As that tyrant both hated and feared
Aratus, he meditated his death, and Antigonus entered
into the scheme.
Aratus, he meditated his death, and Antigonus entered
into the scheme.
Plutarch - Lives - v7
The younger
Philip of Macedon therefore was not jesting, but spoke
a serious truth, when he called the city of Corinth the
fetters of Greece. Hence the place was always much
contended for, particularly by kings and princes.
Antigonus' passion, for it was not less than that of
love in its greatest madness; and it was the chief ob-
ject of his cares to find a method of taking it by sur-
prise, when the hopes of succeeding by open force
failed. When Alexander, who was master of the cita-
del, died of poison, that is said to have been given him
through Antigonus' means, his wife NicKa, into whose
hands it then fell, guarded it with great care. But
Antigonus, hoping to gain it by means of his son De-
metrius, sent him to make her an offer of his hand. It
was a flattering prospect to a woman somewhat ad-
vanced in years to have such a young prince for her
husband. Accordingly Antigonus caught her by this
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? ARATUS.
bait. However, she did not give up the citadel, but
guarded it with the same attention as before. Antigo-
nus, pretending to take no notice, celebrated the mar-
riage with sacrifices and shows, and spent whole days
in feasting the people, as if his mind had been intirely
taken up with mirth and pleasure. One day, when
Amoebeus was to sing in the theatre, he conducted
Nicaea in person on her way to the entertainment in a
litter set out with royal ornaments. She was elated
with the honor, and had not the least thought of what
was to ensue. But when they came to the point which
bore towards the citadel, he ordered the men that bore
the litter to proceed to the theatre; and bidding fare-
well to Amoebeus and the wedding, he walked up to
the fort much faster than could have been expected
from a man of his years. Finding the gate barred, be
knocked with his staff, and commanded the guard to
open it. Surprised at the sight of him, they complied,
and thus he became master of the place. He was not
able to contain his joy on that occasion: he drank and
revelled in the open streets, and in the market-place,
attended with female musicians, and crowned with
flowers. When we see a man of his age, who had ex-
perienced such changes of fortune, carouse and indulge
his transports, embracing and saluting every one he
meets, we must acknowlege that unexpected joy raises
greater tumults in an unbalanced mind, and oversets it
sooner, than either fear or sorrow.
Antigonus having in this manner made himself mas-
ter of the citadel, garrisoned it with men in whom he
placed the greatest confidence, and made the philoso-
pher Persaeus governor. Whilst Alexander was living,
Aratus had cast his eye on it, as an excellent acquisi-
tion for his country; but, the Achaeatis admitting Alex-
ander into the league, he did not prosecute his design.
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? PLUTARCH.
Afterwards, however, a new occasion presented itself.
There were in Corinth four brothers, natives of Syria;
one of which, named Diocles, served as a soldier in
the garrison. The other three, having stolen some of
the king's money, retired to Sicyon, where they ap-
plied to one jEgias, a banker, whom Aratus used to
employ. Part of this gold they immediately disposed
of to him, and Erginus, one of the three, at several
visits, privately changed the rest. Thus an acquaint-
ance was formed between him and jEgias, who one day
drew him into discourse about the garrison. Erginus
told him, that as he often went up to visit his brother,
he had observed on the steepest side a small winding
path cut in the rock, and leading to a part of the wall
much lower than the rest. On this jEgias said, with
an air of raillery, 'Why will you, my good friend,
purloin the king's treasures for so inconsiderable a
sum, when you might raise yourself to opulence by
one hour's service? Do not you know, that if you are
taken, you will as certainly be put to death for this
trifling theft as if you had betrayed the citadel V Er-
ginus laughed at the hint, and promised to sound his
brother Diocles on the subject; for he could not, he
said, place much confidence in the other two.
A few days after this he returned, and had an inter-
view with Aratus; at which it was agreed that he
should conduct him to a part of the wall that was not
above fifteen feet high, and that both he and his bro-
ther Diocles should assist him in the rest of the enter-
prise. Aratus, on his part, promised to give them
sixty talents if he succeeded ; and in case they failed,
and yet returned all safe to Sicyon, he engaged that
each of them should have a house and one talent. As
it was necessary that the sixty talents should be depo-
sited in the hands of /Egias, for the satisfaction of Er-
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? ARATUS.
251
ginus, and Aratus neither had such a sum nor chose to
borrow it, because that might create some suspicion of
his intentions, he took most of his plate and his wife's
jewels, and pledged them with jEgias for the money.
Such was the greatness of his soul, such his passion
for high achievements, that knowing that Phocion and
Epaminondas were accounted the justest and most ex-
cellent of all the Greeks, for refusing great presents,
and not sacrificing virtue to money, he ascended a step
higher. He privately gave money; he embarked his
estate in an enterprise, where he alone was to expose
himself for the many, who were not even apprised of
his intentions in their favor. Who then can sufficiently
admire his magnanimity? Who is there, even in our
days, that is not fired with an ambition to imitate the
man who purchased so much danger at so great an ex-
pense, who pledged the most valuable of his goods for
the sake of being introduced by night amongst ene-
mies, where he was to fight for his life, without any
other equivalent than the hope of performing a great
action?
This undertaking, which was dangerous enough in
itself, became more so by a mistake which they com-
mitted in the beginning. Technon, one of Aratus'
servants, of whom we have already spoken, was sent
before to Diocles, that they might reconnoitre the wall
together. He had never seen Diocles, but he thought
he should easily know him by the marks which Ergi-
nus had given, which were, curled hair, a swarthy com-
plexion, and want of beard. He went therefore to the
place appointed, and sat down before the city at a
point called Ornis, to wait for Erginus and his brother
Diocles. In the mean time Dionysius, their eldest
brother, who knew nothing of the affair, happened to
come up. He greatly resembled Diocles; and Tech-
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? 252
PLUTARCH.
non, struck with his appearance, which answered the
description, asked him if he had any connexion with
Erginus. He said he was his brother: on which Tech-
non, thoroughly persuaded that he was speaking to
Diocles, without asking his name, or waiting for any
token, gave him his hand, mentioned to him the cir-
cumstances of the appointment with Erginus, and asked
him many questions about it. Dionysius availed him-
self very artfully of the mistake, agreed to every point,
and returning towards the city, held him in discourse
without giving him the least cause of suspicion. They
were now near the town, and he was on the point of
seizing Technon, when by good fortune Erginus met
them, and perceiving how much his friend was imposed
on, and the great danger he was in, beckoned to him
to make his escape. Accordingly they both fled, and
got safe to Aratus. However, Aratus did not give up
his hopes, but immediately sent Erginus to Dionysius,
to offer him money, and intreat him to be silent; in
which he succeeded so well, that he brought Dionysius
along with him to Aratus. When they had him in
their hands, they did not think it safe to part with him:
they bound and set a guard on him in a small apart-
ment, and then prepared for their principal design.
When every thing was ready, Aratus ordered his
troops to pass the night under arms; and taking with
him four hundred picked men, few of whom knew the
business they were going about, he led them to the
gates of the city near the temple of Juno. It was then
about the middle of the summer, the moon at the full,
and the night without the least cloud. As their arms
glittered with the reflection of the moon, they were
afraid that circumstance would discover them to the
watch. The foremost of them were now near the walls,
when clouds arose from the sea, and covered the city
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? ARATUS,
263
and its environs. The men sat down and took off their
shoes, that they might make the less noise, and mount
the ladders without danger of slipping. But Erginus
took with him seven young men in the hahit of travel-
lers, and getting unobserved to the gate, killed the
keeper and the guard that were with him. At the same
time the ladders were applied to the walls, and Aratus,
with a hundred men, got over with the utmost expedi-
tion. The rest he commanded to follow in the best
manner they could, and having immediately drawn np
his ladders, he marched at the head of his party through
the town towards the citadel, confident of success, be-
cause he was not discovered.
