Ah me, when the mallows wither in the garden, and the green parsley, and the curled
tendrils
of the anise, on a later day they live again, and spring in another year; but we men, we the great and mighty or wise, when once we have died, in hollow earth we sleep, gone down into silence; a right long, and endless, and unawakening sleep.
Universal Anthology - v04
A fable, we have perished utterly.
This is my true speech to you ; but if you want the pleasant style of speech, the Pel- laean's great ox is in the shades.
(That is, I can lie to you as well about the immortality of cattle as of men.
)
Oft mourn the Samian maids that passed away Is witty Crethis, graceful in her play,
A fellow-worker brightening all the day,
And free of speech ; but here she soundly sleeps The slumber fate for every mortal keeps.
Would there had never been swift ships : for then we would not lament for Sopolis, son of Dioclides. But now he drifts a corse somewhere in the sea, and in his stead we pass by a name and a cenotaph.
At dawn we were burying Menalippus, and at sunset the maiden Basilo died by her own hand. For she had not the heart to live, when she had placed her brother in the flame. So the house of their sire Aristippus saw a double woe ; and
EPIGRAMS AND EPITAPHS OF CALLIMACHUS. 371
all Cyrene was downcast, when it saw the house of persons happy in their children bereaved.
From small means I had a light subsistence, neither doing aught ill, nor wronging any one. O dear earth, if I, Micilus, have commended aught that is bad, neither do thou lie light on me, nor ye other gods, who hold me.
The three-years-old Astyanax, while sporting round about a well, a mute image of a form drew in to itself. And from the water the mother snatched her drenched boy, examining whether he had any portion of life. But the infant did not defile the Nymphs, for, hushed on the lap of his mother, he sleeps his deep sleep.
Worn out with age and poverty, and no man outstretching a contribution for misfortune, I have come into my tomb by degrees with my trembling limbs. With difficulty have I found the goal of a troublous life. And in my case the cus tom of the dead hath been changed. For I did not die first, and then was buried ; but was buried, and then died.
Bid me not hail, bad heart, but pass on. Thy not laughing is equal joy to me.
The hunter, O Epicydes, hunts on the mountain crag
For hare and trail of antelope — versed in the rime and the snow;
But if any one call to him, " Here is a stricken and dying stag," He scorns the helpless quarry and lets the vantage go.
Such is my love : it is apt at pursuing what flies it most fleet,
But hastens, unheeding its gain, past the captive that lies at its feet.
May you sleep, Conopium, Flinty-hearted maiden,
As at this cold vestibule
You leave me serenading !
May you sleep, you wicked girl, The sleep you give your lover :
Pity even in a dream You cannot discover !
Neighbors pity, but not you, Even in your slumber :
Soon, though, you'll remember this When gray hairs you number !
372 THE VOYAGE OF THE AKGO.
THE VOYAGE OF THE ARGO. By APOLLONIUS BHODIUS.
[Apollohius was born about b. c. 236, at Alexandria or its neighbor Nau- cratis. He studied under Callimachus ; they quarreled and lampooned each other bitterly, and the superior prestige of the master prevented the pupil's work from"gaining recognition ; the latter then removed to Rhodes (whence his nickname The Rhodian "), was at once acknowledged the best poet of his day, and later returned famous to Alexandria, becoming librarian of"the great royal museum there. He died in 181. His chief surviving work is the Argonautica," an epic on the search for the Golden Fleece, imitating Homer with much grace
and force. ]
The Harpies.
Here Phineus, son of Agenor, had his home beside the sea ; he who, by reason of the divination that the son of Leto granted him aforetime, suffered most awful woes, far beyond all men ; for not one jot did he regard even Zeus himself, in foretelling the sacred purpose to men unerringly. Wherefore Zeus granted him a weary length of days, but reft his eyes of the sweet light, nor suffered him to have any joy of all the countless gifts, which those, who dwelt around and sought to him for oracles, were ever bringing to his house. But suddenly through the clouds the Harpies darted nigh, and kept snatching them from his mouth or hands in their talons. Sometimes never a morsel of food was left him, sometimes a scrap, that he might live and suffer. And upon his food they spread a fetid stench ; and none could endure to bring food to his mouth, but stood afar
off ; so foul a reek breathed from the remnants of his meal. At once, when he heard the sound and noise of a company, he per ceived that they were the very men now passing by, at whose coming an oracle from Zeus had said that he should enjoy his food. Up from his couch he rose, as it were, a lifeless phan tom, and, leaning on his staff, came to the door on his wrinkled feet, feeling his way along the walls ; and, as he went, his limbs trembled from weakness and age, and his skin was dry and caked with filth, and naught but the skin held his bones together. So he came forth from his hall, and sat down with heavy knees on the threshold of the court, and a dark mantle wrapped him, and seemed to sweep the ground below all round ; and there he sank with never a word, in strengthless lethargy.
But they, when they saw him, gathered round, and were astonied. And he, drawing a labored breath from the bottom
THE VOYAGE OF THE ARGO. 373
of his chest, took up his parable for them and said : " Hearken, choice sons of all the Hellenes, if 'tis you in very truth, whom now Jason, at the king's chill bidding, is leading on the ship Argo to fetch the fleece. 'Tis surely you. Still doth my mind know each thing by its divining. Wherefore to thee, my prince, thou son of Leto, do I give thanks even in my cruel sufferings. By Zeus, the god of suppliants, most awful god to sinful men, for Phoebus' sake and for the sake of Hera herself, who before all other gods hath had you in her keeping as ye came, help me, I implore ; rescue a hapless wretch from misery, and do not heedlessly go hence and leave me thus. For not only hath the avenging fiend set his heel upon my eyes, not only do I drag out to the end a tedious old age, but yet another most bitter pain is added to the tale. Harpies, swooping from some unseen den of destruction, that I see not, do snatch the food from my mouth. And I have no plan to help me. But lightly would my mind forget her longing for a meal, or the thought of them, so quickly fly they through the air. But as happens at times, they leave me some scrap of food, noisome stench hath, and smell too strong to bear, nor could any mortal man draw nigh and bear even for little while, no, not though his heart were forged of adamant. But me, God wot, doth ne cessity, cruel and insatiate, constrain to abide, and abiding to put such food in my miserable belly. Them 'tis heaven's decree that the sons of Boreas shall check and they shall ward them off, for they are my kinsmen, indeed am that Phineus, who in days gone by had name amongst men for my wealth and divination, whom Agenor, my sire, begat their sister Cleo patra did bring to my house as wife with gifts of wooing,
what time ruled among the Thracians. "
So spake the son of Agenor and deep sorrow took hold on
each of the heroes, but specially on the two sons of Boreas. But they wiped away tear and drew nigh, and thus spake Zetes, taking in his the hand of the suffering old man " Ah poor sufferer, methinks there no other man more wretched than thee. Why that such woes have fastened on thee Is that thou hast sinned against the gods in deadly folly through thy skill in divination Wherefore are they so greatly wroth against thee Lo our heart within us sorely bewildered, though we yearn to help thee, in very truth the god hath re served for us twain this honor. For plain to see are the rebukes that the immortals send on us men of earth. Nor will we check
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374 THE VOYAGE OF THE ARGO.
the coming of the Harpies, for all our eagerness, till that thou swear that we shall not fall from heaven's favor in return for this. " So spake he, and straight that aged man opened his sightless eyes and lifted them up, and thus made answer : " Hush ! remind me not of those things, my son. The son of Leto be my witness, who of his kindness taught me divination; be witness that ill-omened fate, that is my lot, and this dark cloud upon my eyes, and the gods below, whose favor may I never find if I die perjured thus, that there shall come no wrath from heaven on you by reason of your aid. "
Then were those twain eager to help him by reason of the oath, and quickly did the young men make ready a feast for the old man, a last booty for the Harpies ; and the two stood near to strike them with their swords as they swooped down. Soon as ever that aged man did touch the food, down rushed those Harpies with whir of wings at once, eager for the food, like grievous blasts, or like lightning darting suddenly from the clouds ; but those heroes, when they saw them in mid air, shouted ; and they at the noise sped off afar across the sea af ter they had devoured everything, but behind them was left an intolerable stench. And the two sons of Boreas started in pur suit of them with their swords drawn ; for Zeus inspired them with tireless courage, and 'twas not without the will of Zeus that they followed them, for they would dart past the breath of the west wind, what time they went to and from Phineus. As when upon the hilltops dogs skilled in the chase run on the track of horned goats or deer, and, straining at full speed just behind, in vain do gnash their teeth upon their lips ; even so Zetes and Calais, darting very nigh to them, in vain grazed them with their finger tips. And now, I trow, they would have torn them in pieces against the will of the gods on the floating islands, after they had come afar, had not swift Iris seen them, and darting down from the clear heaven above stayed them with this word of rebuke, " Ye sons of Boreas, 'tis not ordained that ye should slay the Harpies, the hounds of mighty Zeus, with your swords ; but I, even I, will give you an oath that they will come no more nigh him. "
Therewith she sware by the stream of Styx, most dire and awful oath for all the gods, that these should never again draw near unto the house of Phineus, son of Agenor, for even so was it fated. So they yielded to her oath and turned to hasten back to the ship.
