aratus-第6节
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and the so much celebrated and admired pomp and pride of absolute
government obliged Aristippus to lead。
For though Antigonus was his friend and ally; and though he
maintained numerous soldiers to act as his body…guard; and had not
left one enemy of his alive in the city; yet he was forced to make his
guards encamp in the colonnade about his house; and for his
servants; he turned them all out immediately after supper; and then
shutting the doors upon them; he crept up into a small upper
chamber; together with his mistress; through a trap…door; upon which
he placed his bed; and there slept after such a fashion; as one in his
condition can be supposed to sleep; that is; interruptedly and in
fear。 The ladder was taken away by the woman's mother; and locked up
in another room; in the morning she brought it again; and putting it
to; called up this brave and wonderful tyrant; who came crawling out
like some creeping thing out of its hole。 Whereas Aratus; not by force
of arms; but lawfully and by his virtue; lived in possession of a
firmly settled command; wearing the ordinary coat and cloak; being the
common and declared enemy of all tyrants; and has left behind him a
noble race of descendants surviving among the Grecians to this day;
while those occupiers of citadels and maintainers of body…guards;
who made all this use of arms and gates and bolts to protect their
lives; in some few cases perhaps escaped like the bare from the
hunters; but in no instance have we either house or family; or so much
as a tomb to which any respect is shown; remaining to preserve the
memory of any one of them。
Against this Aristippus; therefore; Aratus made many open and many
secret attempts; whilst he endeavoured to take Argos; though without
success; once; particularly; clapping scaling ladders in the night
to the walls; he desperately got up upon it with a few of his
soldiers; and killed the guards that opposed him。 But the day
appearing; the tyrant set upon him on all hands; whilst the Argives;
as if it had not been their liberty that was contended for; but some
Nemean game going on for which it was their privilege to assign the
prize; like fair and impartial judges; sat looking on in great
quietness。 Aratus; fighting bravely; was run through the thigh with
a lance; yet he maintained his ground against the enemy till night;
and; had he been able to go on and hold out that night also; he had
gained his point; for the tyrant thought of nothing but flying; and
had already shipped most of his goods。 But Aratus; having no
intelligence of this; and wanting water; being disabled himself by his
wound; retreated with his soldiers。
Despairing henceforth to do any good this way; he fell openly with
his army into Argolis; and plundered it; and in a fierce battle with
Aristippus near the river Chares; he was accused of having withdrawn
out of the fight; and thereby abandoned the victory。 For whereas one
part of his army had unmistakably got the better; and was pursuing the
enemy at a good distance from him; he yet retreated in confusion
into his camp; not so much because he was overpressed by those with
whom he was engaged; as out of mistrust of success and through a panic
fear。 But when the other wing; returning from the pursuit; showed
themselves extremely vexed; that though they had put the enemy to
flight and killed many more of his men than they had lost; yet those
that were in a manner conquered should erect a trophy as conquerors;
being much ashamed he resolved to fight them again about the trophy;
and the next day but one drew up his army to give them battle。 But;
perceiving that they were reinforced with fresh troops; and came on
with better courage than before; he durst not hazard a fight; but
retired and sent to request a truce to bury his dead。 However; by
his dexterity in dealing personally with men and managing political
affairs; and by his general favour; he excused and obliterated this
fault; and brought in Cleonae to the Achaean association; and
celebrated the Nemean games at Cleonae; as the proper and more ancient
place for them。 The games were also celebrated by the Argives at the
same time; which gave the first occasion to the violation of the
privilege of safe conduct and immunity always granted to those that
came to compete for the prizes; the Achaeans at that time selling as
enemies all those they caught going through their country after
joining in the games at Argos。 So vehement and implacable a hater
was he of the tyrants。
Not long after; having notice that Aristippus had a design upon
Cleonae; but was afraid of him; because he then was staying in
Corinth; he assembled an army by public proclamation; and commanding
them to take along with them provisions for several days; he marched
to Cenchreae; hoping by this stratagem to entice Aristippus to fall
upon Cleonae; when he supposed him far enough off。 And so it happened;
for he immediately brought his forces against it from Argos。 But
Aratus; returning from Cenchreae to Corinth in the dusk of the
evening; and setting posts of his troops in all the roads; led on
the Achaeans; who followed in such good order and with so much speed
and alacrity; that they were undiscovered by Aristippus; not only
whilst upon their march; but even when they got; still in the night;
into Cleonae; and drew up in order of battle。 As soon as it was
morning; the gates being opened and the trumpets sounding; he fell
upon the enemy with great cries and fury; routed them at once; and
kept close in pursuit; following the course which he most imagined
Aristippus would choose; there being many turns that might be taken。
And so the chase lasted as far as Mycenae; where the tyrant was
slain by a certain Cretan called Tragiscus; as Dinias reports。 Of
the common soldiers; there fell above fifteen hundred。 Yet though
Aratus had obtained so great a victory and that too without the loss
of a man; he could not make himself master of Argos; nor set it at
liberty; because Agias and the younger Aristomachus got into the
town with some of the king's forces; and seized upon the government。
However; by this exploit he spoiled the scoffs and jests of those that
flattered the tyrants; and in their raillery would say that the
Achaean general was usually troubled with a looseness when he was to
fight a battle; that the sound of a trumpet struck him with a
drowsiness and a giddiness; and that when he had drawn up his army and
given the word; he used to ask his lieutenants and officers whether
there was any further need of his presence now the die was cast; and
then went aloof; to await the result at a distance。 For indeed these
stories were so generally listened to; that; when the philosophers
disputed whether to have one's heart beat and to change colour upon
any apparent danger be an argument of fear; or rather of some
distemperature and chilliness of bodily constitution; Aratus was
always quoted as a good general who was always thus affected in time
of battle。
Having thus despatched Aristippus; he advised with himself how to
overthrow Lydiades; the Megalopolitan; who held usurped power over his
country。 This person was naturally of a generous temper; and not
insensible of true honour; and had been led into this wickedness;
not by the ordinary motives of other tyrants; licentiousness and
rapacity; but being young; and stimulated with the desire of glory; he
had let his mind be unwarily prepossessed with the vain and false
applauses given to tyranny; as some happy and glorious thing。 But he
no sooner seized the government; than he grew weary of the pomp and
burden of it。 And at once emulating the tranquillity and fearing the
policy of Aratus; he took the best resolutions; first; to free himself
from hatred and fear; from soldiers and guards; and; secondly; to be
the public benefactor of his country。 And sending for Aratus; he
resigned the government; and incorporated his city into the Achaean
community。 The Achaeans; applauding this generous action; chose him
their general; upon which; desiring to outdo Aratus in glory;
amongst many other uncalled…for things; he declared war against the
Lacedaemonians; which Aratus opposing was thought to do it out of
envy; and Lydiades was the second time chosen general; though Aratus
acted openly against him; and laboured to have the office conferred
upon another。 For Aratus himself had the command every other year;
as has been said。 Lydiades; however; succeeded so well in his
pretensions; that he was thrice chosen general; governing alternately;
as did Aratus; but at last; declaring himself his professed enemy; and
accusing him frequently to the Achaeans; he was rejected; and fell
into contempt; people now seeing that it was a contest between a
counterfeit and a true; unadulterated virtue; and; as Aesop tells us
that the cuckoo once; asking the little birds why they flew away
from her; was answered; because they feared she would one day prove
a hawk; so Lydiades's former tyranny still cast a doubt upon the
reality of his change。
But Aratus gained new honour in the Aetolian war。 For the Achaeans
resolving to fall upon the Aetolians on the Megarian confines; and
Agis