As they advanced they met four of the watch with a
light, which gave Aratus a full and timely view of
them, while he and his company could not be seen by
them, because the moon was still overclouded. He
therefore retired under some ruined walls, and lay in
ambush for them. Three out of the four were killed;
but the other, after he had received a cut on his head,
ran off, crying that the enemy was in the city. A
little after, the trumpets sounded, and the whole town
was in motion on the alarm. The streets were filled
with people running up and down; and so many lights
were brought out, both in the lower town and in the
citadel, that the whole was illuminated, and a confused
noise was heard from every quarter. Aratus went on,
notwithstanding, and attempted the way up the rock.
He proceeded in a slow and difficult manner at first,
because he had lost the path which lay deep beneath
the craggy parts of the rock, and led to the wall by a
great variety of windings and turnings. But at that
moment the moon, as it were by miracle, is said to
have dispersed the clouds, and thrown a light on the
most obscure part of the path, which continued till he
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? 254 PLUTARCH.
reached the wall at the place he wanted. Then the
clouds gathered afresh, and she hid her face again.
In the mean time the three hundred men whom Ara-
tus had left by the temple of Juno had entered the city,
which they found all in an alarm, and full of lights. As
they could not find the way Aratus had taken, nor trace
him in the least, they screened themselves under the
shady side of a high rock, and waited there in great
perplexity and distress. By this time Aratus was en-
gaged with the enemy on the ramparts of the citadel,
and they could distinguish the cries of combatants; but
as the noise was echoed by the neighboring mountains,
it was uncertain from whence it first came. Whilst they
were in doubt what way to turn, Archelaus, who com-
manded the king's forces, took a considerable corps,
and began to ascend the hill with loud shouts, and
trumpets sounding, in order to attack Aratus' rear.
He passed the party of the three hundred without per-
ceiving them ; but he was no sooner gone by, than they
rose as from an ambuscade, fell on him, and killing the
first they attacked, so terrified the rest, and even Arche-
laus himself, that they turned their backs, and were
pursued till they intirely dispersed.
When the party was thus victorious, Erginus came to
them from their friends above, to inform them that Ara-
tus was engaged with the enemy, who defended them-
selves with great vigor; that the wall itself was dis-
puted, and that their general wanted immediate assist-
ance. They bade him lead them to the place that
moment; and as they ascended, they discovered them-
selves by their shouts. Thus their friends were en-
couraged, and the reflection of the full moon on their
arms made their numbers appear greater to their ene-
mies, on account of the length of the path. In the
echoes of the night, too, the shouts seemed to come
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? ARATUS.
from a much larger party. At last they joined Aratus,
and with a united effort beat off the enemy, and took
post on the wall. At break of day the citadel was their
own, and the first rays of the sun did honor to their
victory. At the same time the rest of Aratus' forces
arrived from Sicyon: the Corinthians readily opened
their gates to them, and assisted in taking the king's
soldiers prisoners.
When he thought his victory complete, he went
down from the citadel to the theatre, an innumerable
multitude crowding to see him, and to hear the speech
that he would make to the Corinthians. After he had
disposed the Achaeans on each side of the avenues to
the theatre, he came from behind the scenes, and made
his appearance in his armor. But he was so much
changed by labor and watching, that the joy and ele-
vation which his success might have inspired was
weighed down by the extreme fatigue of his spirits.
On his appearance the people immediately began to
express their high sense of his services; on which he
took his spear in his right hand, and leaning his body
and one knee a little against it, remained a long time
in that posture silent, to receive their plaudits and ac-
clamations, their praises of his virtue, and compliments
on his good fortune.
After their first transports were over, and he per-
ceived that he could be heard, he summoned the
strength he had left, and made a speech in the name of
the Aehaeans suitable to the great event, persuaded the
Corinthians to join the league, and delivered to them
the keys of their city, which they had not been masters
of since the time of Philip. As to the generals of
Antigonus, he set Archelaus, who was his prisoner,
free; but he put Theophrastus to death, because he
refused to leave Corinth. Persa;us, on the taking of
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? 256
PLUTARCH.
the citadel, made his escape to Cenchreae. Some time
after, when he was amusing himself with disputations
in philosophy, and some person advanced this posi-
tion, ' None but the wise man is fit to be a general'--
'It is true,' said he, ' and the gods know it, that this
maxim of Zeno's once pleased me more th,an all the
rest; but I have changed my opinion, since I was
better taught by the young Sicyonian. ' This circum-
stance concerning Persaeus we have from many his-
torians.
Aratus immediately seized the Heraeum, or temple
of Juno, and the harbor of Lechaeum, in which he took
twenty-five of the king's ships. He took also five hun-
dred horses, and four hundred Syrians, whom he sold.
The Achaeans put a garrison of four hundred men in
the citadel of Corinth, which was strengthened with
fifty dogs, and as many men to keep them.
The Romans were great admirers of Philopcemen,
and called him ' the last of the Greeks;' not allowing
that there was any great man amongst that people after
him. But, in my opinion, this exploit of Aratus is the
last which the Greeks have to boast of. Indeed, whe-
ther we consider the boldness of the enterprise, or the
good fortune which attended it, it equals the greatest
on record. The same appears from its immediate
consequences; the Megarensians revolted from Anti-
gonus, and joined Aratus; the Trcezenians and Epi-
daurians, too, ranged themselves on the side of the
Achaeans.
In his first expedition beyond the bounds of Pelo-
ponnesus, Aratus overran Attica, and passing into Sala-
mis, ravaged that island; so that the Achaean forces
thought themselves escaped as it were, out of prison,
and followed him wherever he pleased. On this occa-
sion he set the Athenian prisoners free without ransom,
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? ? ARATUS.
by which he sowed amongst them the first seeds of de-
fection from the Macedonians. He brought Ptolemy
likewise into the Achaean league, by procuring him the
direction of the war both by sea and land. Such was
his influence over the Achsaans, that, as the laws did
not allow him to be general two years together, they
appointed him every other year; and in action, as well
as counsel, he had always in effect the chief command:
for they saw it was not wealth, or glory, or the friend-
ship of kings, or the advantage of his own country, or
any thing else, that he preferred to the promotion of
the Achaaan power. He thought that cities in their
single capacity were weak, and that they could not
provide for their defence without uniting and binding
themselves together for the common good. As the
members of the body cannot be nourished, or live, but
by their connexion with each other, and when sepa-
rated pine and decay; so cities perish when they break
off from the community to which they belonged; and,
on the contrary, gather strength and power, by he-
coming parts of some great body, and enjoying the
fruits of the wisdom of the whole.
Observing therefore that all the bravest people in
his neighborhood lived according to their own laws, it
gave him pain to see the Argives in slavery, and he
took measures for destroying their tyrant Aristo-
machus. Besides, he was ambitious for restoring Ar-
gos to its liberty, as a reward for the education it had
afforded him, and to unite it to the Achaean league.
Without much difficulty he found them hardy enough
to undertake the commission, at the head of whom was
iEschylus and Charimenes the diviner; but they had
no swords; for they were forbidden to keep arms, and
the tyrant had laid great penalties on such as should
be found to have any in their possession. To supply
PLUT. VoL. VII. , - , It
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? PIUTARCH.
this defect, Aratus provided several daggers for them
at Corinth, and having sewed them up in the pack-
saddles of horses that were to carry some ordinary
wares, they were by that stratagem conveyed to Argos.
In the mean time Charimenes taking in another of his
friends as a partner, jEschylus and his associates were
so much provoked, that they cast him off, and deter-
mined to do the business by themselves. But Chari-
menes perceiving their intention, in resentment of the
flight, informed the tyrant of their purpose, when they
were set out to put it in execution. On which they
fled with precipitation, and most of them escaped to
Corinth.
It was not long, however, before Aristomachus was
despatched by one of his own servants; but before any
measures could be taken to guard against tyranny,
Aristippus took the reins, and proved a worse tyrant
than the former. Aratus, indeed, marched imme-
diately to Argos with all the Acbaeans that were able
to bear arms, in order to support the citizens, whom
he doubted not to find ready to assert their liberty.
But they had been long accustomed to the yoke, and
were willing to be slaves; insomuch, that not one of
them joined him, and he returned with the inconve-
nience of bringing a charge on the Achaeans, that they
had committed acts of hostility in time of full peace:
for they were summoned to answer for this injustice
before the Mantineans.
Aratus did not appear at the trial, and Aristippus
being the prosecutor, got a fine of thirty minea laid on
the Achseans.
