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overjoyed that he was undiscovered； and not doubting of the success。
But while still they were some way off； a watch of four men came
with a light； who did not see them； because they were still in the
shade of the moon； but were seen plainly enough themselves as they
came on directly towards them。 So withdrawing a little way amongst
some walls and plots for houses； they lay in wait for them； and
three of them they killed。 But the fourth； being wounded in the head
with a sword； fled； crying out that the enemy was in the city。 And
immediately the trumpets sounded； and all the city was in an uproar at
what had happened； and the streets were full of people running up
and down； and many lights were seen shining both below in the town；
and above in the castle； and a confused noise was to be heard in all
parts。
In the meantime； Aratus was hard at work struggling to get up the
rocks； at first slowly and with much difficulty； straying
continually from the path； which lay deep； and was overshadowed with
the crags； leading to the wall with many windings and turnings； but
the moon immediately； and as if by miracle； it is said； dispersing the
clouds； shone out and gave light to the most difficult part of the
way； until he got to that part of the wall he desired； and there she
overshadowed and hid him； the clouds coming together again。 Those
soldiers whom Aratus had left outside the gate； near Juno's temple； to
the number of three hundred； entering the town； now full of tumult and
lights； and not knowing the way by which the former had gone； and
finding no track of them； slunk aside； and crowded together in one
body under a flank of the cliff that cast a strong shadow； and there
stood and waited in great distress and perplexity。 For； by this
time； those that had gone with Aratus were attacked with missiles from
the citadel； and were busy fighting； and a sound of cries of battle
came down from above； and a loud noise； echoed back and back from
the mountain sides； and therefore confused and uncertain whence it
proceeded； was heard on all sides。 They being thus in doubt which
way to turn themselves； Archelaus； the commander of Antigonus's
troops； having a great number of soldiers with him； made up towards
the castle with great shouts and noise of trumpets to fall upon
Aratus's people； and passed by the three hundred； who； as if they
had risen out of an ambush； immediately charged him； killing the first
they encountered； and so affrighted the rest； together with Archelaus；
that they put them to flight and pursued them until they had quite
broken and dispersed them about the city。 No sooner were these
defeated； but Erginus came to them from those that were fighting
above； to acquaint them that Aratus was engaged with the enemy； who
defended themselves very stoutly； and there was a fierce conflict at
the very wall； and need of speedy help。 They therefore desired him
to lead them on without delay； and； marching up； by their shouts
made their friends understand who they were； and encouraged them；
and the full moon； shining on their arms； made them； in the long
line by which they advanced； appear more in number to the enemy than
they were； and the echo of the night multiplied their shouts。 In
short； falling on with the rest； they made the enemy give way； and
were masters of the castle and garrison； day now beginning to be
bright； and the rising sun shining out upon their success。 By this
time； also； the rest of his army came up to Aratus from Sicyon； the
Corinthians joyfully receiving them at the gates and helping them to
secure the king's party。
And now； having put all things into a safe posture； he came down
from the castle to the theatre； an infinite number of people
crowding thither to see him and to hear what he would say to the
Corinthians。 Therefore drawing up the Achaeans on each side of the
stage…passages； he came forward himself upon the stage； with his
corselet still on； and his face showing the effects of all his hard
work and want of sleep； so that his natural exultation and
joyfulness of mind were overborne by the weariness of his body。 The
people； as soon as he came forth； breaking out into great applauses
and congratulations； he took his spear in his right hand； and； resting
his body upon it with his knee a little bent； stood a good while in
that posture； silently receiving their shouts and acclamations；
while they extolled his valour and wondered at his fortune； which
being over； standing up； he began an oration in the name of the
Achaeans； suitable to the late action； persuading the Corinthians to
associate themselves to the Achaeans； and withal delivered up to
them the keys of their gates； which had never been in their power
since the time of King Philip。 Of the captains of Antigonus； he
dismissed Archelaus； whom he had taken prisoner； and Theophrastus； who
refused to quit his post； he put to death。 As for Persaeus； when he
saw the castle was lost； he had got away to Cenchreae； where； some
time after； discoursing with one that said to him that the wise man
only is a true general； 〃Indeed；〃 he replied； 〃none of Zeno's maxims
once pleased me better than this； but I have been converted to another
opinion by the young man of Sicyon。〃 This is told by many of Persaeus。
Aratus immediately after made himself master of the temple of Juno and
haven of Lechaeum； seized upon five…and…twenty of the king's ships；
together with five hundred horses and four hundred Syrians： these he
sold。 The Achaeans kept guard in the Acro…Corinthus with a body of
four hundred soldiers； and fifty dogs with as many keepers。
The Romans； extolling Philopoemen； called him the last of the
Grecians； as if no great man had ever since his time been bred amongst
them。 But I should call this capture of the Acro…Corinthus the last of
the Grecian exploits； being comparable to the best of them； both for
the daringness of it； and the success； as was presently seen by the
consequences。 For the Megarians； revolting from Antigonus； joined
Aratus； and the Troezenians and Epidaurians enrolled themselves in the
Achaean community； and issuing forth for the first time； he entered
Attica； and passing over into Salamis； he plundered the island；
turning the Achaean force every way； as if it were just let loose
out of prison and set at liberty。 All freemen whom he took he sent
back to the Athenians without ransom； as a sort of first invitation to
them to come over to the league。 He made Ptolemy become a
confederate of the Achaeans； with the privilege of command both by sea
and land。 And so great was his power with them； that since he could
not by law be chosen their general every year； yet every other year he
was； and by his counsels and actions was in effect always so。 For they
perceived that neither riches nor reputation； nor the friendship of
kings； nor the private interest of his own country； nor anything
else was so dear to him as the increase of the Achaeans' power and
greatness。 For he believed that the cities； weak individually； could
be preserved by nothing else but a mutual assistance under the closest
bond of the common interest； and； as the members of the body live
an