Again Cleomenes of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sparta&groupId=660&placeId=1208">Sparta</a>, having formed a plan for taking <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Megalopolis&groupId=745&placeId=1360">Megalopolis</a> by treachery, agreed with those of the defenders who guarded the wall near what is called the Den to come there with his army at the third watch of the night, for it was at this hour that his partisans were on guard.
But not reflecting that towards the rising of the Pleiads the nights are already quite short, he marched out of Lacedaemon about sunset.
So that he was unable to arrive in time, but being overtaken by daylight was rash and imprudent enough to attempt to force his way into the town and was driven out with disgrace and considerable loss, very narrowly escaping complete disaster.
Had he succeeded in arriving at the time agreed upon and led his troops in while his partisans were masters of the entrance, he would not have met with failure.
King Philip, to take another instance, having, as I stated above, a proposal from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Melitaea&groupId=751&placeId=1368">Melitaea</a> to betray the town to him, made two mistakes. Firstly he came there with ladders too short for the purpose, and secondly he did not arrive at the right time.
He had arranged to arrive about midnight when everyone was asleep, but he started from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Larisa&groupId=669&placeId=1225">Larisa</a> before the proper hour, and on entering the territory of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Melitaea&groupId=751&placeId=1368">Melitaea</a>, neither could remain there, as he feared that news of his arrival would reach the city, nor could he get back without being noticed.
Being compelled, therefore, to advance he reached the city while people were still awake.
So that he could neither take the place by escalade, owing to the defective size of his ladders, nor could he get in through the gate, as owing to the earliness of the hour his partisans within could not co-operate with him.
Finally, after merely provoking the garrison and losing many of his own men he made a shameful retreat with his purpose unaccomplished, having thus given public notice to everyone else to mistrust him and be on their guard.
Walbank Commentary