As that tyrant both hated and feared
Aratus, he meditated his death, and Antigonus entered
into the scheme. They had their emissaries in almost
every quarter, watching their opportunity. But the
surest guard for a prince, or other chief, is the sincere
affection of his people: for when the commons and the
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? ARATUS.
nobility, instead of fearing their chief magistrate, fear
for him, he sees with many eyes, and hears with many
ears. And here I cannot but leave a little the thread
of my story, to describe that manner of life which
Aristippus was under a necessity of leading, if he
chose to keep in his hands that despotism, that state
of an arbitrary sovereign, which is commonly so much
envied, and admired as the highest pitch of happiness.
This tyrant, who had Antigonus for his ally, who
kept so large a body-guard, and had not left one of his
enemies alive in the city, would not suffer his guards
to do duty in the palace, but only in the vestibule and
porticos about it. When supper was over, he sent
away all the servants, barred the door of the hall him-
self, and with his mistress crept through a trap-door
into a small chamber above. On that door he placed
his bed, and slept there as a person in his anxious
state of mind may be supposed to sleep. The ladder
by which he went up his mistress' mother took away,
and secured in another room till morning, when she
brought it again, and called up this wonderful prince,
who crept like a reptile out of his hole. Whereas
Aratus, who acquired a lasting command, not by force
of arms, but by virtue, and in a way agreeable to the
laws; who made his appearance without fear in a plain
vest and cloak, and always showed himself an enemy
to tyrants, left an illustrious posterity among the
Greeks, which flourishes at this day. But of those
who have seized castles, who have maintained guards,
who have fenced themselves with arms, and gates, and
barricadoes, how few can we reckon up that have not,
like timorous hares, died a violent death! and not one
of them has left a family, or even a monument to pre-
serve his memory with honor.
Aratus made many attempts, both private and open,
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? PLUTARCH.
to pull down Aristippus, and rescue Argos but of his
hands ; but he always miscarried. Once he applied his
scaling-ladders, and ascended the wall with a small
party, in spite of the extreme danger that threatened
Mm. He even succeeded so far as to kill the guards
that came to oppose him: but when day appeared, and
the tyrant attacked him on all sides, the people of Ar-
gos, as if he had not been fighting for their liberty,
and they were only presiding at the Nemean games, sat
very impartial spectators of the action, without making
the least motion to assist. Aratus defended himself
with great courage, and though he had his thigh run
through with a spear, maintained his post all day
against such superior numbers. Would his strength
have permitted him to continue the combat in the night
too, he must have carried his point; for the tyrant
now thought of nothing but making his escape, and
had already sent most of his treasure on board his
ships. However, as no one gave Aratus intelligence ?
of this circumstance, as his water failed, and his wound
disqualified him from any farther efforts, he called off
his men and retired.
He now despaired of succeeding by way of surprise,
and therefore openly entered the territories of Argos
with his army, and committed great devastations. He
fought a pitched battle with Aristippus near the river
Chares, and on that occasion he was censured for de-
serting the action, and letting the victory slip out of
his hands: for one part of his army had clearly the
advantage, and was advancing fast in' the pursuit, when,
-he, without being overpowered where he acted in per-
son, merely out of fear and diffidence, retired in great
disorder to his camp. His men, on their return from the
pursuit, expressed their indignation at being prevented
from erecting the trophy, after they had put the enemy
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? , ARATUS.
261
to flight, and killed many more men than they had lost.
Aratus, wounded with these reproaches, determined
to risk a second battle for the trophy. Accordingly,
after his men had rested one day, he drew them out
the next. But finding that the enemy's numbers were
increased, and that their troops were in much higher
spirits than before, he durst not venture on an action,
but retreated, after having obtained a truce to carry off,
the dead. However, by his engaging manners, and his
abilities in the administration, he obviated the conse-
quences of this error, and added the city of Cleonae to
the Achaean league. In Cleonae he caused the Nemean
games to be celebrated; for. he thought that city had
the best and most ancient claim to them. The people
of Argos likewise exhibited them; and on this occa-
sion the freedom and security which had been the pri-
vilege of the champions, were first violated. The
Achaeans considered as enemies all that had repaired
to the games at Argos, and having seized them as they
passed through their territories, sold them for slaves.
So violent and implacable was their general's hatred
of tyrants. . .
Not long after, Aratus had intelligence that Aristip-
pus had a design on Cleonae, but that he was afraid of
him, because he then resided at Corinth, which was
very near Cleonae. In this case he assembled his forces
by proclamation, and having ordered them to take pro-
visions for several days, marched to Cenchreae. By
this manoeuvre he hoped to bring Aristippus against
Cleonae, as supposing him at a distance; and it had
its effect. The tyrant immediately set out from Ar-
gos with his army. But it was no sooner dark, than
Aratus returned from Cenchreae to Corinth, and hav-
ing placed guards in all the roads, led on the Achaeans,
who followed him in such good order, and with so
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? PLUTARCH.
much celerity and pleasure, that they not only made
their inarch, hut entered Cleonae that night, and put
themselves in order of battle; nor did Aristippus gain
the least knowlege of this morement.
Next morning at break of day the gates were opened,
the trumpet sounded, and Aratus advancing at full
speed, and with all the alarm of war, fell on the enemy,
and soon routed them. Then he went on the pursuit,
particularly that way which he imagined Aristippus
might take; for the country had several outlets. The
pursuit was continued as far as Mycenw, and the tyrant,
as Dinias tells us, was overtaken and killed by a Cre-
tan named Tragiscus; and of his army there were
above fifteen hundred slain. Aratus, though he bad
gained this important victory without the loss of one
man, could not make himself master of Argos, nor de-
liver it from slavery; for Agias and young Aristo-
machus entered it with the king of Macedon's troops,
and held it in subjection.
This action silenced in a great measure the calumny
of the enemy, and put a stop to the insolent scoffs of
those, who, to flatter the tyrants, had not scrupled to
say, that whenever the Achaean general prepared for
battle, his bowels lost their retentive faculty; that
when the trumpet sounded, his eyes grew dim, and
his head giddy; and that when he had given the word,
he used to ask his lieutenants, and other officers, what
farther need there could be of him, since the die was
cast, and whether he might not retire, and wait the
event of the day at some distance. These reports bad
prevailed so much, that the philosophers, in their in-
quiries in the schools, whether the palpitation of the
heart and change of color on the appearance of dan-
ger, were arguments of cowardice, or only of some
natural defect, some coldness in the constitution? used
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? ARATU8.
always to quote Aratus as an excellent general, who
yet was always subject to these emotions on occasions
Of a battle.
After he had destroyed Aristippus, he sought means
to depose Lysiades the Megalopolitan, who had as-
sumed the supreme power in his native city. This
man had something generous in his nature, and was
not insensible to true honor. He had not, like most
other tyrants, committed this injustice out of a love of
licentious pleasure, or from a motive of avarice; but
incited, when very young, by a passion for glory, and
unadvisedly believing the false and vain accounts of
the wondrous happiness of arbitrary power, he had
made it his business to usurp it. However, he soon
felt it a heavy burden; and being at once desirous to
gain the happiness which Aratus enjoyed, and to de-
liver himself from the fear of his intriguing spirit, he
formed the noblest resolution that can be conceived,
which was first to deliver himself from the hatred,
the fears, and the guards that encompassed him, and
then to bestow the greatest blessing on his country.
In consequence hereof he sent for Aratus, laid down
the authority he had assumed, and joined the city
to the Achaean league. The Achaeans, charmed with
his noble spirit, thought it not too great a compli
stent to elect him general. He was no sooner ap-
pointed than he discovered an ambition to raise his
name above that of Aratus, and was by that means
led to several unnecessary attempts, particularly to
declare war against the Lacedaemonians. Aratus en-
deavored to prevent it, but his opposition was thought
to proceed from envy. Lysiades was chosen general a
second time, though Aratus exerted all his interest to
get that appointment for another; for, as we have al-
ready observed, he had the command himself only
every other year. Lysiades was fortunate enough to
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? 2C4
PLUTARCH.
gain that commission a third time, enjoying it alter-
nately with Aratus. But at last, avowing himself his
enemy, and often accusing him to the Achaeans in full-
council, that people cast him off: for he appeared with
only an assumed character to contend against real and
sincere virtue. yEsop tells us, 'that the cuckoo one
day asked the little birds why they avoided her; and
they answered, it was because they feared she would
at last prove a hawk. ' In like manner it happened to-
Lysiades. It was suspected that, as he had been once
a tyrant, his laying down his power was not quite a
voluntary thing, and that he would be glad to take the
first opportunity to resume it.
