<w lemma="%2Akata%5C">Κατὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="kairou%5Cs">καιροὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Alukou%3Drgos">Λυκοῦργος</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Amesshni%2Fan">Μεσσηνίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29cestrateu%2Fkei">ἐξεστρατεύκει</w>, <w lemma="%2Adwri%2Fmaxos">Δωρίμαχος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="h%28mi%2Fseis">ἡμίσεις</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxwn">ἔχων</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlw%3Dn">Αἰτωλῶν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2Aqettali%2Fan">Θετταλίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29pepoi%2Fhto">ἐπεποίητο</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="o%28rmh%2Fn">ὁρμήν</w>, <w lemma="a%29mfo%2Fteroi">ἀμφότεροι</w> <w lemma="pepeisme%2Fnoi">πεπεισμένοι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Afi%2Flippon">Φίλιππον</w> <w lemma="a%29pospa%2Fsein">ἀποσπάσειν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Apalaie%2Fwn">Παλαιέων</w> <w lemma="poliorki%2Fas">πολιορκίας</w>.
<w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="h%28%3Dkon">ἧκον</w> <w lemma="pre%2Fsbeis">πρέσβεις</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="basile%2Fa">βασιλέα</w> <w lemma="para%2F">παρά</w> <w lemma="t%27">τ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29akarna%2Fnwn">Ἀκαρνάνων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="%2Amesshni%2Fwn">Μεσσηνίων</w>, <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29akarna%2Fnwn">Ἀκαρνάνων</w> <w lemma="parakalou%3Dntes">παρακαλοῦντες</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29mbalei%3Dn">ἐμβαλεῖν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlw%3Dn">Αἰτωλῶν</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fran">χώραν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fn">τόν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="%2Adwri%2Fmaxon">Δωρίμαχον</w> <w lemma="a%29posth%3Dsai">ἀποστῆσαι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedoni%2Fan">Μακεδονίαν</w> <w lemma="o%28rmh%3Ds">ὁρμῆς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fran">χώραν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlw%3Dn">Αἰτωλῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29pelqei%3Dn">ἐπελθεῖν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="porqh%3Dsai">πορθῆσαι</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsan">πᾶσαν</w> <w lemma="a%29dew%3Ds">ἀδεῶς</w>,
<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Amesshni%2Fwn">Μεσσηνίων</w> <w lemma="deo%2Fmenoi">δεόμενοι</w> <w lemma="sfi%2Fsi">σφίσι</w> <w lemma="bohqei%3Dn">βοηθεῖν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dida%2Fskontes">διδάσκοντες</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29thsi%2Fwn">ἐτησίων</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="sta%2Fsin">στάσιν</w> <w lemma="e%29xo%2Fntwn">ἐχόντων</w> <w lemma="dunato%2Fn">δυνατόν</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="parakomidh%5Cn">παρακομιδὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Akefallhni%2Fas">Κεφαλληνίας</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Amesshni%2Fan">Μεσσηνίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fra%7C">ἡμέρᾳ</w> <w lemma="poih%2Fsasqai">ποιήσασθαι</w> <w lemma="mia%3D%7C:">μιᾷ·</w>
<w lemma="dio%2Fper">διόπερ</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Ago%2Frgon">Γόργον</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Amessh%2Fnion">Μεσσήνιον</w> <w lemma="ai%29fni%2Fdion">αἰφνίδιον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pragmatikh%5Cn">πραγματικὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29some%2Fnhn">ἐσομένην</w> <w lemma="suni%2Fstasan">συνίστασαν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Alukou%3Drgon">Λυκοῦργον</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2Fqesin">ἐπίθεσιν</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="%2Aleo%2Fntion">Λεόντιον</w>, <w lemma="throu%3Dntes">τηροῦντες</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3Dn">αὑτῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28po%2Fqesin">ὑπόθεσιν</w>, <w lemma="sunh%2Frgoun">συνήργουν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Ago%2Frgon">Γόργον</w> <w lemma="e%29ktenw%3Ds">ἐκτενῶς</w>, <w lemma="qewrou%3Dntes">θεωροῦντες</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="sumbh%2Fsetai">συμβήσεται</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="qerei%2Fan">θερείαν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fprakton">ἄπρακτον</w> <w lemma="gene%2Fsqai">γενέσθαι</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="%2Afili%2Fppw%7C">Φιλίππῳ</w>. <w lemma="pleu%3Dsai">πλεῦσαι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Amesshni%2Fan">Μεσσηνίαν</w> <w lemma="r%28a%2F%7Cdion">ῥᾴδιον</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w>,
<w lemma="a%29napleu%3Dsai">ἀναπλεῦσαι</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%3Dqen">ἐκεῖθεν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29thsi%2Fwn">ἐτησίων</w> <w lemma="e%29pexo%2Fntwn">ἐπεχόντων</w> <w lemma="a%29du%2Fnaton:">ἀδύνατον·</w>
<w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="ou%28%3D">οὗ</w> <w lemma="dh%3Dlon">δῆλον</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2Afi%2Flippos">Φίλιππος</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="%2Amesshni%2Fa%7C">Μεσσηνίᾳ</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmews">δυνάμεως</w> <w lemma="sugkleisqei%5Cs">συγκλεισθεὶς</w> <w lemma="a%29nagkasqh%2Fsetai">ἀναγκασθήσεται</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="loipo%5Cn">λοιπὸν</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="qe%2Frous">θέρους</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fpraktos">ἄπρακτος</w> <w lemma="me%2Fnein">μένειν</w>, <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twloi%5C">Αἰτωλοὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Aqettali%2Fan">Θετταλίαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fhpeiron">Ἤπειρον</w> <w lemma="e%29piporeuo%2Fmenoi">ἐπιπορευόμενοι</w> <w lemma="katasu%2Frousi">κατασύρουσι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="porqou%3Dsi">πορθοῦσι</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsan">πᾶσαν</w> <w lemma="a%29dew%3Ds">ἀδεῶς</w>.
