<w lemma="%2Amequ%2Fdrion">Μεθύδριον</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Amegalopoli%2Ftidos:">Μεγαλοπολίτιδος·</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaiw%3Dn">Ἀχαιῶν</w> <w lemma="h%28gemo%2Fnes">ἡγεμόνες</w>, <w lemma="sune%2Fntes">συνέντες</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="parousi%2Fan">παρουσίαν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlw%3Dn">Αἰτωλῶν</w>, <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="kakw%3Ds">κακῶς</w> <w lemma="e%29xrh%2Fsanto">ἐχρήσαντο</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fgmasin">πράγμασιν</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fsq%27">ὥσθ᾽</w> <w lemma="u%28perbolh%5Cn">ὑπερβολὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29noi%2Fas">ἀνοίας</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="katalipei%3Dn">καταλιπεῖν</w>.
<w lemma="a%29nastre%2Fyantes">ἀναστρέψαντες</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Akleitori%2Fas">Κλειτορίας</w> <w lemma="katestratope%2Fdeusan">κατεστρατοπέδευσαν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Akafu%2Fas">Καφύας</w>.
<w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlw%3Dn">Αἰτωλῶν</w> <w lemma="poioume%2Fnwn">ποιουμένων</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="porei%2Fan">πορείαν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="%2Amequdri%2Fou">Μεθυδρίου</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29orxomeni%2Fwn">Ὀρχομενίων</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w>, <w lemma="e%29ca%2Fgontes">ἐξάγοντες</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaiou%5Cs">Ἀχαιοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akafue%2Fwn">Καφυέων</w> <w lemma="pedi%2Fw%7C">πεδίῳ</w> <w lemma="parene%2Fbalon">παρενέβαλον</w>, <w lemma="pro%2Fblhma">πρόβλημα</w> <w lemma="poiou%2Fmenoi">ποιούμενοι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="r%28e%2Fonta">ῥέοντα</w> <w lemma="potamo%2Fn">ποταμόν</w>.
<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twloi%5C">Αἰτωλοὶ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="metacu%5C">μεταξὺ</w> <w lemma="dusxwri%2Fas">δυσχωρίας</w> — <w lemma="h%29%3Dsan">ἦσαν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="potamou%3D">ποταμοῦ</w> <w lemma="ta%2Ffroi">τάφροι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fous">πλείους</w> <w lemma="du%2Fsbatoi">δύσβατοι</w> — <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2Ffasin">ἐπίφασιν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%28toimo%2Fthtos">ἑτοιμότητος</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaiw%3Dn">Ἀχαιῶν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="ki%2Fndunon">κίνδυνον</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29gxeirei%3Dn">ἐγχειρεῖν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fois">ὑπεναντίοις</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%3Ds">ἀρχῆς</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fqesin">πρόθεσιν</w> <w lemma="a%29pedeili%2Fasan">ἀπεδειλίασαν</w>,
<w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pollh%3Ds">πολλῆς</w> <w lemma="eu%29taci%2Fas">εὐταξίας</w> <w lemma="e%29poiou%3Dnto">ἐποιοῦντο</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="porei%2Fan">πορείαν</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="u%28perbola%5Cs">ὑπερβολὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29olu%2Fgurton">Ὀλύγυρτον</w>, <w lemma="a%29smeni%2Fzontes">ἀσμενίζοντες</w>, <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="mh%2F">μή</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29gxeiroi%2Fh">ἐγχειροίη</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="bia%2Fzoito">βιάζοιτο</w> <w lemma="kinduneu%2Fein">κινδυνεύειν</w>.
<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Faraton">Ἄρατον</w>, <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="prwtoporei%2Fas">πρωτοπορείας</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlw%3Dn">Αἰτωλῶν</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="prosbainou%2Fshs">προσβαινούσης</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="u%28perbola%2Fs">ὑπερβολάς</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%28ppe%2Fwn">ἱππέων</w> <w lemma="ou%29ragou%2Fntwn">οὐραγούντων</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="pedi%2Fou">πεδίου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="suneggizo%2Fntwn">συνεγγιζόντων</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="prosagoreuome%2Fnw%7C">προσαγορευομένῳ</w> <w lemma="%2Apro%2Fpodi">Πρόποδι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="parwrei%2Fas">παρωρείας</w>, <w lemma="e%29caposte%2Fllousi">ἐξαποστέλλουσι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="i%28ppei%3Ds">ἱππεῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="eu%29zw%2Fnous">εὐζώνους</w>, <w lemma="%2A%29epi%2Fstraton">Ἐπίστρατον</w> <w lemma="e%29pisth%2Fsantes">ἐπιστήσαντες</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29akarna%3Dna">Ἀκαρνᾶνα</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sunta%2Fcantes">συντάξαντες</w> <w lemma="e%29ca%2Fptesqai">ἐξάπτεσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="ou%29ragi%2Fas">οὐραγίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="katapeira%2Fzein">καταπειράζειν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fwn">πολεμίων</w>.