Aratus acquired new glory in the war with the JEto-
lians. The Achaeans pressed him to engage them on
the confines of Megara; and Agis, king of the Lace-
daemonians, who attended with an army, joined his
instances to theirs; but he would not consent. They
reproached him with want of spirit, with cowardice;
they, tried what the weapons of ridicule could do; but
he bore all their attacks with patience, and would not
sacrifice the real good of the community to the fear of
seeming disgrace. On this principle he suffered the
jEtolians to pass Mount Gerania, and to enter Pelo-
ponnesus without the least resistance. But when he
found that in their march they had seized Pellene, he
was no longer the same man. Without the least de-
lay, without waiting till all his forces were assembled,
he advanced with those he had at hand against the
enemy, who were much weakened by their late acqui-
sition; for it had occasioned the utmost disorder and*
misrule. They had no sooner entered the city than
the private men dispersed themselves in the houses*
and began to scramble and fight for the booty, while
the generals and other officers seized the wives and
daughters of the inhabitants, and each put his helmet)
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? ARATUS* 265
on the head of his prize, as a mark to whom she be-
longed, and to prevent her coming into the hands of
another.
While they were thus employed, news was brought
that Aratus was at hand, and ready to fall on them.
The consternation was such as might be expected
amongst men in extreme disorder. Before they were
all apprised of their danger, those that were about the
gates and in the suburbs had skirmished a few mo-
ments with the Achaeans, and were put to flight: and
the precipitation with which they fled greatly distressed
those who had assembled to support them. During
this confusion one of the captives, daughter to Epige-
thes, a person of great eminence in Pellene, who was
remarkable for her beauty and majestic mien, was
seated in the temple of Diana, where the officer whose
prize she was had placed her, after having put his hel-
met, which was adorned with three plumes of feathers,
on her head. This lady, hearing the noise and tumult,
ran out suddenly to see what was the cause. As she
stood at the door of the temple, and looked down on
the combatants, with the helmet still on her head, she
appeared to the citizens a figure more than human, and
the enemy took her for a deity; which struck the latter
with such terror and astonishment, that they were no
longer able to use their arms.
The Pelleneans tell us, that the statue of the goddess
stands commonly untouched ; and that when the priest-
ess moves it out of the temple, in order to carry it in
procession, none dare look it in the face; but, on the
contrary, they turn away their eyes with great care;
for it is not only a terrible and dangerous sight to
mankind, but its look renders the trees barren, and
blasts the fruits where it passes. They add, that the
priestess carried it out on this occasion; and always
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? PLUTARCH.
turning the face directly towards the jEtolians, filled
them with horror, and deprived them of their senses.
But Aratus, in his Commentaries, makes no mention of
any such circumstance; he only says, that he put the
jEtolians to flight, and entering the town with the fu-
gitives, dislodged them by dint of sword, and killed
Seven hundred. This action was one of the most cele-
brated in history: Timanthes the painter gave a very
lively and excellent representation of it.
However, as many powerful states were combining
against the Achaeans, Aratus hastened to make peace
With the ^Etolians, which he not only effected with the
assistance of Pantaleon, one of the most powerful men
amongst them, but likewise entered into an alliance
offensive and defensive. He had a strong desire to
restore Athens to its liberty, and exposed himself to
the severest censures of the Achteans, by attempting
to surprise the Piraeus, while there was a truce sub-
sisting between them and the Macedonians. Aratus,
indeed, in his Commentaries, denies the fact, and lays
the blame on Erginus, with whom he took the citadel
of Corinth. He says it was the peculiar scheme of
Erginus to attempt that port; that, his ladder break-
ing, he miscarried, and was pursued; and that, to save
himself, be often called on Aratus, as if present; by
which artifice he deceived the enemy, and escaped.
But this defence of his wants probability to support it.
It is not likely that Erginus, a private man, a Syrian,
would have formed a design of such consequence, with-
out having Aratus at the bead of it, to supply him with
troops, and to point out the opportunity for the attack.
Nay, Aratus proved the same against himself, by mak-
ing not only two or three, but many more attempts on
the Piraeus. Like a person violently in love, his mis-
carriages did not prevail on him to desist; for, as his
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? ARATUS.
hopes were disappointed only by the failure perhaps of
a single circumstance, and he was always within a lit-
tle of succeeding, he still encouraged himself to go on.
In one repulse, as he fled over the fields of Thirasium,
he broke his leg; and the cure could not be effected
without several incisions; so that, for some time after,
when he was called to action, he was carried into the
field in a litter.
After the death of Antigonus, and Demetrius' acces-
sion to the throne, Aratus was more intent than ever
on delivering Athens from the yoke, and conceived an
utter contempt for the Macedonians. He was however
defeated in a battle near Phylacia, by Bitbys, the new
king's general; and a strong report being spread on
one side that he was taken prisoner, and on another
that he was dead, Diogenes, who commanded in the
Piraeus, wrote a letter to Corinth, insisting ' that the
Achaeans should evacuate the place, since Aratus was
no more. ' Aratus happened to be at Corinth when the
letter arrived; and the messengers finding that their
business occasioned much laughter and satirical dis-
course, retired in great confusion. The king of Mace-
don himself, too, sent a ship, with orders 'that Aratus
should be brought to him in chains. '
The Athenians, exceeding themselves in flattery to
the Macedonians, wore chaplets of flowers on the first
report of Aratus' death. Incensed at this treatment, he
immediately marched out against them; and proceeded
as far as the Academy: but they implored him to spare
them, and he returned without doing them the least
injury. This made the Athenians sensible of his vir-
tue; and, as on the death of Demetrius they were de-
termined to make an attempt for liberty, they called
him in to their assistance. Though he was not general
of the Achasana that year, and was so much indisposed
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? 268
PLUTARCH.
besides, by long sickness, as to be forced to keep hid
bed, yet he caused himself to be carried in a litter, to
render them his best services. Accordingly he pre-
vailed on Diogenes, who commanded the garrison, to
give up the Piraeus, Munychia, Salamis, and Sunium,
to the Athenians, for the consideration of a hundred
and fifty talents, twenty of which Aratus himself fur-
nished. On this the jEginetae and Hermionians joined
the Achaeans, and great part of Arcadia paid contribu-
tions to the league. The Macedonians now found em-
ployment enough for their arms nearer home; and the
Achaeans, numbering the iEtolians amongst their allies,
found a great addition to their power.
Aratus still proceeded on his old principles, and in
his uneasiness to see tyranny established in a city so
near him as that of Argos, sent his agents to Aristoma-
Chus, to represent ' how advantageous a thing it would
be for him to restore that city to liberty, and join it to
the Achaean league; how noble to follow the example
of Lysiades, and command so great a people with repu-
tation and honor, as the general of their choice, rather
than one city as a tyrant, exposed to perpetual danger
and hatred. ' Aristomachus listened to their suggestions,
and desired Aratus to send him fifty talents to pay off
his troops. The money was granted agreeably to his
request; but Lysiades, whose commission as general was
not expired, and who was ambitious to have this nego-
tiation pass with the Achaeans for his work, took an
opportunity, while the money was providing, to accuse
Aratus to Aristomachus, as a person that had an im-
placable aversion to tyrants, and to advise him rather
to put the business into his hands. Aristomachus be-
lieved these suggestions, and Lysiades had the honor
of introducing him to the league. But on this occasion
especially: the Achaean council showed their affection
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? . ARATUS.
and fidelity to Aratus: for, on his speaking against
Aristomachus, they rejected him with marks of resent-
ment. Afterwards, when Aratus was prevailed on to
manage the affair, they readily accepted the proposal,
and passed a decree, by which the Argives and Phlia-
sians were admitted into the league. The year follow*
ing, too, Aristomachus was appointed general.