THE VOYAGE OF THE ARGO. 375
The Symplegades.
After this, when they had built an altar to the twelve blessed gods on the edge of the sea opposite, and had offered sacrifice upon it, they went aboard their swift ship to row away ; nor did they forget to take with them a timorous dove, but Euphemus clutched her in his hand, cowering with terror, and carried her along, and they loosed their double cables from the shore.
Nor, I ween, had they started, ere Athene was ware of them, and forthwith and hastily she stepped upon a light cloud, which should bear her at once for all her weight; and she hasted on her way seaward, with kindly intent to the rowers. As when a man goes wandering from his country, as oft we men do wander in our hardihood, and there is no land too far away, for every path lies open before his eyes, when lo ! he seeth in his mind his own home, and withal there appeareth a way to it over land or over sea, and keenly he pondereth this way and that, and searcheth it out with his eyes ; even so the daughter of Zeus, swiftly darting on, set foot upon the cheer less strand of Thynia.
Now they, when they came to the strait of the winding pas sage, walled in with beetling crags on either side, while an eddying current from below washed up against the ship as it went on its way ; and on they went in grievous fear, and already on their ears the thud of clashing rocks smote unceas ingly, and the dripping cliffs roared; in that very hour the hero Euphemus clutched the dove in his hand, and went to take his stand upon the prow; while they, at the bidding of Tiphys, son of Hagnias, rowed with a will, that they might drive right through the rocks, trusting in their might. And as they rounded a bend, they saw those rocks opening for the last time of all. And their spirit melted at the sight ; but the hero Euphemus sent forth the dove to dart through on her wings, and they, one and all, lifted up their heads to see, and she sped through them, but at once the two rocks met again with a clash ; and the foam leaped up in a seething mass like a cloud, and grimly roared the sea, and all around the great firmament bellowed. And the hollow caves echoed beneath the rugged rocks as the sea went surging in, and high on the cliffs was the white spray vomited as the billow dashed upon them. Then did the current spin the ship round. And the
376 THE VOYAGE OF THE ARGO.
rocks cut off just the tail feathers of the dove, but she darted away unhurt. And loudly the rowers cheered, but Tiphys himself shouted to them to row lustily, for once more the rocks were opening. Then came trembling on them as they rowed, until the wave with its returning wash came and bore the ship within the rocks. Thereon most awful fear seized on all, for above their head was death with no escape ; and now on this side and on that lay broad Pontus to their view, when sud denly in front rose up a mighty arching wave, like to a steep hill, and they bowed down their heads at the sight. For it seemed as if it must indeed leap down and whelm the ship entirely. But Tiphys was quick to ease her as she labored to the rowing, and the wave rolled with all his force beneath the keel, and lifted up the ship herself from underneath, far from the rocks, and high on the crest of the billow she was borne. Then did Euphemus go amongst all the crew, and call to them to lay on to their oars with all their might, and they smote the water at his cry. So she sprang forward twice as far as any other ship would have yielded to rowers, and the oars bent like curved bows as the heroes strained. In that instant the vaulted wave was past them, and she at once was riding over the furious billow like a roller, plunging headlong forward o'er the trough of the sea. But the eddying current stayed the ship in the midst of " the Clashers," and they quaked on either side, and thundered, and the ship timbers throbbed. Then did Athene with her left hand hold the stubborn rock apart, while with her right she thrust them through upon their course ; and the ship shot through the air like a winged arrow. Yet the rocks, ceaselessly dashing together, crushed off, in passing, the tip of the carved stern. And Athene sped back to Olympus, when they were escaped unhurt. But the rocks closed up together, rooted firm forever ; even so was it decreed by the blessed gods, whenso a man should have passed through alive in his ship.
The Flight of Medea.
iEetes amongst the chosen captains of his people was devising sheer treachery against the heroes all night in his halls, in wild fury at the sorry ending of the contest; and he was very sure, that angry sire, that these things were not being accomplished without the aid of his own daughters.
THE VOYAGE OF THE ARGO.
377
But upon Medea's heart Hera cast most grievous fear, and she trembled, like some nimble fawn, which the barking of hounds hath frighted in the thickets of a deep woodland. For anon she thought that of a surety her help would never escape her father's eye, and right soon would she fill up her cup of bitterness. And she terrified her handmaids, who were privy thereto; and her eyes were full of fire, and in her ears there rang a fearful sound; and oft would she clutch at her throat, and oft tear the hair upon her head and groan in sore anguish. Yea, and in that hour would the maid have overleaped her doom and died of a poisoned cup, bringing to naught the plans of Hera; but the goddess drove her in panic to fly with the sons of Phrixus. And her fluttering heart was comforted within her. So she in eager haste poured from the casket all her drugs at once into the folds of her bosom. And she kissed her bed and the posts of the doors on either side, and stroked the walls fondly, and with her hand cut off one long tress and left it in her chamber, a memorial of her girlish days for her mother; then with a voice all choked with sobs she wept aloud:
So spake she, and from her eyes poured forth a flood of tears. Even as a captive maid stealeth forth from a wealthy house, one whom fate hath lately reft from her country, and as yet knoweth she naught of grievous toil, but a stranger to misery and slavish tasks, she cometh in terror 'neath the cruel hands of a mistress ; like her the lovely maiden stole forth swiftly from her home. And the bolts of the doors yielded of their own accord to her touch, springing back at her hurried spells. With bare feet she sped along the narrow paths, drawing her robe with her left hand over her brows to veil her face and fair cheeks, while with her right hand she lifted up the hem of her garment. Swiftly along the unseen track she came in her terror outside the towers of the spacious town, and none of the guard marked her, for she sped on and they knew it not. Then marked she well her way unto the temple, for she was not ignorant of the paths, having wandered thither oft aforetime in quest of corpses and the noxious roots of the earth, as a sorceress must ; yet did her heart quake with fear
I leave thee here this one long tress
" Ah, mother mine !
instead of me, and go; so take this last farewell as I go far from hence ; farewell, Chalciope, farewell to all my home ! Would that the sea had dashed thee, stranger, in pieces, or ever thou didst reach the Colchian land ! "
378
THE VOYAGE OF THE ARGO.
and trembling. Now Titania, goddess of the moon, as she sailed up the distant sky, caught sight of that maid distraught, and savagely she exulted o'er her in words like these ; " So I am not the only one to wander to the cave on Latmos ; not I alone burn with love for fair Endymion ! How oft have I gone hence before thy cunning spells, with thoughts of love, that thou mightest work in peace, in the pitchy night, the sorceries so dear to thee. And now, I trow, hast thou too found a like sad fate, and some god or sorrow hath given thee thy Jason for a very troublous grief. Well, go thy way ; yet steel thy heart"to take up her load of bitter woe, for all thy understanding.
