Page:Plutarch's Lives (Clough, v.5, 1865).djvu/421

 ARATUS. 413 he anticipated the proper term by five days, that he might bring relief to the Messenians. And mustering the Achaeans, who were both in their persons unexercised in arms and in their minds rehixed and averse to war, he met with a defeat at Cajihyog. Having thus begun the war, as it seemed, with too much heat and passion, he then ran into the other extreme, coohng again and des- ponding so much, that he let pass and overlooked many fair opportunities of advantage given by the ^tolians, and allowed them to run riot, as it were, throughout all Peloponnesus, with all manner of insolence and licen- tiousness. Wherefore, holding forth their hands once more to the Macedonians, they invited and drew in Philip to intermeddle in the affairs of Greece, chiefly hoping, because of his affection and trust that he felt for Aratus, they should find him easy-tempei'ed, and ready to be managed as they pleased. But the king, being now persuaded by Apelles, Me- galeas, and other courtiers, that endeavored to ruin the credit Aratus had with him, took the side of the contrary faction, and joined them in canvassing to have Eperatus chosen general by the Achseans. But he being alto- gether scorned by the Achajans, and, for the want of Ara- tus to help, all things going wrong, Philip saw he had quite mistaken his part, and, turning about and reconciling himself to Aratus, he was wholly his ; and his affiiirs now going on favorably both for his power and reputation, he depended upon him altogether as the author of all his gains in both respects ; Aratus hereby giving a proof to the world that he was as good a nursing father of a king- dom as he had been of a democracy, for the actions of the king had in them the touch and color of his judgment and character. The moderation which the young man showed to the Lacedtemonians, who had incurred his dis- pleasure, and his affability to the Cretans, by which in a