The Achaeans at this time, finding themselves hard pressed by the war and learning that the king was close at hand, sent envoys asking for help.
Encountering the king while still before Stratus they delivered the message with which they had been charged, and pointing out to him the large booty that his army would take in the enemy\'s country, tried to persuade him to cross at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rhium&groupId=929&placeId=1662">Rhium</a> and invade <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Elis&groupId=560&placeId=1048">Elis</a>.
The king after listening to them kept the envoys with him, saying he would give their request consideration, and breaking up his camp advanced in the direction of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Metropolis&groupId=767&placeId=1389">Metropolis</a> and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Conope&groupId=489&placeId=919">Conope</a>.
The Aetolians held to the citadel of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Metropolis&groupId=767&placeId=1389">Metropolis</a>, abandoning the town, which the king burnt and then continued his advance on <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Conope&groupId=489&placeId=919">Conope</a>.
When a body of Aetolian cavalry ventured to meet him, at the ford of the river which runs in front of the town at a distance of about twenty stades from it, trusting either to prevent his passage entirely or to inflict considerable damage on the Macedonians as they were crossing, the king, perceiving their design, ordered his peltasts to enter the river first and land on the other bank in close order shield to shield and company to company.
His orders were obeyed, and as soon as the first company had passed, the Aetolian cavalry, after a feeble attack on it, finding that it stood firm with shields interlocked and that the second and third companies as they landed closed up with it, were unable to effect anything, and seeing that they were getting into difficulties made off for the town; and henceforth the Aetolians, with all their haughty spirit, kept quiet within the shelter of their walls.
Philip crossed with his army, and having pillaged this country too unopposed, advanced on <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Ithoria&groupId=658&placeId=1201">Ithoria</a>. This is a place absolutely commanding the road through the pass and of singular natural and artificial strength;
but on his approach the garrison were terror-stricken and abandoned it. The king on obtaining possession of it razed it to the ground, and ordered his advanced guards to demolish likewise the other small forts in the country.
Walbank Commentary