<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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<head>Bad Strategy of Aratus</head>But the leaders of the Achaeans, on learning the<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note26">The battle of Caphyae, B. C. 220.</note>arrival of the Aetolians, adopted a course of proceeding quite unsurpassable for folly. They left the territory of Cleitor and encamped at Caphyae; but the Aetolians marching from Methydrium past the city of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Orchomenus&groupId=814&placeId=1470">Orchomenus</a>, they led the Achaean troops into the plain of Caphyae, and there drew them up for battle, with the river which flows through that plain protecting their front. The difficulty of the ground between them and their enemy, for there were besides the river a number of ditches not easily crossed,<note anchored="yes" place="unspecified" id="note27">Caphyae was on a small plain, which was subject to inundations from the lake of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Orchomenus&groupId=814&placeId=1470">Orchomenus</a>; the ditches here mentioned appear to be those dug to drain this district. They were in the time of Pausanias superseded by a high dyke, from the inner side of which ran the River Tragus (<term>Tara</term>).<bibl n="Paus. 8.23.2" default="NO" valid="yes">Pausan. 8, 23, 2</bibl>.</note>and the show of readiness on the part of the Achaeans<pb n="287" />for the engagement, caused the Aetolians to shrink from attacking according to their original purpose; but they retreated in good order to the high ground of Oligyrtus, content if only they were not attacked and forced to give battle. But Aratus, when the van of the Aetolians was already making the ascent, while the cavalry were bringing up the rear along the plain, and were approaching a place called <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Propus&groupId=916&placeId=1644">Propus</a> at the foot of the hills, sent out his cavalry and light-armed troops, under the command of Epistratus of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Acarnania&groupId=270&placeId=527">Acarnania</a>, with orders to attack and harass the enemy's rear. Now if an engagement was necessary at all, they ought not to have attempted it with the enemy's rear, when they had already accomplished the march through the plain, but with his van directly it had debouched upon the plain: for in this way the battle would have been wholly confined to the plain and level ground, where the peculiar nature of the Aetolian arms and general tactics would have been least effective; while the Achaeans, from precisely opposite reasons, would have been most effective and able to act. As it was, they surrendered the advantages of time and place which were in their favour, and deliberately accepted the conditions which were in favour of the enemy.
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Walbank Commentary