It was now winter; King Philip had left for <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Macedonia&groupId=723&placeId=428">Macedonia</a>, and Eperatus the Achaean strategus was treated with contempt by the civic soldiers and utterly set at naught by the mercenaries, so that no one obeyed orders, and no preparations had been made for protecting the country.
Pyrrhias, the general sent by the Aetolians to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Elis&groupId=560&placeId=1048">Elis</a>, observed this; and taking about thirteen hundred Aetolians, the mercenaries of the Eleans and about a thousand foot and two hundred horse of their civic troops, so that he had in all about three thousand men,
not only laid waste the territories of Dyme and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Pharae&groupId=878&placeId=1582">Pharae</a> but even that of Patrae.
Finally establishing his camp on the so‑called Panachaean Mountain which overlooks Patrae he pillaged all the country in direction of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rhium&groupId=929&placeId=1662">Rhium</a> and Aegium.
The consequence was, that the cities suffering severely and getting no help were by no means disposed to pay their contributions, and the soldiery, as their pay had been deferred and was much in arrears, were as little inclined to give help.
So citizens and soldiers thus playing into each others' hands, things went from bad to worse and finally the mercenaries disbanded — all this being the consequence of the chief magistrate's imbecility.
The above was the condition of affairs in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Achaea&groupId=272&placeId=533">Achaea</a>, when his year having now expired, Eperatus laid down his office, and the Achaeans at the beginning of summer elected the elder Aratus their strategus.
Such was the position in Europe. Now that I have arrived at a place that is suitable both chronologically and historically, I will shift the scene to Asia, and turning to the doings there during this same Olympiad will again confined my narrative to that field.
Walbank Commentary