Philip of Macedon therefore was not jesting, but spoke
a serious truth, when he called the city of Corinth the
fetters of Greece. Hence the place was always much
contended for, particularly by kings and princes.
Antigonus' passion, for it was not less than that of
love in its greatest madness; and it was the chief ob-
ject of his cares to find a method of taking it by sur-
prise, when the hopes of succeeding by open force
failed. When Alexander, who was master of the cita-
del, died of poison, that is said to have been given him
through Antigonus' means, his wife NicKa, into whose
hands it then fell, guarded it with great care. But
Antigonus, hoping to gain it by means of his son De-
metrius, sent him to make her an offer of his hand. It
was a flattering prospect to a woman somewhat ad-
vanced in years to have such a young prince for her
husband. Accordingly Antigonus caught her by this
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? ARATUS.
bait. However, she did not give up the citadel, but
guarded it with the same attention as before. Antigo-
nus, pretending to take no notice, celebrated the mar-
riage with sacrifices and shows, and spent whole days
in feasting the people, as if his mind had been intirely
taken up with mirth and pleasure. One day, when
Amoebeus was to sing in the theatre, he conducted
Nicaea in person on her way to the entertainment in a
litter set out with royal ornaments. She was elated
with the honor, and had not the least thought of what
was to ensue. But when they came to the point which
bore towards the citadel, he ordered the men that bore
the litter to proceed to the theatre; and bidding fare-
well to Amoebeus and the wedding, he walked up to
the fort much faster than could have been expected
from a man of his years. Finding the gate barred, be
knocked with his staff, and commanded the guard to
open it. Surprised at the sight of him, they complied,
and thus he became master of the place. He was not
able to contain his joy on that occasion: he drank and
revelled in the open streets, and in the market-place,
attended with female musicians, and crowned with
flowers. When we see a man of his age, who had ex-
perienced such changes of fortune, carouse and indulge
his transports, embracing and saluting every one he
meets, we must acknowlege that unexpected joy raises
greater tumults in an unbalanced mind, and oversets it
sooner, than either fear or sorrow.
Antigonus having in this manner made himself mas-
ter of the citadel, garrisoned it with men in whom he
placed the greatest confidence, and made the philoso-
pher Persaeus governor. Whilst Alexander was living,
Aratus had cast his eye on it, as an excellent acquisi-
tion for his country; but, the Achaeatis admitting Alex-
ander into the league, he did not prosecute his design.
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? PLUTARCH.
Afterwards, however, a new occasion presented itself.
There were in Corinth four brothers, natives of Syria;
one of which, named Diocles, served as a soldier in
the garrison. The other three, having stolen some of
the king's money, retired to Sicyon, where they ap-
plied to one jEgias, a banker, whom Aratus used to
employ. Part of this gold they immediately disposed
of to him, and Erginus, one of the three, at several
visits, privately changed the rest. Thus an acquaint-
ance was formed between him and jEgias, who one day
drew him into discourse about the garrison. Erginus
told him, that as he often went up to visit his brother,
he had observed on the steepest side a small winding
path cut in the rock, and leading to a part of the wall
much lower than the rest. On this jEgias said, with
an air of raillery, 'Why will you, my good friend,
purloin the king's treasures for so inconsiderable a
sum, when you might raise yourself to opulence by
one hour's service? Do not you know, that if you are
taken, you will as certainly be put to death for this
trifling theft as if you had betrayed the citadel V Er-
ginus laughed at the hint, and promised to sound his
brother Diocles on the subject; for he could not, he
said, place much confidence in the other two.
A few days after this he returned, and had an inter-
view with Aratus; at which it was agreed that he
should conduct him to a part of the wall that was not
above fifteen feet high, and that both he and his bro-
ther Diocles should assist him in the rest of the enter-
prise. Aratus, on his part, promised to give them
sixty talents if he succeeded ; and in case they failed,
and yet returned all safe to Sicyon, he engaged that
each of them should have a house and one talent. As
it was necessary that the sixty talents should be depo-
sited in the hands of /Egias, for the satisfaction of Er-
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? ARATUS.
251
ginus, and Aratus neither had such a sum nor chose to
borrow it, because that might create some suspicion of
his intentions, he took most of his plate and his wife's
jewels, and pledged them with jEgias for the money.
Such was the greatness of his soul, such his passion
for high achievements, that knowing that Phocion and
Epaminondas were accounted the justest and most ex-
cellent of all the Greeks, for refusing great presents,
and not sacrificing virtue to money, he ascended a step
higher. He privately gave money; he embarked his
estate in an enterprise, where he alone was to expose
himself for the many, who were not even apprised of
his intentions in their favor. Who then can sufficiently
admire his magnanimity? Who is there, even in our
days, that is not fired with an ambition to imitate the
man who purchased so much danger at so great an ex-
pense, who pledged the most valuable of his goods for
the sake of being introduced by night amongst ene-
mies, where he was to fight for his life, without any
other equivalent than the hope of performing a great
action?
This undertaking, which was dangerous enough in
itself, became more so by a mistake which they com-
mitted in the beginning. Technon, one of Aratus'
servants, of whom we have already spoken, was sent
before to Diocles, that they might reconnoitre the wall
together. He had never seen Diocles, but he thought
he should easily know him by the marks which Ergi-
nus had given, which were, curled hair, a swarthy com-
plexion, and want of beard. He went therefore to the
place appointed, and sat down before the city at a
point called Ornis, to wait for Erginus and his brother
Diocles. In the mean time Dionysius, their eldest
brother, who knew nothing of the affair, happened to
come up. He greatly resembled Diocles; and Tech-
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? 252
PLUTARCH.
non, struck with his appearance, which answered the
description, asked him if he had any connexion with
Erginus. He said he was his brother: on which Tech-
non, thoroughly persuaded that he was speaking to
Diocles, without asking his name, or waiting for any
token, gave him his hand, mentioned to him the cir-
cumstances of the appointment with Erginus, and asked
him many questions about it. Dionysius availed him-
self very artfully of the mistake, agreed to every point,
and returning towards the city, held him in discourse
without giving him the least cause of suspicion. They
were now near the town, and he was on the point of
seizing Technon, when by good fortune Erginus met
them, and perceiving how much his friend was imposed
on, and the great danger he was in, beckoned to him
to make his escape. Accordingly they both fled, and
got safe to Aratus. However, Aratus did not give up
his hopes, but immediately sent Erginus to Dionysius,
to offer him money, and intreat him to be silent; in
which he succeeded so well, that he brought Dionysius
along with him to Aratus. When they had him in
their hands, they did not think it safe to part with him:
they bound and set a guard on him in a small apart-
ment, and then prepared for their principal design.
When every thing was ready, Aratus ordered his
troops to pass the night under arms; and taking with
him four hundred picked men, few of whom knew the
business they were going about, he led them to the
gates of the city near the temple of Juno. It was then
about the middle of the summer, the moon at the full,
and the night without the least cloud. As their arms
glittered with the reflection of the moon, they were
afraid that circumstance would discover them to the
watch. The foremost of them were now near the walls,
when clouds arose from the sea, and covered the city
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? ARATUS,
263
and its environs. The men sat down and took off their
shoes, that they might make the less noise, and mount
the ladders without danger of slipping. But Erginus
took with him seven young men in the hahit of travel-
lers, and getting unobserved to the gate, killed the
keeper and the guard that were with him. At the same
time the ladders were applied to the walls, and Aratus,
with a hundred men, got over with the utmost expedi-
tion. The rest he commanded to follow in the best
manner they could, and having immediately drawn np
his ladders, he marched at the head of his party through
the town towards the citadel, confident of success, be-
cause he was not discovered.
As they advanced they met four of the watch with a
light, which gave Aratus a full and timely view of
them, while he and his company could not be seen by
them, because the moon was still overclouded. He
therefore retired under some ruined walls, and lay in
ambush for them. Three out of the four were killed;
but the other, after he had received a cut on his head,
ran off, crying that the enemy was in the city. A
little after, the trumpets sounded, and the whole town
was in motion on the alarm. The streets were filled
with people running up and down; and so many lights
were brought out, both in the lower town and in the
citadel, that the whole was illuminated, and a confused
noise was heard from every quarter. Aratus went on,
notwithstanding, and attempted the way up the rock.