<w lemma="ou%28%3Dtoi">οὗτοι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="lumewneuo%2Fmenoi">λυμεωνευόμενοι</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toiau%3Dta">τοιαῦτα</w> <w lemma="sunebou%2Fleuon">συνεβούλευον</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="sumparo%2Fntes">συμπαρόντες</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29nanti%2Fas">ἐναντίας</w> <w lemma="proe%2Fstasan">προέστασαν</w> <w lemma="gnw%2Fmhs">γνώμης</w>.
<w lemma="dei%3Dn">δεῖν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffasan">ἔφασαν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twli%2Fan">Αἰτωλίαν</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dsqai">ποιεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="plou%3Dn">πλοῦν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxesqai">ἔχεσθαι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pragma%2Ftwn:">πραγμάτων·</w> <w lemma="e%29cestrateuko%2Ftwn">ἐξεστρατευκότων</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlw%3Dn">Αἰτωλῶν</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="%2Adwrima%2Fxou">Δωριμάχου</w> <w lemma="ka%2Flliston">κάλλιστον</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29pelqei%3Dn">ἐπελθεῖν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="porqh%3Dsai">πορθῆσαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twli%2Fan">Αἰτωλίαν</w>. <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="basileu%2Fs">βασιλεύς</w>,
<w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29pistw%3Dn">ἀπιστῶν</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Aleo%2Fntion">Λεόντιον</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="poliorki%2Fan">πολιορκίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29qelokakh%2Fsews">ἐθελοκακήσεως</w>, <w lemma="sunaisqano%2Fmenos">συναισθανόμενος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="plou%3Dn">πλοῦν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="diabouli%2Fou">διαβουλίου</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="kakopragmosu%2Fnhn">κακοπραγμοσύνην</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fkrine">ἔκρινε</w> <w lemma="xrh%3Dsqai">χρῆσθαι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fgmasi">πράγμασι</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="dio%2Fper">διόπερ</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ephra%2Ftw%7C">Ἐπηράτῳ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fgraye">ἔγραψε</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaiw%3Dn">Ἀχαιῶν</w> <w lemma="strathgw%3D%7C">στρατηγῷ</w> <w lemma="bohqei%3Dn">βοηθεῖν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Amesshni%2Fois">Μεσσηνίοις</w>, <w lemma="a%29nalabo%2Fnti">ἀναλαβόντι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaiou%2Fs">Ἀχαιούς</w>, <w lemma="au%29to%5Cs">αὐτὸς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29naxqei%5Cs">ἀναχθεὶς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Akefallhni%2Fas">Κεφαλληνίας</w> <w lemma="parh%3Dn">παρῆν</w> <w lemma="deuterai%3Dos">δευτεραῖος</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2Aleuka%2Fda">Λευκάδα</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="sto%2Flou">στόλου</w> <w lemma="nukto%2Fs">νυκτός</w>.
<w lemma="eu%29trepisa%2Fmenos">εὐτρεπισάμενος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Adio%2Frukton">Διόρυκτον</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fth%7C">ταύτῃ</w> <w lemma="diakomi%2Fsas">διακομίσας</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="nau%3Ds">ναῦς</w>, <w lemma="e%29poiei%3Dto">ἐποιεῖτο</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%2Fploun">ἀπόπλουν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ambrakiko%5Cn">Ἀμβρακικὸν</w> <w lemma="kalou%2Fmenon">καλούμενον</w> <w lemma="ko%2Flpon">κόλπον</w>.
<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnos">προειρημένος</w> <w lemma="ko%2Flpos">κόλπος</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="polu%5C">πολὺ</w> <w lemma="protei%2Fnwn">προτείνων</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Asikelikou%3D">Σικελικοῦ</w> <w lemma="pela%2Fgous">πελάγους</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="mesogai%2Fous">μεσογαίους</w> <w lemma="a%29nh%2Fkei">ἀνήκει</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twli%2Fas">Αἰτωλίας</w>, <w lemma="kaqa%2Fper">καθάπερ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fteron">πρότερον</w> <w lemma="h%28mi%3Dn">ἡμῖν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Frhtai">εἴρηται</w>.
