and at his persuasion had abdicated his power and annexed the city
to the Achaeans。
And already the blame of the other things that were done began to be
laid to his account； as that they so lightly gave up Corinth to
Antigonus； as if it had been an inconsiderable village； that they
had suffered him； after first sacking Orchomenus； then to put into
it a Macedonian garrison； that they made a decree that no letters
nor embassy should be sent to any other king without the consent of
Antigonus； that they were forced to furnish pay and provision for
the Macedonian soldiers； and celebrated sacrifices； processions； and
games in honour of Antigonus； Aratus's citizens setting the example
and receiving Antigonus； who was lodged and entertained at Aratus's
house。 All these things they treated as his fault； not knowing that
having once put the reins into Antigonus's hands and let himself be
borne by the impetus of regal power； he was no longer master of
anything but one single voice； the liberty of which it was not so very
safe for him to use。 For it was very plain that Aratus was much
troubled at several things； as appeared by the business about the
statues。 For Antigonus replaced the statues of the tyrants of Argos
that had been thrown down； and on the contrary threw down the
statues of all those that had taken the Acro…Corinthus； except that of
Aratus； nor could Aratus； by all his entreaties； dissuade him。 Also；
the usage of the Mantineans by the Achaeans seemed not in accordance
with the Grecian feelings and manners。 For being master of their
city by the help of Antigonus； they put to death the chief and most
noted men amongst them； and of the rest； some they sold； others they
sent； bound in fetters； into Macedonia； and made slaves of their wives
and children； and of the money thus raised； a third part they
divided among themselves； and the other two…thirds were distributed
among the Macedonians。 And this might seem to have been justified by
the law of retaliation； for although it be a barbarous thing for men
of the same nation and blood thus to deal with one another in their
fury； yet necessity makes it； as Simonides says； sweet and something
excusable； being the proper thing； in the mind's painful and
inflamed condition； to give alleviation and relief。 But for what was
afterwards done to that city； Aratus cannot be defended on any
ground either of reason or necessity。 For the Argives having had the
city bestowed on them by Antigonus； and resolving to people it； he
being then chosen as the new founder； and being general at that
time； decreed that it should no longer be called Mantinea； but
Antigonea； which name it still bears。 So that he may be said to have
been the cause that the old memory of the 〃beautiful Mantinea〃 has
been wholly extinguished and the city to this day has the name of
the destroyer and slayer of its citizens。
After this； Cleomenes； being overthrown in a great battle near
Sellasia； forsook Sparta and fled into Egypt； and Antigonus； having
shown all manner of kindness and fair…dealing to Aratus； retired
into Macedonia。 There； falling sick； he sent Philip； the heir of the
kingdom； into Peloponnesus； being yet scarce a youth； commanding him
to follow above all the counsel of Aratus； to communicate with the
cities through him； and through him to make acquaintance with the
Achaeans； and Aratus； receiving him accordingly； so managed him as
to send him back to Macedon both well affected to himself and full
of desire and ambition to take an honourable part in the affairs of
Greece。
When Antigonus was dead； the Aetolians； despising the sloth and
negligence of the Achaeans； who having learnt to be defended by
other men's valour and to shelter themselves under the Macedonian
arms； lived in ease and without any discipline； now attempted to
interfere in Peloponnesus。 And plundering the land of Patrae and
Dyme in their way； they invaded Messene and ravaged it； at which
Aratus being indignant； and finding that Timoxenus； then general；
was hesitating and letting the time go by； being now on the point of
laying down his office； in which he himself was chosen to succeed him；
he anticipated the proper term by five days； that he might bring
relief to the Messenians。 And mustering the Achaeans； who were both in
their persons unexercised in arms and in their minds relaxed and
averse to war； he met with a defeat at Caphyae。 Having thus begun
the war； as it seemed； with too much heat and passion； he then ran
into the other extreme； cooling again and desponding so much that he
let pass and overlooked many fair opportunities of advantage given
by the Aetolians； and allowed them to run riot； as it were； throughout
all Peloponnesus； with all manner of insolence and licentiousness。
Wherefore； holding forth their hands once more to the Macedonians；
they invited and drew in Philip to intermeddle in the affairs of
Greece； chiefly hoping； because of his affection and trust that he
felt for Aratus； they should find him easy。 tempered； and ready to
be managed as they pleased。
But the king； being now persuaded by Apelles； Megaleas； and other