So spake she ; but her feet bare that other hasting on her way. Right glad was she to climb the river's high banks, and see before her the blazing fire, which all night long the heroes kept up in joy for the issue of the enterprise. Then through the gloom, with piercing voice, she called aloud to Phrontis, youngest of the sons of Phrixus, from the further bank ; and he, with his brethren and the son of jEson too, deemed it was his sister's voice, and the crew marveled silently, when they knew what it really was. Thrice she lifted up her voice, and thrice at the bidding of his company cried Phrontis in answer to her ; and those heroes the while rowed swiftly over to fetch her. Not yet would they cast the ship's hawsers on the mainland, but the hero Jason leaped quickly ashore from the deck above, and with him Phrontis and Argus, two sons of Phrixus, also sprang to land; then did she " clasp them by the knees with both her hands, and spake : Save me, friends, me most miserable, ay, and your selves as well from JEetes. For ere now all is discovered, and no remedy cometh. Nay, let us fly abroad the ship, before he mount his swift horses. And I will give you the golden fleece, when I have lulled the guardian snake to rest ; but thou, stranger, now amongst thy comrades take heaven to witness to the promises thou didst make me, and make me not to go away from hence in scorn and shame, for want of friends. "
So spake she in her sore distress, and the heart of the son of jEson was very glad ; at once he gently raised her up, where she was fallen at his knees, and took her in his arms and comforted her: "God help thee, lady ! Be Zeus of Olympus himself witness of mine oath, and Hera, queen of marriage,
LAMENT FOR BION. 379
bride of Zeus, that I will of a truth establish thee as my wedded wife in my house, when we are come on our return to the land of Hellas. "
So spake he, and therewith clasped her right hand in his own. Then bade she them row the swift ship with all speed unto the sacred grove, that they might take the fleece and bear it away against the will of JEetes, while yet it was night. Without delay deeds followed words ; for they made her embark, and at once thrust out the ship from the shore ; and loud was the din, as the heroes strained at their oars. But she, starting back, stretched her hands wildly to the shore; but Jason cheered her with words, and stayed her in her sore grief.
LAMENT FOR BION. By MOSCHUS. (Translated by Andrew Lang).
[Moschus was a poet of the school of Theocritus, born at Syracuse, and probably a pupil of Bion, and flourished about b. c. 200 ; only four of his idyls are extant. ]
Wail, let me hear you wail, ye woodland glades, and thou Dorian water; and weep ye rivers, for Bion, the well beloved! Now all ye green things mourn, and now ye groves lament him, ye flowers now in sad clusters breathe yourselves away. Now redden ye roses in your sorrow, and now wax red ye wind- flowers, now thou hyacinth, whisper the letters on the graven, and add a deeper ai ai to thy petals; he is dead, the beautiful singer.
Begin, ye Sicilian Muses, begin the dirge.
Ye nightingales that lament among the thick leaves of the trees, tell ye to the Sicilian waters of Arethusa the tidings that Bion the herdsman is dead, and that with Bion song too has died, and perished hath the Dorian minstrelsy.
Begin, ye Sicilian Muses, begin the dirge.
Ye Strymonian swans, sadly wail ye by the waters, and chant with melancholy notes the dolorous song, even such a song as in his time with voice like yours he was wont to sing. And
380 LAMENT FOR BION.
tell again to the CEagrian maidens, tell to all the Nymphs Bis- tonian, how that he hath perished, the Dorian Orpheus.
Begin, ye Sicilian Mases, begin the dirge.
No more to his herds he sings, that beloved herdsman, no more 'neath the lonely oaks he sits and sings, nay, but by Plu- teus's side he chants a refrain of oblivion. The mountains too are voiceless and the heifers that wander by the bulls lament and refuse their pasture.
Begin, ye Sicilian Muses, begin the dirge.
Thy sudden doom, O Bion, Apollo himself lamented, and the Satyrs mourned thee, and the Priapi in sable raiment, and the Panes sorrow for thy song, and the fountain fairies in the wood made moan, and their tears turned to rivers of waters. And Echo in the rocks laments that thou art silent, and no more she mimics thy voice. And in sorrow for thy fall the trees cast down their fruit, and all the flowers have faded. From the ewes hath flowed no fair milk, nor honey from the hives, nay, it hath perished for mere sorrow in the wax, for now hath thy honey perished, and no more it behooves men to gather the honey of the bees.
Begin, ye Sicilian Muses, begin the dirge.
Not so much did the dolphin mourn beside the sea-banks, nor ever sang so sweet the nightingale on the cliffs, nor so much lamented the swallow on the long ranges of the hills, nor shrilled so loud the halcyon o'er his sorrows.
Begin, ye Sicilian Muses, begin the dirge.
Nor so much, by the gray sea waves, did ever the sea bird sing, nor so much in the dells of dawn did the bird of Memnon bewail the son of the Morning, fluttering around his tomb, as
they lamented for Bion dead.
Nightingales, and all the swallows that once he was wont to
delight, that he would teach to speak, they sat over against each other on the boughs and kept moaning, and the birds sang in answer, " Wail, ye wretched ones, even ye ! "
Begin, ye Sicilian Muses, begin the dirge.
Who, ah, who will ever make music on thy pipe, O thrice desired Bion, and who will put his mouth to the reeds of thine
instrument? who is so bold?
For still thy lips and still thy breath survive, and Echo,
among the reeds, doth still feed upon thy songs. To Pan shall I bear the pipe? Nay, perchance even he would fear to set
LAMENT FOR BION. 381 his mouth to it, lest, after thee, he should win but the second
prize.
Begin, ye Sicilian Muses, begin the dirge.
Yea, and Galatea laments thy song, she whom once thou wouldst delight, as with thee she sat by the sea-banks. For not like the Cyclops didst thou sing, — him fair Galatea ever fled, but on thee she still looked more kindly than on the salt water. And now hath she forgotten the wave, and sits on the lonely sands, but still she keeps thy kine.
Begin, ye Sicilian Muses, begin the dirge.
All the gifts of the Muses, herdsman, have died with thee, the delightful kisses of maidens, the lips of boys ; and woful round thy tomb the loves are weeping. But Cypris loves thee far more than the kiss wherewith she kissed the dying Adonis.
Begin, ye Sicilian Muses, begin the dirge.
This, O most musical of rivers, is thy second sorrow, this, Meles, thy new woe. Of old didst thou lose Homer, that sweet mouth of Calliope, and men say thou didst bewail thy goodly son with streams of many tears, and didst fill all the salt sea with the voice of thy lamentation — now again another son thou weepest, and in a new sorrow art thou wasting away.
Begin, ye Sicilian Muses, begin the dirge.
Both were beloved of the fountains, and one ever drank of the Pegasean fount, but the other would drain a draught of Arethusa. And the one sang the fair daughter of Tyndarus, and the mighty son of Thetis, and Menelaus, Atreus's son, but that other, —not of wars, not of tears, but of Pan, would he sing, and of herdsmen would he chant, and so singing, he tended the herds. And pipes he would fashion, and would milk the sweet heifer, and taught lads how to kiss, and Love he cherished in his bosom and woke the passion of Aphrodite.
Begin, ye Sicilian Muses, begin the dirge.
Every famous city laments thee, Bion, and all the towns. Ascra laments thee far more than her Hesiod, and Pindar is less regretted by the forests of Boeotia. Nor so much did pleasant Lesbos mourn for Alcaeus, nor did the Teian town so greatly bewail her poet, while for thee more than for Archilochus doth Paros yearn, and not for Sappho, but still for thee doth Myti- lene wail her musical lament ;
[Here seven verses are lost. ]
382 LAMENT FOR BION.
And in Syracuse Theocritus; but I sing thee the dirge of an Ausonian sorrow, I that am no stranger to the pastoral song, but heir of the Doric Muse which thou didst teach thy pupils. This was thy gift to me; to others didst thou leave thy wealth, to me thy minstrelsy.
Begin, ye Sicilian Muses, begin the dirge.
Ah me, when the mallows wither in the garden, and the green parsley, and the curled tendrils of the anise, on a later day they live again, and spring in another year; but we men, we the great and mighty or wise, when once we have died, in hollow earth we sleep, gone down into silence; a right long, and endless, and unawakening sleep. And thou, too, in the earth will be lapped in silence, but the nymphs have thought good that the frog should eternally sing. Nay, him I would not envy, for 'tis no sweet song he singeth.
