<w lemma="%2Aoi%28">Οἱ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaioi%2F">Ἀχαιοί</w>, <w lemma="kaqhkou%2Fshs">καθηκούσης</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="no%2Fmwn">νόμων</w> <w lemma="suno%2Fdou">συνόδου</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dton">τοῦτον</w>, <w lemma="h%28%3Dkon">ἧκον</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29%2Fgion">Αἴγιον</w>. <w lemma="sunelqo%2Fntes">συνελθόντες</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29kklhsi%2Fan">ἐκκλησίαν</w>,
<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="%2Apatre%2Fwn">Πατρέων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Afaraie%2Fwn">Φαραιέων</w> <w lemma="a%29pologizome%2Fnwn">ἀπολογιζομένων</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="gegono%2Fta">γεγονότα</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fran">χώραν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29dikh%2Fmata">ἀδικήματα</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlw%3Dn">Αἰτωλῶν</w> <w lemma="di%2Fodon">δίοδον</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="%2Amesshni%2Fwn">Μεσσηνίων</w> <w lemma="paro%2Fntwn">παρόντων</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="presbei%2Fan">πρεσβείαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="deome%2Fnwn">δεομένων</w> <w lemma="sfi%2Fsi">σφίσι</w> <w lemma="bohqei%3Dn">βοηθεῖν</w> <w lemma="a%29dikoume%2Fnois">ἀδικουμένοις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="paraspondoume%2Fnois">παρασπονδουμένοις</w>,
<w lemma="diakou%2Fsantes">διακούσαντες</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="legome%2Fnwn">λεγομένων</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sunaganaktou%3Dntes">συναγανακτοῦντες</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Apatreu%3Dsi">Πατρεῦσι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Afaraieu%3Dsi">Φαραιεῦσι</w>, <w lemma="sumpa%2Fsxontes">συμπάσχοντες</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Amesshni%2Fwn">Μεσσηνίων</w> <w lemma="a%29tuxi%2Fais">ἀτυχίαις</w>,
<w lemma="ma%2Flista">μάλιστα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="nomi%2Fzontes">νομίζοντες</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="deino%5Cn">δεινὸν</w> <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="mh%2Fte">μήτε</w> <w lemma="sugxwrh%2Fsantos">συγχωρήσαντος</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twloi%3Ds">Αἰτωλοῖς</w> <w lemma="mhdeno%5Cs">μηδενὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="di%2Fodon">δίοδον</w> <w lemma="mh%2Fte">μήτε</w> <w lemma="kaqa%2Fpac">καθάπαξ</w> <w lemma="e%29pibalo%2Fmenoi">ἐπιβαλόμενοι</w> <w lemma="paraitei%3Dsqai">παραιτεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="kateto%2Flmhsan">κατετόλμησαν</w> <w lemma="e%29pibh%3Dnai">ἐπιβῆναι</w> <w lemma="stratope%2Fdw%7C">στρατοπέδῳ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axai+%2Fas">Ἀχαΐας</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="sunqh%2Fkas">συνθήκας</w>,
<w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsi">πᾶσι</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="parocunqe%2Fntes">παροξυνθέντες</w> <w lemma="e%29yhfi%2Fsanto">ἐψηφίσαντο</w> <w lemma="bohqei%3Dn">βοηθεῖν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Amesshni%2Fois">Μεσσηνίοις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="suna%2Fgein">συνάγειν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="strathgo%5Cn">στρατηγὸν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaiou%5Cs">Ἀχαιοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fplois:">ὅπλοις·</w> <w lemma="o%28%5C">ὃ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="sunelqou%3Dsi">συνελθοῦσι</w> <w lemma="bouleuome%2Fnois">βουλευομένοις</w> <w lemma="do%2Fch%7C">δόξῃ</w>, <w lemma="tou%3Dt%27">τοῦτ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="ku%2Frion">κύριον</w>.
<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="%2Atimo%2Fcenos">Τιμόξενος</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="to%2Ft%27">τότ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fq%27">ἔθ᾽</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxwn">ὑπάρχων</w> <w lemma="strathgo%2Fs">στρατηγός</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fson">ὅσον</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fpw">οὔπω</w> <w lemma="lhgou%2Fshs">ληγούσης</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%3Ds">ἀρχῆς</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaioi%3Ds">Ἀχαιοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29pistw%3Dn">ἀπιστῶν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="r%28a%7Cqu%2Fmws">ῥᾳθύμως</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29sxhke%2Fnai">ἐσχηκέναι</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="paro%5Cn">παρὸν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fplois">ὅπλοις</w> <w lemma="gumnasi%2Fan">γυμνασίαν</w>, <w lemma="a%29nedu%2Feto">ἀνεδύετο</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fcodon">ἔξοδον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kaqo%2Flou">καθόλου</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="sunagwgh%5Cn">συναγωγὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fxlwn">ὄχλων</w>.