courtiers； that endeavoured to ruin the credit Aratus had with him；
took the side of the contrary faction and joined them in canvassing to
have Eperatus chosen general by the Achaeans。 But he being
altogether scorned by the Achaeans； and； for the want of Aratus to
help； all things going wrong； Philip saw he had quite mistaken his
part； and； turning about and reconciling himself to Aratus； he was
wholly his； and his affairs； now going on favourably both for his
power and reputation； he depended upon him altogether as the author of
all his gains in both respects； Aratus hereby giving a proof to the
world that he was as good a nursing father of a kingdom as he had been
of a democracy； for the actions of the king had in them the touch
and colour of his judgment and character。 The moderation which the
young man showed to the Lacedaemonians； who had incurred his
displeasure； and his affability to the Cretans； by which in a few days
he brought over the whole island to his obedience； and his
expedition against the Aetolians； so wonderfully successful； brought
Philip reputation for hearkening to good advice； and to Aratus for
giving it； for which things the king's followers envying him more than
ever and finding they could not prevail against him by their secret
practices； began openly to abuse and affront him at the banquets and
over their wine； with every kind of petulance and impudence； so that
once they threw stones at him as he was going back from supper to
his tent。 At which Philip being much offended； immediately fined
them twenty talents； and finding afterwards that they still went on
disturbing matters and doing mischief in his affairs； he put them to
death。
But with his run of good success； prosperity began to puff him up；
and various extravagant desires began to spring and show themselves in
his mind； and his natural bad inclinations breaking through the。
artificial restraints he had put upon them； in a little time laid open
and discovered his true and proper character。 In the first place； he
privately injured the younger Aratus in his wife； which was not
known of a good while； because he was lodged and entertained at
their house； then he began to be more rough and untractable in the
domestic politics of Greece； and showed plainly that he was wishing to
shake himself loose of Aratus。 This the Messenian affairs first gave
occasion to suspect。 For they falling into sedition； and Aratus
being just too late with his succours； Philip； who got into the city
one day before him； at once blew up the flame of contention amongst
them； asking privately； on the one hand； the Messenian generals； if
they had not laws whereby to suppress the insolence of the common
people； and on the other； the leaders of the people； whether they
had not hands to help themselves against their oppressors。 Upon
which gathering courage； the officers attempted to lay hands on the
heads of the people； and they on the other side； coming upon the
officers with the multitude； killed them； and very near two hundred
persons with them。
Philip having committed this wickedness； and doing his best to set
the Messenians by the ears together more than before； Aratus arrived
there； and both showed plainly that he took it ill himself； and also
he suffered his son bitterly to reproach and revile him。 It should
seem that the young man had an attachment for Philip； and so at this
time one of his expressions to him was； that he no longer appeared
to him the handsomest； but the most deformed of all men； after so foul
an action。 To all which Philip gave him no answer； though he seemed so
angry as to make it expected he would； and though several times he
cried out aloud while the young man was speaking。 But as for the elder
Aratus； seeming to take all that he said in good part； and as if he
were by nature a politic character and had a good command of
himself； he gave him his hand and led him out of the theatre； and
carried him with him to the Ithomatas； to sacrifice there to
Jupiter； and take a view of the place； for it is a post as fortifiable
as the Acro…Corinthus； and； with a garrison in it； quite as strong and
as impregnable to the attacks of all around it。 Philip therefore
went up hither； and having offered sacrifice； receiving the entrails
of the ox with both his hands from the priest； he showed them to
Aratus and Demetrius the Pharian； presenting them sometimes to the one
and sometimes to the other； asking them what they judged； by the
tokens in the sacrifice； was to be done with the fort； was he to
keep it for himself； or restore it to the Messenians。 Demetrius
laughed and answered； 〃If you have in you the soul of a soothsayer；
you will restore it； but if of a prince you will hold the ox by both
the horns；〃 meaning to refer to Peloponnesus； which would be wholly in
his power and at his disposal if he added the Ithomatas to the
Acro…Corinthus。 Aratus said not a word for a good while； but Philip
entreating him to declare his opinion； he said： 〃Many and great
hills are there in Crete； and many rocks in Boeotia and P