Begin, ye Sicilian Muses, begin the dirge.
Poison came, Bion, to thy mouth, thou didst know poison. To such lips as thine did it come, and was not sweetened? What mortal was so cruel that could mix poison for thee, or who could give thee the venom that heard thy voice ? surely he had no music in his soul.
Begin, ye Sicilian Muses, begin the dirge.
But justice hath overtaken them all. Still for this sorrow I weep, and bewail thy ruin. But ah, if I might have gone down like Orpheus to Tartarus, or as once Odysseus, or Alcides of yore, I, too, would speedily have come to the house of Plu- teus, that thee perchance I might behold, and if thou singest to Pluteus, that I might hear what is thy song. Nay, sing to the Maiden some strain of Sicily, sing some sweet pastoral lay.
And she too is Sicilian, and on the shores by Mtn& she was wont to play, and she knew the Dorian strain. Not unre warded will the singing be; and as once to Orpheus's sweet minstrelsy she gave Eurydice to return with him, even so will she send thee too, Bion, to the hills. But if I, even I, and my piping had aught availed, before Pluteus I too would have sung.
LEADERS AND FORTUNES OF THE ACILEAN LEAGUE. 383
LEADERS AND FORTUNES OF THE ACH^AN LEAGUE.
By POLYBIUS. (Translated by E. S. Shuckburgh. )
[Poltbius, born b. c. 204, was son of Lycortas, a leader of the Achaean League in its latter days, and himself was one of its active officials from youth. In b. c. 167 the Romans deported him to Italy as one of a thousand political prison ers and kept him there sixteen years. He, however, became tutor to the sons of -5Smilius Paulus, the conqueror of Macedonia, one of whom by adoption was the younger Scipio ; and so gained the high respect and friendship of the Scipio circle and all the foremost men in Rome, which he served in political and mili tary capacities. In b. c. 151 he returned to Greece, and as commissioner after its conquest in b. c. 146 gained perhaps better terms for it. He died about b. c. 122. His great literary work was the "Histories" of Roman affairs from the beginning of the Hannibalic war (b. c. 220) to the final crushing of Greece and Carthage (b. c. 146), with a lengthy introduction on the Achaean League and other matters. Only five of its forty books are preserved in full, with several long fragments of others. ]
When at length the country did obtain leaders of suffi cient ability, it quickly manifested its intrinsic excellence by the accomplishment of that most glorious achievement, — the union of the Peloponnese. The originator of this policy in the first instance was Aratus of Sicyon ; its active promotion and con summation was due to Philopoemen of Megalopolis ; while Lycortas and his party must be looked upon as the authors of the permanence which it enjoyed.
For the first twenty-five years of the league, a secretary and two strategi for the whole union were elected by each city in turn. But after this period they determined to appoint one strategus only, and put the entire management of the affairs of the union in his hands. The first to obtain this honor was Margos of Caryneia (b. c. 255-254). In the fourth year after this man's tenure of the office, Aratus of Sicyon (born 271) caused his city to join the league, which, by his energy and courage, he had, when only twenty years of age, delivered from the yoke of its tyrant. In the eighth year again after this, Aratus, being elected strategus for the second time, laid a plot to seize the Acrocorinthus, then held by Antigonus ; and by his success freed the inhabitants of the Peloponnese from a source of serious alarm : and having thus
384 LEADERS AND FORTUNES OF THE ACILEAN LEAGUE.
liberated Corinth, he caused it to join the league. In his same term of office, he got Megara into his hands, and caused it to join also. These events occurred in the year before the decisive defeat of the Carthaginians (b. c. 241), in consequence of which they evacuated Sicily and consented for the first time to pay tribute to Rome.
Having made this remarkable progress in his design in so short a time, Aratus continued thenceforth in the position of leader of the Achaean League, and in the consistent direction of his whole policy to one single end: which was to expel Macedonians from the Peloponnese, to depose the despots, and to establish in each state the common freedom which their ancestors had enjoyed before them. So long, therefore, as Antigonus Gonatas was alive, he maintained a continual opposition to his interference, as well as to the encroaching spirit of the JStolians, and in both cases with signal skill and success ; although their presumption and contempt for jus tice had risen to such a pitch that they had actually made a formal compact with each other for the disruption of the Achaeans.
After the death of Antigonus, however, the Achaeans made terms with the iEtolians, and joined them energetically in the war against Demetrius; and, in place of the feelings of estrangement and hostility, there gradually grew up a senti ment of brotherhood and affection between the two peoples. Upon the death of Demetrius (B. C. 229), after a reign of only ten years, just about the time of the first invasion of Illyri- cum by the Romans, the Achaeans had a most excellent oppor tunity of establishing the policy which they had all along maintained. For the despots in the Peloponnese were in despair at the death of Demetrius. It was the loss to them of their chief supporter and paymaster. And now Aratus was forever impressing upon them that they ought to abdi cate, holding out rewards and honors for those of them who consented, and threatening those who refused with still greater vengeance from the Achaeans. There was therefore a general movement among them to voluntarily restore their several states to freedom and to join the league. I ought, however, to say that Ludiades of Megalopolis, in the lifetime of Deme trius, of his own deliberate choice, and foreseeing with great shrewdness and good sense what was going to happen, had abdicated his sovereignty and become a citizen of the national
LEADERS AND FORTUNES OF THE ACH^AN LEAGUE. 385
league. His example was followed by Aristomachus, tyrant of Argos, Xeno of Hermione, and Cleonymus of Phlius, who all likewise abdicated and joined the democratic league.
But the increased power and national advancement which these events brought to the Achaeans excited the envy of the ^tolians; who, besides their natural inclination to unjust and selfish aggrandizement, were inspired with the hope of breaking up the union of Achaean states, as they had before succeeded in partitioning those of Acarnania with Alexander, and had planned to do those of Achaia with Antigonus Gonatas. Instigated once more by similar expectations, they had now the assurance to enter into communication and close alliance at once with Antigonus (Doson — acceded B. C. 229)
(at that time ruling Macedonia as guardian of the young King Philip), and with Cleomenes, King of Sparta. They
saw that Antigonus had undisputed possession of the throne of Macedonia, while he was an open and avowed enemy of the Achaeans, owing to the surprise of the Acrocorinthus ; and they supposed that if they could get the Lacedaemonians to join them in their hostility to the league, they would easily subdue by selecting a favorable opportunity for their attack, and securing that should be assaulted on all sides at once. And they would in all probability have succeeded, but that they had left out the most important element in the calculation, namely, that in Aratus they had to reckon with an opponent to their plans of ability equal to almost any emergency. Accordingly, when they attempted this violent and unjust interference in Achaia, so far from succeeding in any of their devices, they, on the contrary, strengthened Aratus, the then president of the league, as well as the league itself. So consummate was the ability with which he foiled their plan and reduced them to impotence. The manner in which this was done will be made clear in what am about to relate.
There could be no doubt of the policy of the -35tolians. They were ashamed indeed to attack the Achaeans openly, be cause they could not ignore their recent obligations to them in the war with Demetrius but they were plotting with the Lace daemonians and showed their jealousy of the Achieans by not only conniving at the treacherous attack of Cleomenes upon Tegea, Mantinea, and Orchomenus (cities not only in alliance with them, but actually members of their league), but by con-
vol. iv. — 25
;
:
I
it
it,
386 LEADERS AND FORTUNES OF THE ACH^AN LEAGUE.
firming his occupation of those places. In old times they had thought almost any excuse good enough to justify an appeal to arms against those who, after all, had done them no wrong ; yet they now allowed themselves to be treated with such treachery, and submitted without remonstrance to the loss of the most im portant towns, solely with the view of creating in Cleomenes a formidable antagonist to the Achaeans. These facts were not lost upon Aratus and the other officers of the league ; and they resolved that without taking the initiative in going to war with any one, they would resist the attempts of the Lacedaemonians. Such was their determination, and for a time they persisted in it ; but immediately afterwards Cleomenes began to build the hostile fort in the territory of Megalopolis, called the Athe naeum, and showed an undisguised and bitter hostility. Aratus and his colleagues accordingly summoned a meeting of the league, and it was decided to proclaim war openly against Sparta.
