<w lemma="li%2Fppou">λίππου</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="basile%2Fws">βασιλέως</w>. <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaiw%3Dn">Ἀχαιῶν</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w> <w lemma="meta%2F">μετά</w> <w lemma="tinas">τινας</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fras">ἡμέρας</w> <w lemma="a%28qroisqe%5Cn">ἁθροισθὲν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="kaqh%2Fkousan">καθήκουσαν</w> <w lemma="su%2Fnodon">σύνοδον</w>, <w lemma="pikrw%3Ds">πικρῶς</w> <w lemma="die%2Fkeito">διέκειτο</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="koinh%3D%7C">κοινῇ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fan">ἰδίαν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Faraton">Ἄρατον</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dton">τοῦτον</w> <w lemma="o%28mologoume%2Fnws">ὁμολογουμένως</w> <w lemma="ai%29%2Ftion">αἴτιον</w> <w lemma="gegono%2Fta">γεγονότα</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnou">προειρημένου</w> <w lemma="sumptw%2Fmatos">συμπτώματος</w>.
<w lemma="dio%5C">διὸ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29ntipoliteuome%2Fnwn">ἀντιπολιτευομένων</w> <w lemma="kathgorou%2Fntwn">κατηγορούντων</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="fero%2Fntwn">φερόντων</w> <w lemma="a%29pologismou%5Cs">ἀπολογισμοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29nargei%3Ds">ἐναργεῖς</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="ma%3Dllon">μᾶλλον</w> <w lemma="h%29gana%2Fktei">ἠγανάκτει</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parwcu%2Fneto">παρωξύνετο</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w>.
<w lemma="e%29do%2Fkei">ἐδόκει</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="a%28ma%2Frthma">ἁμάρτημα</w> <w lemma="profane%5Cs">προφανὲς</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="mhde%2Fpw">μηδέπω</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%3Ds">ἀρχῆς</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="kaqhkou%2Fshs">καθηκούσης</w> <w lemma="prolabo%2Fnta">προλαβόντα</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29llo%2Ftrion">ἀλλότριον</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29nade%2Fxesqai">ἀναδέχεσθαι</w> <w lemma="toiau%2Ftas">τοιαύτας</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fceis">πράξεις</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="ai%28%3Ds">αἷς</w> <w lemma="sunh%2F%7Cdei">συνῄδει</w> <w lemma="polla%2Fkis">πολλάκις</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3D%7C">αὑτῷ</w> <w lemma="diesfalme%2Fnw%7C:">διεσφαλμένῳ·</w>
<w lemma="deu%2Fteron">δεύτερον</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mei%3Dzon">μεῖζον</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftou">τούτου</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="diafei%3Dnai">διαφεῖναι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaiou%5Cs">Ἀχαιοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29kmh%5Cn">ἀκμὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="me%2Fsw%7C">μέσῳ</w> <w lemma="%2Apeloponnh%2Fsou">Πελοποννήσου</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlw%3Dn">Αἰτωλῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28parxo%2Fntwn">ὑπαρχόντων</w>, <w lemma="a%29%2Fllws">ἄλλως</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="prodieilhfo%2Fta">προδιειληφότα</w> <w lemma="dio%2Fti">διότι</w> <w lemma="speu%2Fdousin">σπεύδουσιν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Asko%2Fpan">Σκόπαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Adwri%2Fmaxon">Δωρίμαχον</w> <w lemma="kinei%3Dn">κινεῖν</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="kaqestw%3Dta">καθεστῶτα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="suntara%2Fcai">συνταράξαι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemon:">πόλεμον·</w>
<w lemma="tri%2Fton">τρίτον</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sumbalei%3Dn">συμβαλεῖν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fois">ὑπεναντίοις</w> <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftw">οὕτω</w> <w lemma="met%27">μετ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%29li%2Fgwn">ὀλίγων</w> <w lemma="mhdemia%3Ds">μηδεμιᾶς</w> <w lemma="katepeigou%2Fshs">κατεπειγούσης</w> <w lemma="a%29na%2Fgkhs">ἀνάγκης</w>, <w lemma="duna%2Fmenon">δυνάμενον</w> <w lemma="a%29sfalw%3Ds">ἀσφαλῶς</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="parakeime%2Fnas">παρακειμένας</w> <w lemma="po%2Fleis">πόλεις</w> <w lemma="a%29poxwrh%3Dsai">ἀποχωρῆσαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sunagagei%3Dn">συναγαγεῖν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaiou%5Cs">Ἀχαιοὺς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="sumbalei%3Dn">συμβαλεῖν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fois">πολεμίοις</w>, <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntws">πάντως</w> <w lemma="h%28gei%3Dto">ἡγεῖτο</w> <w lemma="sumfe%2Frein:">συμφέρειν·</w>
<w lemma="teleutai%3Don">τελευταῖον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fgiston">μέγιστον</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="proqe%2Fmenon">προθέμενον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sumbalei%3Dn">συμβαλεῖν</w> <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="ei%29kh%3D%7C">εἰκῇ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="a%29sko%2Fpws">ἀσκόπως</w> <w lemma="xrh%2Fsasqai">χρήσασθαι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fgmasin">πράγμασιν</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="pare%2Fnta">παρέντα</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="pedi%2Fa">πεδία</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28plitw%3Dn">ὁπλιτῶν</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fan">χρείαν</w> <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="eu%29zw%2Fnwn">εὐζώνων</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="parwrei%2Fais">παρωρείαις</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlou%5Cs">Αἰτωλοὺς</w> <w lemma="poih%2Fsasqai">ποιήσασθαι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="ki%2Fndunon">κίνδυνον</w>, <w lemma="oi%28%3Ds">οἷς</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftou">τούτου</w> <w lemma="prourgiai%2Fteron">προυργιαίτερον</w> <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="oi%29keio%2Fteron">οἰκειότερον</w>.