He proceeded in a slow and difficult manner at first,
because he had lost the path which lay deep beneath
the craggy parts of the rock, and led to the wall by a
great variety of windings and turnings. But at that
moment the moon, as it were by miracle, is said to
have dispersed the clouds, and thrown a light on the
most obscure part of the path, which continued till he
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? 254 PLUTARCH.
reached the wall at the place he wanted. Then the
clouds gathered afresh, and she hid her face again.
In the mean time the three hundred men whom Ara-
tus had left by the temple of Juno had entered the city,
which they found all in an alarm, and full of lights. As
they could not find the way Aratus had taken, nor trace
him in the least, they screened themselves under the
shady side of a high rock, and waited there in great
perplexity and distress. By this time Aratus was en-
gaged with the enemy on the ramparts of the citadel,
and they could distinguish the cries of combatants; but
as the noise was echoed by the neighboring mountains,
it was uncertain from whence it first came. Whilst they
were in doubt what way to turn, Archelaus, who com-
manded the king's forces, took a considerable corps,
and began to ascend the hill with loud shouts, and
trumpets sounding, in order to attack Aratus' rear.
He passed the party of the three hundred without per-
ceiving them ; but he was no sooner gone by, than they
rose as from an ambuscade, fell on him, and killing the
first they attacked, so terrified the rest, and even Arche-
laus himself, that they turned their backs, and were
pursued till they intirely dispersed.
When the party was thus victorious, Erginus came to
them from their friends above, to inform them that Ara-
tus was engaged with the enemy, who defended them-
selves with great vigor; that the wall itself was dis-
puted, and that their general wanted immediate assist-
ance. They bade him lead them to the place that
moment; and as they ascended, they discovered them-
selves by their shouts. Thus their friends were en-
couraged, and the reflection of the full moon on their
arms made their numbers appear greater to their ene-
mies, on account of the length of the path. In the
echoes of the night, too, the shouts seemed to come
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? ARATUS.
from a much larger party. At last they joined Aratus,
and with a united effort beat off the enemy, and took
post on the wall. At break of day the citadel was their
own, and the first rays of the sun did honor to their
victory. At the same time the rest of Aratus' forces
arrived from Sicyon: the Corinthians readily opened
their gates to them, and assisted in taking the king's
soldiers prisoners.
When he thought his victory complete, he went
down from the citadel to the theatre, an innumerable
multitude crowding to see him, and to hear the speech
that he would make to the Corinthians. After he had
disposed the Achaeans on each side of the avenues to
the theatre, he came from behind the scenes, and made
his appearance in his armor. But he was so much
changed by labor and watching, that the joy and ele-
vation which his success might have inspired was
weighed down by the extreme fatigue of his spirits.
On his appearance the people immediately began to
express their high sense of his services; on which he
took his spear in his right hand, and leaning his body
and one knee a little against it, remained a long time
in that posture silent, to receive their plaudits and ac-
clamations, their praises of his virtue, and compliments
on his good fortune.
After their first transports were over, and he per-
ceived that he could be heard, he summoned the
strength he had left, and made a speech in the name of
the Aehaeans suitable to the great event, persuaded the
Corinthians to join the league, and delivered to them
the keys of their city, which they had not been masters
of since the time of Philip. As to the generals of
Antigonus, he set Archelaus, who was his prisoner,
free; but he put Theophrastus to death, because he
refused to leave Corinth. Persa;us, on the taking of
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? 256
PLUTARCH.
the citadel, made his escape to Cenchreae. Some time
after, when he was amusing himself with disputations
in philosophy, and some person advanced this posi-
tion, ' None but the wise man is fit to be a general'--
'It is true,' said he, ' and the gods know it, that this
maxim of Zeno's once pleased me more th,an all the
rest; but I have changed my opinion, since I was
better taught by the young Sicyonian. ' This circum-
stance concerning Persaeus we have from many his-
torians.
Aratus immediately seized the Heraeum, or temple
of Juno, and the harbor of Lechaeum, in which he took
twenty-five of the king's ships. He took also five hun-
dred horses, and four hundred Syrians, whom he sold.
The Achaeans put a garrison of four hundred men in
the citadel of Corinth, which was strengthened with
fifty dogs, and as many men to keep them.
The Romans were great admirers of Philopcemen,
and called him ' the last of the Greeks;' not allowing
that there was any great man amongst that people after
him. But, in my opinion, this exploit of Aratus is the
last which the Greeks have to boast of. Indeed, whe-
ther we consider the boldness of the enterprise, or the
good fortune which attended it, it equals the greatest
on record. The same appears from its immediate
consequences; the Megarensians revolted from Anti-
gonus, and joined Aratus; the Trcezenians and Epi-
daurians, too, ranged themselves on the side of the
Achaeans.
In his first expedition beyond the bounds of Pelo-
ponnesus, Aratus overran Attica, and passing into Sala-
mis, ravaged that island; so that the Achaean forces
thought themselves escaped as it were, out of prison,
and followed him wherever he pleased. On this occa-
sion he set the Athenian prisoners free without ransom,
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? ? ARATUS.
by which he sowed amongst them the first seeds of de-
fection from the Macedonians. He brought Ptolemy
likewise into the Achaean league, by procuring him the
direction of the war both by sea and land. Such was
his influence over the Achsaans, that, as the laws did
not allow him to be general two years together, they
appointed him every other year; and in action, as well
as counsel, he had always in effect the chief command:
for they saw it was not wealth, or glory, or the friend-
ship of kings, or the advantage of his own country, or
any thing else, that he preferred to the promotion of
the Achaaan power. He thought that cities in their
single capacity were weak, and that they could not
provide for their defence without uniting and binding
themselves together for the common good. As the
members of the body cannot be nourished, or live, but
by their connexion with each other, and when sepa-
rated pine and decay; so cities perish when they break
off from the community to which they belonged; and,
on the contrary, gather strength and power, by he-
coming parts of some great body, and enjoying the
fruits of the wisdom of the whole.
Observing therefore that all the bravest people in
his neighborhood lived according to their own laws, it
gave him pain to see the Argives in slavery, and he
took measures for destroying their tyrant Aristo-
machus. Besides, he was ambitious for restoring Ar-
gos to its liberty, as a reward for the education it had
afforded him, and to unite it to the Achaean league.
Without much difficulty he found them hardy enough
to undertake the commission, at the head of whom was
iEschylus and Charimenes the diviner; but they had
no swords; for they were forbidden to keep arms, and
the tyrant had laid great penalties on such as should
be found to have any in their possession. To supply
PLUT. VoL. VII. , - , It
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? PIUTARCH.
this defect, Aratus provided several daggers for them
at Corinth, and having sewed them up in the pack-
saddles of horses that were to carry some ordinary
wares, they were by that stratagem conveyed to Argos.
In the mean time Charimenes taking in another of his
friends as a partner, jEschylus and his associates were
so much provoked, that they cast him off, and deter-
mined to do the business by themselves. But Chari-
menes perceiving their intention, in resentment of the
flight, informed the tyrant of their purpose, when they
were set out to put it in execution. On which they
fled with precipitation, and most of them escaped to
Corinth.
It was not long, however, before Aristomachus was
despatched by one of his own servants; but before any
measures could be taken to guard against tyranny,
Aristippus took the reins, and proved a worse tyrant
than the former. Aratus, indeed, marched imme-
diately to Argos with all the Acbaeans that were able
to bear arms, in order to support the citizens, whom
he doubted not to find ready to assert their liberty.
But they had been long accustomed to the yoke, and
were willing to be slaves; insomuch, that not one of
them joined him, and he returned with the inconve-
nience of bringing a charge on the Achaeans, that they
had committed acts of hostility in time of full peace:
for they were summoned to answer for this injustice
before the Mantineans.
Aratus did not appear at the trial, and Aristippus
being the prosecutor, got a fine of thirty minea laid on
the Achseans.