[Aratus gave up to Antigonus the citadel of Corinth, making him master of Greece ; and Cleomenes was defeated at Sellasia. ]
This was the origin of what is called the Cleomenic War. At first the Achaeans were for depending on their own re sources for facing the Lacedaemonians. They looked upon it as more honorable not to look to others for preservation, but to guard their own territory and cities themselves ; and at the same time the remembrances of his former services made them desirous of keeping up their friendship with Ptolemy (Euerge- tes, B. C. 247-222), and averse from the appearance of seeking aid elsewhere. But when the war had lasted some time, and Cleomenes had revolutionized the constitution of his country, and had turned its constitutional monarchy into a despotism, and, moreover, was conducting the war with extraordinary skill and boldness, seeing clearly what would happen, and fear ing the reckless audacity of the jEtolians, Aratus determined that his first duty was to be well beforehand in frustrating their plans. He satisfied himself that Antigonus was a man of ac tivity and practical ability, with some pretensions to the charac ter of a man of honor ; he however knew perfectly well that kings look on no man as a friend or foe from personal consid erations, but ever measure friendships and enmities solely by the standard of expediency. He therefore conceived the idea
LEADERS AND FORTUNES OF THE ACH. EAN LEAGUE. 387
of addressing himself to this monarch, and entering into friendly relations with him, taking occasion to point out to him the cer tain result of his present policy. But to act openly in this mat ter he thought inexpedient for several reasons. By doing so he would not only incur the opposition of Cleomenes and the JEtolians, but would cause consternation among the Achaeans themselves, because his appeal to their enemies would give the impression that he had abandoned all the hopes he once had in them. This was the very last idea he desired should go abroad; and he therefore determined to conduct this intrigue in secrecy.
The Battle of Sellasia, b. o. 221.
Cleomenes had expected the attack, and had secured the passes into the country by posting garrisons, digging trenches, and felling trees ; while he took up position at a place called Sellasia, with an army amounting to twenty thousand, having calculated that the invading forces would take that direction : which turned out to be the case.
The sight of these preparations decided Antigonus not to make an immediate attack upon the position, or rashly hazard an engagement. He pitched his camp a short distance from it, covering his front by the stream called Gorgylus, and there re mained for some days ; informing himself by reconnaisances of the peculiarities of the ground and the character of the troops, and at the same time endeavoring by feigned movements to elicit the intentions of the enemy. But he could never find an unguarded point, or one where the troops were not entirely on the alert ; for Cleomenes was always ready at a moment's notice to be at any point that was attacked. He therefore gave up all thoughts of attacking the position ; and finally an under standing was come to between him and Cleomenes to bring the matter to the decision of battle. And indeed, fortune had there brought into competition two commanders equally endowed by nature with military skill.
The moment for beginning the battle had come : the signal was given to the Illyrians, and the word passed by the officers to their men to do their duty ; and in a moment they started into view of the enemy and began assaulting the hill. But the light-armed troops who were stationed with Cleomenes' cav alry, observing that the Achaean lines were not covered by any
388 LEADERS AND FORTUNES OF THE ACHLEAN LEAGUE.
other troops behind them, charged them on the rear ; and thus reduced the division while endeavoring to carry the hill of Evas to a state of great peril, — being met as they were on their front by Eucleidas from the top of the hill, and being charged and vigorously attacked by the light-armed mercenaries on their rear. It was at this point that Philopoemen of Megalopolis, with a clear understanding of the situation and a foresight of what would happen, vainly endeavored to point out the cer tain result to his superior officers. They disregarded him for his want of experience in command and his extreme youth ; and accordingly he acted for himself, and cheering on the men of his own city made a vigorous charge on the enemy. This ef fected a diversion ; for the light-armed mercenaries, who were engaged in harassing the rear of the party ascending Evas, hear ing the shouting and seeing the cavalry engaged, abandoned their attack upon this party and hurried back to their original position to render assistance to the cavalry. The result was that the division of Illyrians, Macedonians, and the rest who were advancing with them, no longer had their attention di verted by an attack upon their rear, and so continued their advance upon the enemy with high spirits and renewed confi dence. This afterwards caused it to be acknowledged that to Philopoemen was due the honor of the success against Eucleidas.
It is clear that Antigonus at any rate entertained that opinion; for after the battle he asked Alexander, the com mander of the cavalry, with the view of convicting him of his shortcoming, "Why he had engaged before the signal was given ? " And upon Alexander answering that " He had not done so, but that a young officer from Megalopolis "had pre sumed to anticipate the signal, contrary to his wish : Antigo nus replied, " That young man acted like a good general in grasping the situation ; you, general, were the youngster. "
What Eucleidas ought to have done, when he saw the ene my's lines advancing, was to have rushed down at once upon them, thrown their ranks into disorder, and then retired him self step by step to continually higher ground into a safe posi tion ; for by thus breaking them up, and depriving them to begin with of the advantages of their peculiar armor and dis position, he would have secured the victory by the superiority of his position. But he did the very opposite of all this, and thereby forfeited the advantages of the ground. As though
LEADERS AND FORTUNES OF THE ACH^AN LEAGUE. 389
victory were assured, he kept his original position on the sum mit of the hill, with the view of catching the enemy at as great an elevation as possible, that their flight might be all the longer over steep and precipitous ground. The result, as might have been anticipated, was exactly the reverse. For he left himself no place of retreat, and by allowing the enemy to reach his position, unharmed and in unbroken order, he was placed at the disadvantage of having to give them battle on the very summit of the hill : and so, as soon as he was forced by the weight of their heavy armor and their close order to give any ground, it was immediately occupied by the Illyrians ; while his own men were obliged to take lower ground, because they had no space for maneuvering on the top. The result was not long in arriv ing : they suffered a repulse, which the difficult and precipitous nature of the ground over which they had to retire turned into a disastrous flight.
Simultaneously with these events the cavalry engagement was also being brought to a decision, in which all the Achaean cav alry, and especially Philopoemen, fought with conspicuous gal lantry, for to them it was a contest for freedom. Philopoemen himself had his horse killed under him, and while fighting accordingly on foot received a severe wound through both his thighs. Meanwhile the two kings on the other hill, Olympus, began by bringing their light-armed troops and mercenaries into action, of which each of them had five thousand. Both the kings and their entire armies had a full view of this action, which was fought with great gallantry on both sides : the charges taking place sometimes in detachments, and at other times along the whole line, and an eager emulation being dis played between the several ranks, and even between individuals. But when Cleomenes saw that his brother's division was retreat ing, and that the cavalry in the low ground were on the point of doing the same, alarmed at the prospect of an attack at all points at once, he was compelled to demolish the palisade in his front, and to lead out his whole force in line by one side of his position. A recall was sounded on the bugle for the light- armed troops of both sides, who were on the ground between the two armies ; and the phalanxes shouting their war cries, and with spears couched, charged each other. Then a fierce struggle arose : the Macedonians sometimes slowly giving ground and yielding to the superior courage of the soldiers of Sparta, and at another time the Lacedaemonians being forced to give
390 LEADERS AND FORTUNES OF THE ACH^AN LEAGUE.
way before the overpowering weight of the Macedonian pha lanx. At length Antigonus ordered a charge in close order and in double phalanx ; the enormous weight of this peculiar formation proved sufficient to finally dislodge the Lacedaemo nians from their strongholds, and they fled in disorder and suf fering severely as they went. Cleomenes himself, with a guard of cavalry, effected his retreat to Sparta ; but the same night he went down to Gythium, where all preparations for crossing the sea had been made long before in case of mishap, and with his friends sailed to Alexandria.
After the expulsion of Cleomenes (B. C. 222-221) the Pelo- ponnesians, weary of the wars that had taken place, and trust ing to the peaceful arrangement that had been come to, neglected all warlike preparations. Aratus, however, indignant and in censed at the audacity of the j5£tolian8 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 summon ing the Achaeans to an armed levy, and was all eagerness to attack the jEtolians. Eventually he took over from Timoxe- nus the seal of the league (b. c. 220) 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 Megalopolis.