<w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Akleome%2Fnous">Κλεομένους</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Aspartiatw%3Dn">Σπαρτιατῶν</w> <w lemma="basile%2Fws">βασιλέως</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fkptwsin">ἔκπτωσιν</w>, <w lemma="ka%2Fmnontes">κάμνοντες</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="progegono%2Fsi">προγεγονόσι</w> <w lemma="pole%2Fmois">πολέμοις</w>, <w lemma="pisteu%2Fontes">πιστεύοντες</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="parou%2Fsh%7C">παρούσῃ</w> <w lemma="katasta%2Fsei">καταστάσει</w>, <w lemma="pa%2Fntes">πάντες</w> <w lemma="w%29ligw%2Frhsan">ὠλιγώρησαν</w> <w lemma="%2Apeloponnh%2Fsioi">Πελοποννήσιοι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="polemika%5C">πολεμικὰ</w> <w lemma="paraskeuh%3Ds">παρασκευῆς</w>.
<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Faratos">Ἄρατος</w>, <w lemma="sxetlia%2Fzwn">σχετλιάζων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parocuno%2Fmenos">παροξυνόμενος</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="to%2Flmh%7C">τόλμῃ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlw%3Dn">Αἰτωλῶν</w>, <w lemma="qumikw%2Fteron">θυμικώτερον</w> <w lemma="e%29xrh%3Dto">ἐχρῆτο</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fgmasin">πράγμασιν</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fte">ἅτε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="prou+parxou%2Fshs">προϋπαρχούσης</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29llotrio%2Fthtos">ἀλλοτριότητος</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29pa%2Fnw">ἐπάνω</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnwn">χρόνων</w>.
<w lemma="dio%5C">διὸ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="suna%2Fgein">συνάγειν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fspeude">ἔσπευδε</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaiou%5Cs">Ἀχαιοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fplois">ὅπλοις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sumbalei%3Dn">συμβαλεῖν</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fqumos">πρόθυμος</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twloi%3Ds">Αἰτωλοῖς</w>.
<w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pe%2Fnq%27">πένθ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Frais">ἡμέραις</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fteron">πρότερον</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="kaqh%2Fkontos">καθήκοντος</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnou">χρόνου</w> <w lemma="paralabw%5Cn">παραλαβὼν</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Atimoce%2Fnou">Τιμοξένου</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="dhmosi%2Fan">δημοσίαν</w> <w lemma="sfragi%3Dda">σφραγῖδα</w>, <w lemma="pro%2Fs">πρός</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="po%2Fleis">πόλεις</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fgrafe">ἔγραφε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sunh%3Dge">συνῆγε</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="h%28liki%2Fais">ἡλικίαις</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fplwn">ὅπλων</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Amega%2Flhn">Μεγάλην</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w>.
<w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="ou%28%3D">οὗ</w> <w lemma="dokei%3D">δοκεῖ</w> <w lemma="moi">μοι</w> <w lemma="pre%2Fpon">πρέπον</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="braxe%2Fa">βραχέα</w> <w lemma="proeipei%3Dn">προειπεῖν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="i%29dio%2Fthta">ἰδιότητα</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="fu%2Fsews">φύσεως</w>.
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<head>Strength and Weakness of Aratus</head>This being the time, according to their laws, for the<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note16">The Achaean league decide to assist the Messenians.</note>meeting of the Achaean federal assembly, the members arrived at Aegium. When the assembly met, the deputies from Patrae and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Pharae&groupId=878&placeId=1582">Pharae</a> made a formal statement of the injuries inflicted upon their territories during the passage of the Aetolians: an embassy from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Messenia&groupId=760&placeId=1380">Messenia</a> also appeared, begging for their assistance on the ground that the treatment from which they were suffering was unjust and in defiance of treaty. When these statements were heard, great indignation was felt at the wrongs of Patrae and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Pharae&groupId=878&placeId=1582">Pharae</a>, and great sympathy for the misfortunes of the Messenians. But it was regarded as especially outrageous that the Aetolians should have ventured to enter Achaia with an army, contrary to treaty, without obtaining or even asking for permission from any one to pass through the country. Roused to indignation by all these considerations, the assembly voted to give assistance to the Messenians: that the Strategus should summon a general levy of the Achaean arms: and that whatever was decided by this levy, when it met, should be done. Now Timoxenus, the existing Strategus, was just on the point of quitting office, and felt besides small confidence in the Achaeans, because martial exercise had been<pb n="283" />allowed to fall into neglect among them; he therefore shrank from undertaking the expedition, or from even summoning the popular levy.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note17">B. C. 222-221.</note>The fact was that, after the expulsion of Cleomenes, King of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sparta&groupId=660&placeId=1208">Sparta</a>, the Peloponnesians, weary of the wars that had taken place, and trusting to the peaceful arrangement that had been come to, neglected all warlike preparations. Aratus, however, indignant and incensed at the audacity of the Aetolians, was not inclined to take things so calmly, for he had in fact a grudge of long standing against these people. Wherefore he was for instantly summoning the Achaeans to an armed levy, and was all eagerness to attack the Aetolians.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note18">Aratus becomes Strategus of the Achaean league, B. C. 220 (May-June).</note>Eventually he took over from Timoxenus the seal of the league, five days before the proper time, and wrote to the various cities summoning a meeting in arms of all those who were of the military age, at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Megalopolis&groupId=745&placeId=1360">Megalopolis</a>. But the peculiar character of this man, I think, makes it proper for me to give a brief preliminary sketch of him.
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Walbank Commentary