<w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="proelqo%2Fnta">προελθόντα</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Faraton">Ἄρατον</w> <w lemma="a%29namnh%3Dsai">ἀναμνῆσαι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="propepoliteume%2Fnwn">προπεπολιτευμένων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pepragme%2Fnwn">πεπραγμένων</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fteron">πρότερον</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3D%7C">αὑτῷ</w>, <w lemma="fe%2Frein">φέρειν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29pologismou%5Cs">ἀπολογισμοὺς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29gkaloume%2Fnwn">ἐγκαλουμένων</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="ge%2Fgonen">γέγονεν</w> <w lemma="ai%29%2Ftios">αἴτιος</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="sumbebhko%2Ftwn">συμβεβηκότων</w>, <w lemma="ai%29tei%3Dsqai">αἰτεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="suggnw%2Fmhn">συγγνώμην</w>, <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="kai%2F">καί</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="parew%2Frake">παρεώρακε</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="geno%2Fmenon">γενόμενον</w> <w lemma="ki%2Fndunon">κίνδυνον</w>, <w lemma="oi%29%2Fesqai">οἴεσθαι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="dei%3Dn">δεῖν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kaqo%2Flou">καθόλου</w> <w lemma="skopei%3Dsqai">σκοπεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fgmata">πράγματα</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="pikrw%3Ds">πικρῶς</w>,
<w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29nqrwpi%2Fnws">ἀνθρωπίνως</w>, <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="taxe%2Fws">ταχέως</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="megaloyu%2Fxws">μεγαλοψύχως</w> <w lemma="metemelh%2Fqh">μετεμελήθη</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="sunepitiqeme%2Fnois">συνεπιτιθεμένοις</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29ntipoliteuome%2Fnwn">ἀντιπολιτευομένων</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="polu%5C">πολὺ</w> <w lemma="dusaresth%3Dsai">δυσαρεστῆσαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%28ch%3Ds">ἑξῆς</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnta">πάντα</w> <w lemma="bouleu%2Fesqai">βουλεύεσθαι</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ara%2Ftou">Ἀράτου</w> <w lemma="gnw%2Fmhn">γνώμην</w>. <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="prote%2Fran">προτέραν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fpesen">ἔπεσεν</w> <w lemma="o%29lumpia%2Fda">ὀλυμπιάδα</w>,
<w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28ch%3Ds">ἑξῆς</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tettarakosth%5Cn">τετταρακοστὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="e%28kato%2Fn">ἑκατόν</w>.
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<head>Aratus is Denounced and Defends Himself</head>A few days after the events just narrated the ordinary<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note29">Midsummer, B. C. 220.</note>meeting of the Achaean federal assembly took place, and Aratus was bitterly denounced, publicly as well as privately, as indisputably responsible for this disaster; and the anger of the general public was still further roused and embittered by the invectives of his political opponents. It was shown to every one's satisfaction that Aratus had been guilty of four flagrant errors. His first was that, having taken office before his predecessor's time was legally at an end, he had availed himself of a time properly belonging to another to engage in the sort of enterprise in which he was conscious of having often failed.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note30">Attacked at the Achaean Congress, Aratus successfully defends himself.</note>His second and graver error was the disbanding the Achaeans, while the Aetolians were still in the middle of the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Peloponnese&groupId=861&placeId=1552">Peloponnese</a>; especially as he had been well aware beforehand that Scopas and Dorimachus were anxious to disturb the existing settlement, and to stir up war. His third error was to engage the enemy, as he did, with such a small force, without any strong necessity; when he might have retired to the neighbouring towns and have summoned a levy of the Achaeans, and then have engaged, if he had thought that measure absolutely necessary. But his last and gravest error was that, having determined to fight, he did so in such an ill-considered manner, and managed the business with so little circumspection, as to deprive himself of the advantages of the plain and the support of his heavy-armed troops, and allow the battle to be settled by light-armed troops, and to take<pb n="290" />place on the slopes, than which nothing could have been more advantageous or convenient to the Aetolians. Such were the allegations against Aratus. He, however, came forward and reminded the assembly of his former political services and achievements; and urged in his defence that, in the matters alleged, his was not the blame for what had occurred. He begged their indulgence if he had been guilty of any oversight in the battle, and claimed that they should at any rate look at the facts without prejudice or passion. These words created such a rapid and generous change in the popular feeling, that great indignation was roused against the political opponents who attacked him; and the resolutions as to the measures to be taken in the future were passed wholly in accordance with the views of Aratus.
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Walbank Commentary