Page:Plutarch's Lives (Clough, v.5, 1865).djvu/415

 AEATUS. 407 but he was now deserted on all hands, helpless and over- powered, drifting about amidst the waves and danger on the shattered hulk of his native city. For the ^tolians, whom he applied to, declined to assist him in his distress, and the Athenians, who were well affected to him, were diverted from lending him any succor by the authority of Euclides and Micion. Now whereas he had a house and property in Corinth, Cleomenes meddled not with it, nor suffered anybody else to do so, but calling for his friends and agents, he bade them hold themselves respon- sible to Aratus for every thing, as to him they would have to render their a,ccount; and privately he sent to him Tripylus, and afterwards Megistonus, his own step- father, to offer him, besides several other things, a yearly pension of twelve talents, which was twice as much as Ptolemy allowed him, for he gave him six ; and all that he demanded was to be declared* commander of the Achaaans, and together with them to have the keeping of the citadel of Corinth. To which Aratus returning answer that affixirs were not so properly in his power as he was in the power of them, Cleomenes, believing this a mere evasion, immediately entered the country of Sicyon, destroying all with fire and sword, and besieged the city three months, whilst Aratus held firm, and was in dispute with himself whether he should call in Antigonus upon condition of delivering up the citadel of Corinth to him ; for he would not lend him assistance upon any other terms. In the mean time the Achoeans assembled at ^Egium, and called for Aratus; but it was very hazardous for him to pass thither, while Cleomenes was encamped before Sicyon ; besides, the citizens endeavored to stop him by their entreaties, protesting that they would not suffer him to expose himself to so evident danger, the enemy being so near ; the women, also, and children