<w lemma="dianu%2Fsas">διανύσας</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kaqormisqei%5Cs">καθορμισθεὶς</w> <w lemma="braxu%5C">βραχὺ</w> <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fras">ἡμέρας</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="kaloume%2Fnh%7C">καλουμένῃ</w> <w lemma="%2Alimnai%2Fa%7C">Λιμναίᾳ</w>, <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="stratiw%2Ftais">στρατιώταις</w> <w lemma="a%29ristopoiei%3Dsqai">ἀριστοποιεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="parh%2Fggeile">παρήγγειλε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="polu%5C">πολὺ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29poskeuh%3Ds">ἀποσκευῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29poqeme%2Fnous">ἀποθεμένους</w> <w lemma="eu%29zw%2Fnous">εὐζώνους</w> <w lemma="sfa%3Ds">σφᾶς</w> <w lemma="paraskeua%2Fzein">παρασκευάζειν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="a%29nazugh%2Fn">ἀναζυγήν</w>,
<w lemma="au%29to%5Cs">αὐτὸς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="o%28dhgou%5Cs">ὁδηγοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%28qroi%2Fsas">ἁθροίσας</w> <w lemma="ta%2F">τά</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="parakei">παρακει</w>
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<head>Philip Invades Aetolia</head>Meanwhile Lycurgus had invaded <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Messenia&groupId=760&placeId=1380">Messenia</a>; and Dorimachus had started for <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Thessaly&groupId=1028&placeId=1816">Thessaly</a> with half the<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note14">Ambassadors from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Acarnania&groupId=270&placeId=527">Acarnania</a> urge Philip to invade Aetolia; others from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Messenia&groupId=760&placeId=1380">Messenia</a> beg him to come there.</note>Aetolian army,—both with the idea that they would thus draw off Philip from the siege of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Palus&groupId=830&placeId=1500">Palus</a>. Presently ambassadors arrived at the court to make representations on these subjects from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Acarnania&groupId=270&placeId=527">Acarnania</a> and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Messenia&groupId=760&placeId=1380">Messenia</a>: the former urging Philip to prevent Dorimachus's invasion of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Macedonia&groupId=723&placeId=428">Macedonia</a> by himself invading Aetolia, and traversing and plundering the whole country while there was no one to resist him; the latter begged him to come to their assistance, representing that in the<pb n="363" />existing state of the Etesian winds the passage from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Cephallenia&groupId=450&placeId=838">Cephallenia</a> to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Messenia&groupId=760&placeId=1380">Messenia</a> could be effected in a single day, whereby, so Gorgus of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Messenia&groupId=760&placeId=1380">Messenia</a> and his colleagues argued, a sudden and effective attack would be made upon Lycurgus. In pursuance of his policy Leontius eagerly supported Gorgus, seeing that by this means Philip would absolutely waste the summer. For it was easy enough to sail to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Messenia&groupId=760&placeId=1380">Messenia</a>; but to sail back again, while the Etesian winds prevailed, was impossible. It was plain therefore that Philip would get shut up in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Messenia&groupId=760&placeId=1380">Messenia</a> with his army, and remain inactive for what remained of the summer; while the Aetolians would traverse <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Thessaly&groupId=1028&placeId=1816">Thessaly</a> and Epirus and plunder them at their pleasure. Such was the insidious nature of the advice given by Gorgus and Leontius. But Aratus, who was present, advocated an exactly opposite policy, urging the king to sail to Aetolia and devote himself to that part of the campaign: for as the Aetolians had gone on an expedition across the frontier under Dorimachus, it was a most excellent opportunity for invading and plundering Aetolia.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note15">Philip decides on the invasion of Aetolia.</note>The king had begun to entertain distrust of Leontius since his exhibition of cowardice in the siege; and had detected his dishonesty in the course of the discussions held about <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Palus&groupId=830&placeId=1500">Palus</a>: he therefore decided to act in the present instance in accordance with the opinion of Aratus. Accordingly he wrote to the Achaean Strategus Eperatus, bidding him take the Achaean levies, and go to the aid of the Messenians; while he himself put to sea from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Cephallenia&groupId=450&placeId=838">Cephallenia</a>, and arrived at night after a two days' voyage at Leucas: and having managed by proper contrivances to get his ships through the channel or <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Dioryctus&groupId=540&placeId=1015">Dioryctus</a>,<note anchored="yes" place="unspecified" id="note16">The narrow channel between Leucas and the mainland, which had been artificially enlarged. Dionys. Halic. 1, 50.</note>he sailed up the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Ambracian Gulf&groupId=316&placeId=615">Ambracian Gulf</a>, which, as I have already stated,<note anchored="yes" place="unspecified" id="note17">4, 63.</note>stretches from the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sicilian Sea&groupId=972&placeId=1723">Sicilian Sea</a> a long distance into the interior of Aetolia. Having made the whole length of this gulf, and anchored a short time before daybreak at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Limnaea&groupId=691&placeId=1263">Limnaea</a>, he ordered his men to get their breakfast, and leaving the greater part of their baggage behind them, to make themselves ready in light equipment for a march; while he<pb n="364" />himself collected the guides, and made careful inquiries of them about the country and neighbouring towns.
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Walbank Commentary