As that tyrant both hated and feared
Aratus, he meditated his death, and Antigonus entered
into the scheme. They had their emissaries in almost
every quarter, watching their opportunity. But the
surest guard for a prince, or other chief, is the sincere
affection of his people: for when the commons and the
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? ARATUS.
nobility, instead of fearing their chief magistrate, fear
for him, he sees with many eyes, and hears with many
ears. And here I cannot but leave a little the thread
of my story, to describe that manner of life which
Aristippus was under a necessity of leading, if he
chose to keep in his hands that despotism, that state
of an arbitrary sovereign, which is commonly so much
envied, and admired as the highest pitch of happiness.
This tyrant, who had Antigonus for his ally, who
kept so large a body-guard, and had not left one of his
enemies alive in the city, would not suffer his guards
to do duty in the palace, but only in the vestibule and
porticos about it. When supper was over, he sent
away all the servants, barred the door of the hall him-
self, and with his mistress crept through a trap-door
into a small chamber above. On that door he placed
his bed, and slept there as a person in his anxious
state of mind may be supposed to sleep. The ladder
by which he went up his mistress' mother took away,
and secured in another room till morning, when she
brought it again, and called up this wonderful prince,
who crept like a reptile out of his hole. Whereas
Aratus, who acquired a lasting command, not by force
of arms, but by virtue, and in a way agreeable to the
laws; who made his appearance without fear in a plain
vest and cloak, and always showed himself an enemy
to tyrants, left an illustrious posterity among the
Greeks, which flourishes at this day. But of those
who have seized castles, who have maintained guards,
who have fenced themselves with arms, and gates, and
barricadoes, how few can we reckon up that have not,
like timorous hares, died a violent death! and not one
of them has left a family, or even a monument to pre-
serve his memory with honor.
Aratus made many attempts, both private and open,
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? PLUTARCH.
to pull down Aristippus, and rescue Argos but of his
hands ; but he always miscarried. Once he applied his
scaling-ladders, and ascended the wall with a small
party, in spite of the extreme danger that threatened
Mm. He even succeeded so far as to kill the guards
that came to oppose him: but when day appeared, and
the tyrant attacked him on all sides, the people of Ar-
gos, as if he had not been fighting for their liberty,
and they were only presiding at the Nemean games, sat
very impartial spectators of the action, without making
the least motion to assist. Aratus defended himself
with great courage, and though he had his thigh run
through with a spear, maintained his post all day
against such superior numbers. Would his strength
have permitted him to continue the combat in the night
too, he must have carried his point; for the tyrant
now thought of nothing but making his escape, and
had already sent most of his treasure on board his
ships. However, as no one gave Aratus intelligence ?
of this circumstance, as his water failed, and his wound
disqualified him from any farther efforts, he called off
his men and retired.
He now despaired of succeeding by way of surprise,
and therefore openly entered the territories of Argos
with his army, and committed great devastations. He
fought a pitched battle with Aristippus near the river
Chares, and on that occasion he was censured for de-
serting the action, and letting the victory slip out of
his hands: for one part of his army had clearly the
advantage, and was advancing fast in' the pursuit, when,
-he, without being overpowered where he acted in per-
son, merely out of fear and diffidence, retired in great
disorder to his camp. His men, on their return from the
pursuit, expressed their indignation at being prevented
from erecting the trophy, after they had put the enemy
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? , ARATUS.
261
to flight, and killed many more men than they had lost.
Aratus, wounded with these reproaches, determined
to risk a second battle for the trophy. Accordingly,
after his men had rested one day, he drew them out
the next. But finding that the enemy's numbers were
increased, and that their troops were in much higher
spirits than before, he durst not venture on an action,
but retreated, after having obtained a truce to carry off,
the dead. However, by his engaging manners, and his
abilities in the administration, he obviated the conse-
quences of this error, and added the city of Cleonae to
the Achaean league. In Cleonae he caused the Nemean
games to be celebrated; for. he thought that city had
the best and most ancient claim to them. The people
of Argos likewise exhibited them; and on this occa-
sion the freedom and security which had been the pri-
vilege of the champions, were first violated. The
Achaeans considered as enemies all that had repaired
to the games at Argos, and having seized them as they
passed through their territories, sold them for slaves.
So violent and implacable was their general's hatred
of tyrants. . .
Not long after, Aratus had intelligence that Aristip-
pus had a design on Cleonae, but that he was afraid of
him, because he then resided at Corinth, which was
very near Cleonae. In this case he assembled his forces
by proclamation, and having ordered them to take pro-
visions for several days, marched to Cenchreae. By
this manoeuvre he hoped to bring Aristippus against
Cleonae, as supposing him at a distance; and it had
its effect. The tyrant immediately set out from Ar-
gos with his army. But it was no sooner dark, than
Aratus returned from Cenchreae to Corinth, and hav-
ing placed guards in all the roads, led on the Achaeans,
who followed him in such good order, and with so
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? PLUTARCH.
much celerity and pleasure, that they not only made
their inarch, hut entered Cleonae that night, and put
themselves in order of battle; nor did Aristippus gain
the least knowlege of this morement.
Next morning at break of day the gates were opened,
the trumpet sounded, and Aratus advancing at full
speed, and with all the alarm of war, fell on the enemy,
and soon routed them. Then he went on the pursuit,
particularly that way which he imagined Aristippus
might take; for the country had several outlets. The
pursuit was continued as far as Mycenw, and the tyrant,
as Dinias tells us, was overtaken and killed by a Cre-
tan named Tragiscus; and of his army there were
above fifteen hundred slain. Aratus, though he bad
gained this important victory without the loss of one
man, could not make himself master of Argos, nor de-
liver it from slavery; for Agias and young Aristo-
machus entered it with the king of Macedon's troops,
and held it in subjection.
This action silenced in a great measure the calumny
of the enemy, and put a stop to the insolent scoffs of
those, who, to flatter the tyrants, had not scrupled to
say, that whenever the Achaean general prepared for
battle, his bowels lost their retentive faculty; that
when the trumpet sounded, his eyes grew dim, and
his head giddy; and that when he had given the word,
he used to ask his lieutenants, and other officers, what
farther need there could be of him, since the die was
cast, and whether he might not retire, and wait the
event of the day at some distance. These reports bad
prevailed so much, that the philosophers, in their in-
quiries in the schools, whether the palpitation of the
heart and change of color on the appearance of dan-
ger, were arguments of cowardice, or only of some
natural defect, some coldness in the constitution? used
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? ARATU8.
always to quote Aratus as an excellent general, who
yet was always subject to these emotions on occasions
Of a battle.
After he had destroyed Aristippus, he sought means
to depose Lysiades the Megalopolitan, who had as-
sumed the supreme power in his native city. This
man had something generous in his nature, and was
not insensible to true honor. He had not, like most
other tyrants, committed this injustice out of a love of
licentious pleasure, or from a motive of avarice; but
incited, when very young, by a passion for glory, and
unadvisedly believing the false and vain accounts of
the wondrous happiness of arbitrary power, he had
made it his business to usurp it. However, he soon
felt it a heavy burden; and being at once desirous to
gain the happiness which Aratus enjoyed, and to de-
liver himself from the fear of his intriguing spirit, he
formed the noblest resolution that can be conceived,
which was first to deliver himself from the hatred,
the fears, and the guards that encompassed him, and
then to bestow the greatest blessing on his country.
In consequence hereof he sent for Aratus, laid down
the authority he had assumed, and joined the city
to the Achaean league. The Achaeans, charmed with
his noble spirit, thought it not too great a compli
stent to elect him general. He was no sooner ap-
pointed than he discovered an ambition to raise his
name above that of Aratus, and was by that means
led to several unnecessary attempts, particularly to
declare war against the Lacedaemonians. Aratus en-
deavored to prevent it, but his opposition was thought
to proceed from envy. Lysiades was chosen general a
second time, though Aratus exerted all his interest to
get that appointment for another; for, as we have al-
ready observed, he had the command himself only
every other year. Lysiades was fortunate enough to
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? 2C4
PLUTARCH.
gain that commission a third time, enjoying it alter-
nately with Aratus. But at last, avowing himself his
enemy, and often accusing him to the Achaeans in full-
council, that people cast him off: for he appeared with
only an assumed character to contend against real and
sincere virtue. yEsop tells us, 'that the cuckoo one
day asked the little birds why they avoided her; and
they answered, it was because they feared she would
at last prove a hawk. ' In like manner it happened to-
Lysiades. It was suspected that, as he had been once
a tyrant, his laying down his power was not quite a
voluntary thing, and that he would be glad to take the
first opportunity to resume it.