<w lemma="kai%2Ftoi">καίτοι</w> <w lemma="g%27">γ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="kinduneute%2Fon">κινδυνευτέον</w>, <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ou%29ragi%2Fan">οὐραγίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29xrh%3Dn">ἐχρῆν</w> <w lemma="sumple%2Fkesqai">συμπλέκεσθαι</w>, <w lemma="dihnuko%2Ftwn">διηνυκότων</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fwn">πολεμίων</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="o%28malou%5Cs">ὁμαλοὺς</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w>, <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="prwtoporei%2Fan">πρωτοπορείαν</w>, <w lemma="eu%29qe%2Fws">εὐθέως</w> <w lemma="e%29mbalo%2Fntwn">ἐμβαλόντων</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="pedi%2Fon">πεδίον</w>.
<w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29gw%3Dna">ἀγῶνα</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbh">συνέβη</w> <w lemma="gene%2Fsqai">γενέσθαι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flon">ὅλον</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29pipe%2Fdois">ἐπιπέδοις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pedinoi%3Ds">πεδινοῖς</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpois">τόποις</w>, <w lemma="ou%28%3D">οὗ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlou%5Cs">Αἰτωλοὺς</w> <w lemma="dusxrhstota%2Ftous">δυσχρηστοτάτους</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbaine">συνέβαινε</w> <w lemma="dia%2F">διά</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="kaqoplismo%5Cn">καθοπλισμὸν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flhn">ὅλην</w> <w lemma="su%2Fntacin">σύνταξιν</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaiou%5Cs">Ἀχαιοὺς</w> <w lemma="eu%29xrhstota%2Ftous">εὐχρηστοτάτους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dunamikwta%2Ftous">δυναμικωτάτους</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%29nanti%2Fa">τἀναντία</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnwn">προειρημένων</w>.
<w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29fe%2Fmenoi">ἀφέμενοι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="oi%29kei%2Fwn">οἰκείων</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kairw%3Dn">καιρῶν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fwn">πολεμίων</w> <w lemma="proterh%2Fmata">προτερήματα</w> <w lemma="sugkate%2Fbhsan">συγκατέβησαν</w>. <w lemma="toigarou%3Dn">τοιγαροῦν</w> <w lemma="a%29ko%2Flouqon">ἀκόλουθον</w>
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The Achaean commanders, when they became aware of the approach of the Aetolians, mismanaged matters to such an extent that it was impossible for anyone to have acted more stupidly. For, returning from the territory of Cleitor, they encamped near Caphyae, and when the Aetolians began to march from Methydrium past <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Orchomenus&groupId=814&placeId=1470">Orchomenus</a>, they led out the Achaean forces and drew them up in the plain of Caphyae, with the river which traverses it in their front. The Aetolians, both owing to the difficulties of the ground between the two armies — for besides the river there were several awkward ditches — owing to the display of readiness for battle on the part of the Achaeans, were afraid of attacking the enemy as they had intended, but marched in admirable order towards the heights by Olygyrtus, thinking themselves lucky if no one attacked them and forced them to fight. But Aratus, when the van of the Aetolians was already beginning to mount the heights, and while their cavalry were protecting their rear and approaching the spot at the foot of the hill called Propous, or Foothill, send out his cavalry and light-armed infantry under the command of the Acarnanian Epistratus, ordering him to get into touch with the enemy's rear and harass them. Now if he had decided to engage the enemy, he should not have attacked their rear after they had already got over the level ground, but their van the moment they entered the plain; for thus the whole battle would have been on flat ground, where the Aetolians are very inefficient, owing to their accoutrement and general tactics, while the Achaeans, owing to their total difference in both these respects, are very capable and strong. But now neglecting to avail themselves of the time and place that suited them they yielded up every advantage to the enemy. In consequence the result of the battle was what naturally follows on such an opening.
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Walbank Commentary