a contest for the office
of general； he carried it by the show of hands； and was chosen general
the twelfth time。
This year； being routed by Cleomenes； near the Lycaeum； he fled；
and； wandering out of the way in the night； was believed to be
slain； and once more it was confidently reported so throughout all
Greece。 He； however； having escaped this danger and rallied his
forces； was not content to march off in safety； but making a happy use
of the present conjuncture； when nobody dreamed of any such thing；
he fell suddenly upon the Mantineans； allies of Cleomenes； and； taking
the city； put a garrison into it； and made the stranger inhabitants
free of the city； procuring； by this means； those advantages for the
beaten Achaeans； which being conquerors； they would not easily have
obtained。 The Lacedaemonians again invading the Megalopolitan
territories； he marched to the assistance of the city； but refused
to give Cleomenes； who did all he could to provoke him to it；
opportunity of engaging him in a battle； nor could be prevailed upon
by the Megalopolitans； who urged him to it extremely。 For besides that
by nature he was ill…suited for set battles； he was then much inferior
in numbers； and was to deal with a daring leader； still in the heat of
youth； while he himself； now past the prime of courage and come to a
chastised ambition； felt it his business to maintain by prudence the
glory which he had obtained； and the other was only aspiring to by
forwardness and daring。
So that though the light…armed soldiers had sallied out and driven
the Lacedaemonians as far as their camp； and had come even to their
tents； yet would not Aratus lead his men forward； but； posting himself
in a hollow water…course in the way thither； stopped and prevented the
citizens from crossing this。 Lydiades； extremely vexed at what was
going on； and loading Aratus with reproaches； entreated the horse
that； together with him； they would second them that had the enemy
in chase； and not let a certain victory slip out of their hands； nor
forsake him that was going to venture his life for his country。 And
being reinforced with many brave men that turned after him； he charged
the enemy's right wing； and routing it followed the pursuit without
measure or discretion； letting his eagerness and hopes of glory
tempt him on into broken ground； full of planted fruit…trees and cut
up with broad ditches； where； being engaged by Cleomenes； he fell；
fighting gallantly the noblest of battles； at the gate of his country。
The rest； flying back to their main body and troubling the ranks of
the full…armed infantry； put the whole army to the rout。 Aratus was
extremely blamed； being suspected to have betrayed Lydiades； and was
constrained by the Achaeans； who withdrew in great anger； to accompany
them to Aegium； where they called a council； and decreed that he
should no longer be furnished with money； nor have any more soldiers
hired for him； but that； if he would make war； he should pay them
himself。
This affront he resented so far as to resolve to give up the seal
and lay down the office of general； but upon second thoughts he
found it best to have patience； and presently marched with the
Achaeans to Orchomenus and fought a battle with Megistonus； the
stepfather of Cleomenes； where he got the victory； killing three
hundred men and taking Megistonus prisoner。 But whereas he used to
be chosen general every other year； when his turn came and he was
called to take upon him that charge； he declined it； and Timoxenus was
chosen in his stead。 The true cause of which was not the pique he
was alleged to have taken at the people； but the ill circumstances
of the Achaean affairs。 For Cleomenes did not now invade them gently
and tenderly as hitherto； as one controlled by the civil
authorities； but having killed the Ephors； divided the lands； and made
many of the stranger residents free of the city； he was responsible to
no one in his government； and therefore fell in good earnest upon
the Achaeans； and put forward his claim to the supreme military
command。 Wherefore Aratus is much blamed； that in a stormy and
tempestuous time； like a cowardly pilot； he should forsake the helm
when it was even perhaps his duty to have insisted； whether they would
or no； on saving them； or if he thought the Achaean affairs desperate；
to have yielded all up to Cleomenes； and not to have let
Peloponnesus fall once again into barbarism with Macedonian garrisons；
and Acro…Corinthus be occupied with Illyric and Gaulish soldiers； and；
under the specious name of confederates； to have made those masters of
the cities whom he had held it his business by arms and by policy to
baffle and defeat； and； in the memoirs he left behind him； loaded with
reproaches and insults。 And say that Cleomenes was arbitrary and
tyrannical； yet was he descended from the Heraclidae； and Sparta was
his country； the obscurest citizens of which deserved to be
preferred to the generalship before the best of the Macedonians by
those that had any regard to the honour of Grecian birth。 Besides；
Cleomenes sued for that command over the Achaeans as one that would
return the honour of that title with real kindnesses to the cities；
whereas Antigonus； being declared absolute general by sea and land；
would not accept the office unless Acro…Corinthus were by special
agreement put into his hands； following the example of Aesop's hunter；
for he would not get up and ride the Achaeans； who desired him so to
do； and offered their backs to him by embassies and popular decrees；
till； by a garrison and hostages； they had allowed him to bit and
bridle them。 Aratus exhausts all his powers of speech to show the
necessity that was upon him。 But Polybius writes； that long before
this and before there was any necessity； apprehending the daring
temper of Cleomenes； he communicated secretly with Antigonus； and that
he had beforehand prevailed with the Megalopolitans to press the
Achaeans to crave aid from Antigonus。 For they were the most
harassed by the war； Cleomenes continually plundering and ransacking
their country。 And so writes also Phylarchus； who； unless seconded
by the testimony of Polybius； would not be altogether credited； for he
is seized with enthusiasm when he so much as speaks a word of
Cleomenes； and as if he were pleading； not writing a history； goes
on throughout defending the one and accusing the other。
The Achaeans； therefore； lost Mantinea； which was recovered by
Cleomenes； and being beaten in a great fight near Hecatombaeum； so
general was the consternation； that they immediately sent to Cleomenes
to desire him to come to Argos and take the command upon him。 But
Aratus； as soon as he understood that he was coming； and was got as
far as Lerna with his troops； fearing the result； sent ambassadors
to him； to request him to come accompanied with three hundred only； as
to friends and confederates； and； if he mistrusted anything； he should
receive hostages。 Upon which Cleomenes； saying this was mere mockery
and affront； went away； sending a letter to the Achaeans full of
reproaches and accusation against Aratus。 And Aratus also wrote
letters against Cleomenes； and bitter revilings and railleries were
current on