Aratus acquired new glory in the war with the JEto-
lians. The Achaeans pressed him to engage them on
the confines of Megara; and Agis, king of the Lace-
daemonians, who attended with an army, joined his
instances to theirs; but he would not consent. They
reproached him with want of spirit, with cowardice;
they, tried what the weapons of ridicule could do; but
he bore all their attacks with patience, and would not
sacrifice the real good of the community to the fear of
seeming disgrace. On this principle he suffered the
jEtolians to pass Mount Gerania, and to enter Pelo-
ponnesus without the least resistance. But when he
found that in their march they had seized Pellene, he
was no longer the same man. Without the least de-
lay, without waiting till all his forces were assembled,
he advanced with those he had at hand against the
enemy, who were much weakened by their late acqui-
sition; for it had occasioned the utmost disorder and*
misrule. They had no sooner entered the city than
the private men dispersed themselves in the houses*
and began to scramble and fight for the booty, while
the generals and other officers seized the wives and
daughters of the inhabitants, and each put his helmet)
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? ARATUS* 265
on the head of his prize, as a mark to whom she be-
longed, and to prevent her coming into the hands of
another.
While they were thus employed, news was brought
that Aratus was at hand, and ready to fall on them.
The consternation was such as might be expected
amongst men in extreme disorder. Before they were
all apprised of their danger, those that were about the
gates and in the suburbs had skirmished a few mo-
ments with the Achaeans, and were put to flight: and
the precipitation with which they fled greatly distressed
those who had assembled to support them. During
this confusion one of the captives, daughter to Epige-
thes, a person of great eminence in Pellene, who was
remarkable for her beauty and majestic mien, was
seated in the temple of Diana, where the officer whose
prize she was had placed her, after having put his hel-
met, which was adorned with three plumes of feathers,
on her head. This lady, hearing the noise and tumult,
ran out suddenly to see what was the cause. As she
stood at the door of the temple, and looked down on
the combatants, with the helmet still on her head, she
appeared to the citizens a figure more than human, and
the enemy took her for a deity; which struck the latter
with such terror and astonishment, that they were no
longer able to use their arms.
The Pelleneans tell us, that the statue of the goddess
stands commonly untouched ; and that when the priest-
ess moves it out of the temple, in order to carry it in
procession, none dare look it in the face; but, on the
contrary, they turn away their eyes with great care;
for it is not only a terrible and dangerous sight to
mankind, but its look renders the trees barren, and
blasts the fruits where it passes. They add, that the
priestess carried it out on this occasion; and always
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? PLUTARCH.
turning the face directly towards the jEtolians, filled
them with horror, and deprived them of their senses.
But Aratus, in his Commentaries, makes no mention of
any such circumstance; he only says, that he put the
jEtolians to flight, and entering the town with the fu-
gitives, dislodged them by dint of sword, and killed
Seven hundred. This action was one of the most cele-
brated in history: Timanthes the painter gave a very
lively and excellent representation of it.
However, as many powerful states were combining
against the Achaeans, Aratus hastened to make peace
With the ^Etolians, which he not only effected with the
assistance of Pantaleon, one of the most powerful men
amongst them, but likewise entered into an alliance
offensive and defensive. He had a strong desire to
restore Athens to its liberty, and exposed himself to
the severest censures of the Achteans, by attempting
to surprise the Piraeus, while there was a truce sub-
sisting between them and the Macedonians. Aratus,
indeed, in his Commentaries, denies the fact, and lays
the blame on Erginus, with whom he took the citadel
of Corinth. He says it was the peculiar scheme of
Erginus to attempt that port; that, his ladder break-
ing, he miscarried, and was pursued; and that, to save
himself, be often called on Aratus, as if present; by
which artifice he deceived the enemy, and escaped.
But this defence of his wants probability to support it.
It is not likely that Erginus, a private man, a Syrian,
would have formed a design of such consequence, with-
out having Aratus at the bead of it, to supply him with
troops, and to point out the opportunity for the attack.
Nay, Aratus proved the same against himself, by mak-
ing not only two or three, but many more attempts on
the Piraeus. Like a person violently in love, his mis-
carriages did not prevail on him to desist; for, as his
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? ARATUS.
hopes were disappointed only by the failure perhaps of
a single circumstance, and he was always within a lit-
tle of succeeding, he still encouraged himself to go on.
In one repulse, as he fled over the fields of Thirasium,
he broke his leg; and the cure could not be effected
without several incisions; so that, for some time after,
when he was called to action, he was carried into the
field in a litter.
After the death of Antigonus, and Demetrius' acces-
sion to the throne, Aratus was more intent than ever
on delivering Athens from the yoke, and conceived an
utter contempt for the Macedonians. He was however
defeated in a battle near Phylacia, by Bitbys, the new
king's general; and a strong report being spread on
one side that he was taken prisoner, and on another
that he was dead, Diogenes, who commanded in the
Piraeus, wrote a letter to Corinth, insisting ' that the
Achaeans should evacuate the place, since Aratus was
no more. ' Aratus happened to be at Corinth when the
letter arrived; and the messengers finding that their
business occasioned much laughter and satirical dis-
course, retired in great confusion. The king of Mace-
don himself, too, sent a ship, with orders 'that Aratus
should be brought to him in chains. '
The Athenians, exceeding themselves in flattery to
the Macedonians, wore chaplets of flowers on the first
report of Aratus' death. Incensed at this treatment, he
immediately marched out against them; and proceeded
as far as the Academy: but they implored him to spare
them, and he returned without doing them the least
injury. This made the Athenians sensible of his vir-
tue; and, as on the death of Demetrius they were de-
termined to make an attempt for liberty, they called
him in to their assistance. Though he was not general
of the Achasana that year, and was so much indisposed
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? 268
PLUTARCH.
besides, by long sickness, as to be forced to keep hid
bed, yet he caused himself to be carried in a litter, to
render them his best services. Accordingly he pre-
vailed on Diogenes, who commanded the garrison, to
give up the Piraeus, Munychia, Salamis, and Sunium,
to the Athenians, for the consideration of a hundred
and fifty talents, twenty of which Aratus himself fur-
nished. On this the jEginetae and Hermionians joined
the Achaeans, and great part of Arcadia paid contribu-
tions to the league. The Macedonians now found em-
ployment enough for their arms nearer home; and the
Achaeans, numbering the iEtolians amongst their allies,
found a great addition to their power.
Aratus still proceeded on his old principles, and in
his uneasiness to see tyranny established in a city so
near him as that of Argos, sent his agents to Aristoma-
Chus, to represent ' how advantageous a thing it would
be for him to restore that city to liberty, and join it to
the Achaean league; how noble to follow the example
of Lysiades, and command so great a people with repu-
tation and honor, as the general of their choice, rather
than one city as a tyrant, exposed to perpetual danger
and hatred. ' Aristomachus listened to their suggestions,
and desired Aratus to send him fifty talents to pay off
his troops. The money was granted agreeably to his
request; but Lysiades, whose commission as general was
not expired, and who was ambitious to have this nego-
tiation pass with the Achaeans for his work, took an
opportunity, while the money was providing, to accuse
Aratus to Aristomachus, as a person that had an im-
placable aversion to tyrants, and to advise him rather
to put the business into his hands. Aristomachus be-
lieved these suggestions, and Lysiades had the honor
of introducing him to the league. But on this occasion
especially: the Achaean council showed their affection
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? . ARATUS.
and fidelity to Aratus: for, on his speaking against
Aristomachus, they rejected him with marks of resent-
ment. Afterwards, when Aratus was prevailed on to
manage the affair, they readily accepted the proposal,
and passed a decree, by which the Argives and Phlia-
sians were admitted into the league. The year follow*
ing, too, Aristomachus was appointed general.