Aratus had many of the qualities of a great ruler. He could speak, and contrive, and conceal his purpose : no one surpassed him in the moderation which he showed in political contests, or in his power of attaching friends and gaining allies : in intrigue, stratagem, and laying plots against a foe, and in bringing them to a successful termination by personal endurance and courage, he was preeminent. Many clear instances of these qualities may be found ; but none more convincing than the episodes of the capture of Sicyon and Mantinea, of the expulsion of the iEto- lians from Pellene, and especially of the surprise of the Acroco- rinthus. On the other hand, whenever he attempted a campaign in the field, he was slow in conception and timid in execution, and without personal gallantry in the presence of danger. The result was that the Peloponnese was full of trophies which marked reverses sustained by him ; and that in this particular department he was always easily defeated.
[He died in 213, at fifty-eight, and believed himself poisoned by Philip V. , probably without reason. ]
LEADERS AND FORTUNES OF THE ACELaSAN LEAGUE. 391
In consequence of having been so often elected Strategus of the Achaean League, and of having performed so many splendid services for that people, Aratus after his death met with the honors he deserved, both in his own native city and from the league as a body. They voted him sacrifices and the honors of heroship, and, in a word, everything calculated to perpetuate his memory ; so that, if the departed have any consciousness, it is but reasonable to think that he feels pleas ure at the gratitude of the Achaeans, and at the thought of the hardships and dangers he endured in his life.
Philopcemen.
Philopoemen was of good birth (born B. C. 252), descended from one of the noblest families in Arcadia. He was also educated under that most distinguished Mantinean, Oleander, who had been his father's friend before, and happened at that time to be in exile. When he came to man's estate, he attached himself to Ecdemus and Demophanes, who were by birth natives of Megalopolis, but who, having been exiled by the tyrant, and having associated with the philosopher Arce- silaus during their exile, not only set their own country free by entering into an intrigue against Aristodemus the tyrant, but also helped in conjunction with Aratus to put down Nicocles, the tyrant of Sicyon. On another occasion, also, on the invitation of the people of Cyrene, they stood forward as their champions and preserved their freedom for them. Such were the men with whom he passed his early life ; and he at once began to show a superiority to his contemporaries by his power of enduring hardships in hunting, and by his acts of daring in war. He was, moreover, careful in his manner of life, and moderate in the outward show which he maintained ; for he had imbibed from these men the conviction, that it was impossible for a man to take the lead in public business with honor who neglected his own private affairs ; nor again to abstain from embezzling public money if he lived beyond his private income.
Being then appointed Hipparch by the Achaean league at this time (210), and finding the squadrons in a state of utter demoralization, and the men thoroughly dispirited, he not only restored them to a better state than they were, but in a short
392 LEADERS AND FORTUNES OF THE ACHAEAN LEAGUE.
time made them even superior to the enemy's cavalry, by bring ing them all to adopt habits of real training and genuine emu lation.
[An account of his military reforms is given. He had also rebuked dandy ism in the officers, and urged them to transfer the care of their persons to their armor, which they do. ]
So true it is that a single word spoken by a man of credit is often sufficient not only to turn men from the worst courses, but even to incite them to the noblest. But when such a speaker can appeal to his own life as in harmony with his words, then indeed his exhortation carries a weight which noth ing can exceed. And this was above all others the case with Philopoemen. For in his dress and eating, as well as in all that concerned his bodily wants, he was plain and simple ; in his manners to others without ceremony or pretense ; and through out his life he made it his chief aim to be absolutely sincere. Consequently a few unstudied words from him were sufficient to raise a firm conviction in the minds of his hearers ; for as he could point to his own life as an example, they wanted little more to convince them. Thus it happened, on several occasions, that the confidence he inspired, and the consciousness of his achieve ments, enabled him in a few words to overthrow long and, as his opponents thought, skillfully argued speeches.
So on this occasion, as soon as the council of the league separated, all returned to their cities deeply impressed both by the words and the man himself, and convinced that no harm could happen to them with him at their head.
afterwards Philopoemen set out on a visitation of the cities, which he performed with great energy and speed. He then summoned a levy of citizens (B. C. 208), and began forming them into companies and drilling them ; and at last, after eight months of this preparation and training, he mustered his forces at Mantinea, prepared to fight the tyrant Machanidas in behalf of the freedom of all the Peloponnesians.
Second Battle of Mantinea.
Machanidas had now acquired great confidence, and looked upon the determination of the Achaeans as extremely favorable to his plans. As soon as he heard of their being in force at Mantinea (b. o. 207), he duly harangued his Lacedaemonians at Tegea, and the very next morning at daybreak advanced upon
Immediately
LEADERS AND FORTUNES OF THE ACH^AN LEAGUE. 393
Mantinea. He led the right wing of the phalanx himself ; his mercenaries marched in two parallel columns on each side of his front, and behind them were carts carrying quantities of field artillery and bolts for the catapults. Meanwhile Philopoe- men, too, had arranged his army in three divisions, and was leading them out of Mantinea.
Machanidas at first looked as though he meant to attack the enemy's right wing in column ; but when he got within moder ate distance he deployed into line by the right, and by this ex tension movement made his right wing cover the same amount of ground as the left wing of the Achaeans, and fixed his cata pults in front of the whole force at intervals. Philopoemen understood that the enemy's plan was, by pouring volleys from the catapults into his phalanx, to throw the ranks into confu sion ; he therefore gave him no time or interval of repose, but opened the engagement by a vigorous charge of his Tarentines close to the temple of Poseidon, where the ground was flat and suitable for cavalry. Whereupon Machanidas was constrained to follow suit by sending his Tarentines forward also.
At first the struggle was confined to these two forces, and was maintained with spirit. But the light-armed troops com ing gradually to the support of such of them as were wavering, in a very short time the whole of the mercenaries on either side were engaged. They fought sometimes in close order, some times in pairs ; and for a long time so entirely without decisive result that the rest of the two armies, who were watching in which direction the cloud of dust inclined, could come to no conclusion, because both sides maintained for a long while exactly their original ground. But after a time the mercenaries of the tyrant began to get the better of the struggle, from their numbers, and the superiority in skill obtained by long prac tice, the Illyrians and men with body armor, who formed the reserve supporting the mercenaries of the Achaean army, were unable to withstand their assault ; but were all driven from their position, and fled in confusion towards the city of Man tinea, which was about seven stades distant.
And now there occurred an undoubted instance of what some doubt, namely, that the issues in war are for the most part decided by the skill or want of skill of the commanders. For though perhaps it is a great thing to be able to follow up afirst success properly, it is a greater thing still that, when the first step has proved a failure, a man should retain his presence of
394 LEADERS AND FORTUNES OF THE ACHJ3AN LEAGUE.
mind, keep a good lookout for any error of judgment on the part of the victors, and avail himself of their mistakes. At any rate one often sees the side, which imagines itself to have obtained a clear victory, ultimately lose the day ; while those who seemed at first to have failed recover themselves by pres ence of mind, and ultimately win an unexpected victory. Both happened on this occasion to the respective leaders.
The whole of the Achaean mercenaries having been driven from their ground, and their left wing having been thoroughly broken up, Machanidas abandoned his original plan of winning the day by outflanking the enemy with some of his forces and charging their front with others, and did neither ; but, quite losing his head, rushed forward heedlessly with all his mer cenaries in pursuit of the fugitives, as though the panic was not in itself sufficient to drive those who had once given way up to the town gates.
Oft mourn the Samian maids that passed away Is witty Crethis, graceful in her play,
A fellow-worker brightening all the day,
And free of speech ; but here she soundly sleeps The slumber fate for every mortal keeps.
Would there had never been swift ships : for then we would not lament for Sopolis, son of Dioclides. But now he drifts a corse somewhere in the sea, and in his stead we pass by a name and a cenotaph.
At dawn we were burying Menalippus, and at sunset the maiden Basilo died by her own hand. For she had not the heart to live, when she had placed her brother in the flame. So the house of their sire Aristippus saw a double woe ; and
EPIGRAMS AND EPITAPHS OF CALLIMACHUS. 371
all Cyrene was downcast, when it saw the house of persons happy in their children bereaved.
