Page:Plutarch's Lives (Clough, v.4, 1865).djvu/494

 486 CLEOMENES. driven, by the necessity he was in, to most unpromising attempts. He was proposing to march to the promontory of Herseum, and thence transport his army in boats to Sicyon, which would take up a great deal of time, and require much preparation and means. But when it was now evening, some of Aratus's friends came from Argos by sea, and invited him to return, for the Argives would revolt from Cleomenes. Aristoteles was the man that wrought the revolt, and he had no hard task to persuade the common people ; for they were all angry with Cle- omenes for not releasing them from their debts as they expected. Accordingly, obtaining fifteen hundred of Antigonus's soldiers, Aratus sailed to Epidaurus ; but Aris- toteles, not staying for his coming, drew out the citizens, and fought against the garrison of the castle ; and Timox- enus, with the Achaeans from Sicyon, came to his assists ance. Cleomenes heard the news about the second watch of the night, and sending for Megistonus, angrily commanded hirn to go and set things right at Argos. Megistonus had passed his word for the Argives' loyalty, and had per- suaded him not to banish the suspected. Therefore, de- spatching him with two thousand soldiers, he himself kept watch upon Antigonus, and encouraged the Corinthians, pretending that there was no great matter in the commo- tions at Argos, but only a little disturbance raised by a few inconsiderable persons. But when Megistonus, enter- ing Argos, was slain, and the garrison could scarce hold out, and frequent messengers came to Cleomenes for suc- cors, he, fearing least the enemy, having taken Argos, should shut up the passes, and securely waste Laconia, and besiege Sparta itself, which he had left without forces, dislodged from Corinth, and immediately lost that city ; for Antigonus entered it, and garrisoned the town. He turned aside from his direct march, and assaulting the