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he observed the temper of the man to be proper for a prince's
friendship； he made more use of him than of any other； not only of the
Achaeans； but also of the Macedonians that were about him。 So that the
thing fell out to him just as the god had foreshown in a sacrifice。
For it is related that； as Aratus was not long before offering
sacrifice； there were found in the liver two gall…bags inclosed in the
same caul of fat； whereupon the soothsayer told him that there
should very soon be the strictest friendship imaginable between him
and his greatest and most mortal enemies； which prediction he at
that time slighted； having in general no great faith in soothsayings
and prognostications； but depending most upon rational deliberation。
At an after time； however； when； things succeeding well in the war；
Antigonus made a great feast at Corinth； to which he invited a great
number of guests； and placed Aratus next above him； and presently
calling for a coverlet； asked him if he did not find it cold； and on
Aratus's answering； 〃Yes； extremely cold；〃 bade him come nearer； so
that when the servants brought the coverlet； they threw it over them
both； then Aratus； remembering the sacrifice； fell a laughing； and
told the king the sign which had happened to him； and the
interpretation of it。 But this fell out a good while after。
So Aratus and the king； plighting their faith to each other at
Pegae； immediately marched toward the enemy； with whom they had
frequent engagements near the city； Cleomenes maintaining a strong
position； and the Corinthians making a very brisk defence。 In the
meantime Aristoteles the Argive； Aratus's friend； sent privately to
him to let him know that he would cause Argos to revolt； if he would
come thither in person with some soldiers。 Aratus acquainted
Antigonus； and taking fifteen hundred men with him； sailed in boats
along the shore as quickly as he could from the Isthmus to
Epidaurus。 But the Argives had not patience till he could arrive； but；
making a sudden insurrection； fell upon Cleomenes's soldiers； and
drove them into the citadel。 Cleomenes having news of this； and
fearing lest； if the enemy should possess themselves of Argos； they
might cut off his retreat home； leaves the Acro…Corinthus and
marches away by night to help his men。 He got thither first； and
beat off the enemy； but Aratus appearing not long after； and the
king approaching with his forces； he retreated to Mantinea； upon which
all the cities again came over to the Achaeans； and Antigonus took
possession of the Acro…Corinthus。 Aratus； being chosen general by
the Argives； persuaded them to make a present to Antigonus of the
property of the tyrants and the traitors。 As for Aristomachus； after
having put him to the rack in the town of Cenchreae； they drowned
him in the sea； for which； more than anything else； Aratus was
reproached； that he could suffer a man to be so lawlessly put to
death； who was no bad man； had been one of his long acquaintance；
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 t