From small means I had a light subsistence, neither doing aught ill, nor wronging any one. O dear earth, if I, Micilus, have commended aught that is bad, neither do thou lie light on me, nor ye other gods, who hold me.
The three-years-old Astyanax, while sporting round about a well, a mute image of a form drew in to itself. And from the water the mother snatched her drenched boy, examining whether he had any portion of life. But the infant did not defile the Nymphs, for, hushed on the lap of his mother, he sleeps his deep sleep.
Worn out with age and poverty, and no man outstretching a contribution for misfortune, I have come into my tomb by degrees with my trembling limbs. With difficulty have I found the goal of a troublous life. And in my case the cus tom of the dead hath been changed. For I did not die first, and then was buried ; but was buried, and then died.
Bid me not hail, bad heart, but pass on. Thy not laughing is equal joy to me.
The hunter, O Epicydes, hunts on the mountain crag
For hare and trail of antelope — versed in the rime and the snow;
But if any one call to him, " Here is a stricken and dying stag," He scorns the helpless quarry and lets the vantage go.
Such is my love : it is apt at pursuing what flies it most fleet,
But hastens, unheeding its gain, past the captive that lies at its feet.
May you sleep, Conopium, Flinty-hearted maiden,
As at this cold vestibule
You leave me serenading !
May you sleep, you wicked girl, The sleep you give your lover :
Pity even in a dream You cannot discover !
Neighbors pity, but not you, Even in your slumber :
Soon, though, you'll remember this When gray hairs you number !
372 THE VOYAGE OF THE AKGO.
THE VOYAGE OF THE ARGO. By APOLLONIUS BHODIUS.
[Apollohius was born about b. c. 236, at Alexandria or its neighbor Nau- cratis. He studied under Callimachus ; they quarreled and lampooned each other bitterly, and the superior prestige of the master prevented the pupil's work from"gaining recognition ; the latter then removed to Rhodes (whence his nickname The Rhodian "), was at once acknowledged the best poet of his day, and later returned famous to Alexandria, becoming librarian of"the great royal museum there. He died in 181. His chief surviving work is the Argonautica," an epic on the search for the Golden Fleece, imitating Homer with much grace
and force. ]
The Harpies.
Here Phineus, son of Agenor, had his home beside the sea ; he who, by reason of the divination that the son of Leto granted him aforetime, suffered most awful woes, far beyond all men ; for not one jot did he regard even Zeus himself, in foretelling the sacred purpose to men unerringly. Wherefore Zeus granted him a weary length of days, but reft his eyes of the sweet light, nor suffered him to have any joy of all the countless gifts, which those, who dwelt around and sought to him for oracles, were ever bringing to his house. But suddenly through the clouds the Harpies darted nigh, and kept snatching them from his mouth or hands in their talons. Sometimes never a morsel of food was left him, sometimes a scrap, that he might live and suffer. And upon his food they spread a fetid stench ; and none could endure to bring food to his mouth, but stood afar
off ; so foul a reek breathed from the remnants of his meal. At once, when he heard the sound and noise of a company, he per ceived that they were the very men now passing by, at whose coming an oracle from Zeus had said that he should enjoy his food. Up from his couch he rose, as it were, a lifeless phan tom, and, leaning on his staff, came to the door on his wrinkled feet, feeling his way along the walls ; and, as he went, his limbs trembled from weakness and age, and his skin was dry and caked with filth, and naught but the skin held his bones together. So he came forth from his hall, and sat down with heavy knees on the threshold of the court, and a dark mantle wrapped him, and seemed to sweep the ground below all round ; and there he sank with never a word, in strengthless lethargy.
But they, when they saw him, gathered round, and were astonied. And he, drawing a labored breath from the bottom
THE VOYAGE OF THE ARGO. 373
of his chest, took up his parable for them and said : " Hearken, choice sons of all the Hellenes, if 'tis you in very truth, whom now Jason, at the king's chill bidding, is leading on the ship Argo to fetch the fleece. 'Tis surely you. Still doth my mind know each thing by its divining. Wherefore to thee, my prince, thou son of Leto, do I give thanks even in my cruel sufferings. By Zeus, the god of suppliants, most awful god to sinful men, for Phoebus' sake and for the sake of Hera herself, who before all other gods hath had you in her keeping as ye came, help me, I implore ; rescue a hapless wretch from misery, and do not heedlessly go hence and leave me thus. For not only hath the avenging fiend set his heel upon my eyes, not only do I drag out to the end a tedious old age, but yet another most bitter pain is added to the tale. Harpies, swooping from some unseen den of destruction, that I see not, do snatch the food from my mouth. And I have no plan to help me. But lightly would my mind forget her longing for a meal, or the thought of them, so quickly fly they through the air. But as happens at times, they leave me some scrap of food, noisome stench hath, and smell too strong to bear, nor could any mortal man draw nigh and bear even for little while, no, not though his heart were forged of adamant. But me, God wot, doth ne cessity, cruel and insatiate, constrain to abide, and abiding to put such food in my miserable belly. Them 'tis heaven's decree that the sons of Boreas shall check and they shall ward them off, for they are my kinsmen, indeed am that Phineus, who in days gone by had name amongst men for my wealth and divination, whom Agenor, my sire, begat their sister Cleo patra did bring to my house as wife with gifts of wooing,
what time ruled among the Thracians. "
So spake the son of Agenor and deep sorrow took hold on
each of the heroes, but specially on the two sons of Boreas. But they wiped away tear and drew nigh, and thus spake Zetes, taking in his the hand of the suffering old man " Ah poor sufferer, methinks there no other man more wretched than thee. Why that such woes have fastened on thee Is that thou hast sinned against the gods in deadly folly through thy skill in divination Wherefore are they so greatly wroth against thee Lo our heart within us sorely bewildered, though we yearn to help thee, in very truth the god hath re served for us twain this honor. For plain to see are the rebukes that the immortals send on us men of earth. Nor will we check
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374 THE VOYAGE OF THE ARGO.
the coming of the Harpies, for all our eagerness, till that thou swear that we shall not fall from heaven's favor in return for this. " So spake he, and straight that aged man opened his sightless eyes and lifted them up, and thus made answer : " Hush ! remind me not of those things, my son. The son of Leto be my witness, who of his kindness taught me divination; be witness that ill-omened fate, that is my lot, and this dark cloud upon my eyes, and the gods below, whose favor may I never find if I die perjured thus, that there shall come no wrath from heaven on you by reason of your aid. "
Then were those twain eager to help him by reason of the oath, and quickly did the young men make ready a feast for the old man, a last booty for the Harpies ; and the two stood near to strike them with their swords as they swooped down. Soon as ever that aged man did touch the food, down rushed those Harpies with whir of wings at once, eager for the food, like grievous blasts, or like lightning darting suddenly from the clouds ; but those heroes, when they saw them in mid air, shouted ; and they at the noise sped off afar across the sea af ter they had devoured everything, but behind them was left an intolerable stench. And the two sons of Boreas started in pur suit of them with their swords drawn ; for Zeus inspired them with tireless courage, and 'twas not without the will of Zeus that they followed them, for they would dart past the breath of the west wind, what time they went to and from Phineus. As when upon the hilltops dogs skilled in the chase run on the track of horned goats or deer, and, straining at full speed just behind, in vain do gnash their teeth upon their lips ; even so Zetes and Calais, darting very nigh to them, in vain grazed them with their finger tips. And now, I trow, they would have torn them in pieces against the will of the gods on the floating islands, after they had come afar, had not swift Iris seen them, and darting down from the clear heaven above stayed them with this word of rebuke, " Ye sons of Boreas, 'tis not ordained that ye should slay the Harpies, the hounds of mighty Zeus, with your swords ; but I, even I, will give you an oath that they will come no more nigh him. "
Therewith she sware by the stream of Styx, most dire and awful oath for all the gods, that these should never again draw near unto the house of Phineus, son of Agenor, for even so was it fated. So they yielded to her oath and turned to hasten back to the ship.
THE VOYAGE OF THE ARGO. 375
The Symplegades.
After this, when they had built an altar to the twelve blessed gods on the edge of the sea opposite, and had offered sacrifice upon it, they went aboard their swift ship to row away ; nor did they forget to take with them a timorous dove, but Euphemus clutched her in his hand, cowering with terror, and carried her along, and they loosed their double cables from the shore.
Nor, I ween, had they started, ere Athene was ware of them, and forthwith and hastily she stepped upon a light cloud, which should bear her at once for all her weight; and she hasted on her way seaward, with kindly intent to the rowers. As when a man goes wandering from his country, as oft we men do wander in our hardihood, and there is no land too far away, for every path lies open before his eyes, when lo ! he seeth in his mind his own home, and withal there appeareth a way to it over land or over sea, and keenly he pondereth this way and that, and searcheth it out with his eyes ; even so the daughter of Zeus, swiftly darting on, set foot upon the cheer less strand of Thynia.
Now they, when they came to the strait of the winding pas sage, walled in with beetling crags on either side, while an eddying current from below washed up against the ship as it went on its way ; and on they went in grievous fear, and already on their ears the thud of clashing rocks smote unceas ingly, and the dripping cliffs roared; in that very hour the hero Euphemus clutched the dove in his hand, and went to take his stand upon the prow; while they, at the bidding of Tiphys, son of Hagnias, rowed with a will, that they might drive right through the rocks, trusting in their might. And as they rounded a bend, they saw those rocks opening for the last time of all. And their spirit melted at the sight ; but the hero Euphemus sent forth the dove to dart through on her wings, and they, one and all, lifted up their heads to see, and she sped through them, but at once the two rocks met again with a clash ; and the foam leaped up in a seething mass like a cloud, and grimly roared the sea, and all around the great firmament bellowed. And the hollow caves echoed beneath the rugged rocks as the sea went surging in, and high on the cliffs was the white spray vomited as the billow dashed upon them. Then did the current spin the ship round. And the
376 THE VOYAGE OF THE ARGO.
rocks cut off just the tail feathers of the dove, but she darted away unhurt. And loudly the rowers cheered, but Tiphys himself shouted to them to row lustily, for once more the rocks were opening. Then came trembling on them as they rowed, until the wave with its returning wash came and bore the ship within the rocks. Thereon most awful fear seized on all, for above their head was death with no escape ; and now on this side and on that lay broad Pontus to their view, when sud denly in front rose up a mighty arching wave, like to a steep hill, and they bowed down their heads at the sight. For it seemed as if it must indeed leap down and whelm the ship entirely. But Tiphys was quick to ease her as she labored to the rowing, and the wave rolled with all his force beneath the keel, and lifted up the ship herself from underneath, far from the rocks, and high on the crest of the billow she was borne. Then did Euphemus go amongst all the crew, and call to them to lay on to their oars with all their might, and they smote the water at his cry. So she sprang forward twice as far as any other ship would have yielded to rowers, and the oars bent like curved bows as the heroes strained. In that instant the vaulted wave was past them, and she at once was riding over the furious billow like a roller, plunging headlong forward o'er the trough of the sea. But the eddying current stayed the ship in the midst of " the Clashers," and they quaked on either side, and thundered, and the ship timbers throbbed. Then did Athene with her left hand hold the stubborn rock apart, while with her right she thrust them through upon their course ; and the ship shot through the air like a winged arrow. Yet the rocks, ceaselessly dashing together, crushed off, in passing, the tip of the carved stern. And Athene sped back to Olympus, when they were escaped unhurt. But the rocks closed up together, rooted firm forever ; even so was it decreed by the blessed gods, whenso a man should have passed through alive in his ship.
The Flight of Medea.
iEetes amongst the chosen captains of his people was devising sheer treachery against the heroes all night in his halls, in wild fury at the sorry ending of the contest; and he was very sure, that angry sire, that these things were not being accomplished without the aid of his own daughters.
THE VOYAGE OF THE ARGO.
377
But upon Medea's heart Hera cast most grievous fear, and she trembled, like some nimble fawn, which the barking of hounds hath frighted in the thickets of a deep woodland. For anon she thought that of a surety her help would never escape her father's eye, and right soon would she fill up her cup of bitterness. And she terrified her handmaids, who were privy thereto; and her eyes were full of fire, and in her ears there rang a fearful sound; and oft would she clutch at her throat, and oft tear the hair upon her head and groan in sore anguish. Yea, and in that hour would the maid have overleaped her doom and died of a poisoned cup, bringing to naught the plans of Hera; but the goddess drove her in panic to fly with the sons of Phrixus. And her fluttering heart was comforted within her. So she in eager haste poured from the casket all her drugs at once into the folds of her bosom. And she kissed her bed and the posts of the doors on either side, and stroked the walls fondly, and with her hand cut off one long tress and left it in her chamber, a memorial of her girlish days for her mother; then with a voice all choked with sobs she wept aloud:
So spake she, and from her eyes poured forth a flood of tears. Even as a captive maid stealeth forth from a wealthy house, one whom fate hath lately reft from her country, and as yet knoweth she naught of grievous toil, but a stranger to misery and slavish tasks, she cometh in terror 'neath the cruel hands of a mistress ; like her the lovely maiden stole forth swiftly from her home. And the bolts of the doors yielded of their own accord to her touch, springing back at her hurried spells. With bare feet she sped along the narrow paths, drawing her robe with her left hand over her brows to veil her face and fair cheeks, while with her right hand she lifted up the hem of her garment. Swiftly along the unseen track she came in her terror outside the towers of the spacious town, and none of the guard marked her, for she sped on and they knew it not. Then marked she well her way unto the temple, for she was not ignorant of the paths, having wandered thither oft aforetime in quest of corpses and the noxious roots of the earth, as a sorceress must ; yet did her heart quake with fear
I leave thee here this one long tress
" Ah, mother mine !
instead of me, and go; so take this last farewell as I go far from hence ; farewell, Chalciope, farewell to all my home ! Would that the sea had dashed thee, stranger, in pieces, or ever thou didst reach the Colchian land ! "
378
THE VOYAGE OF THE ARGO.
and trembling. Now Titania, goddess of the moon, as she sailed up the distant sky, caught sight of that maid distraught, and savagely she exulted o'er her in words like these ; " So I am not the only one to wander to the cave on Latmos ; not I alone burn with love for fair Endymion ! How oft have I gone hence before thy cunning spells, with thoughts of love, that thou mightest work in peace, in the pitchy night, the sorceries so dear to thee. And now, I trow, hast thou too found a like sad fate, and some god or sorrow hath given thee thy Jason for a very troublous grief. Well, go thy way ; yet steel thy heart"to take up her load of bitter woe, for all thy understanding.
So spake she ; but her feet bare that other hasting on her way. Right glad was she to climb the river's high banks, and see before her the blazing fire, which all night long the heroes kept up in joy for the issue of the enterprise. Then through the gloom, with piercing voice, she called aloud to Phrontis, youngest of the sons of Phrixus, from the further bank ; and he, with his brethren and the son of jEson too, deemed it was his sister's voice, and the crew marveled silently, when they knew what it really was. Thrice she lifted up her voice, and thrice at the bidding of his company cried Phrontis in answer to her ; and those heroes the while rowed swiftly over to fetch her. Not yet would they cast the ship's hawsers on the mainland, but the hero Jason leaped quickly ashore from the deck above, and with him Phrontis and Argus, two sons of Phrixus, also sprang to land; then did she " clasp them by the knees with both her hands, and spake : Save me, friends, me most miserable, ay, and your selves as well from JEetes. For ere now all is discovered, and no remedy cometh. Nay, let us fly abroad the ship, before he mount his swift horses. And I will give you the golden fleece, when I have lulled the guardian snake to rest ; but thou, stranger, now amongst thy comrades take heaven to witness to the promises thou didst make me, and make me not to go away from hence in scorn and shame, for want of friends. "
So spake she in her sore distress, and the heart of the son of jEson was very glad ; at once he gently raised her up, where she was fallen at his knees, and took her in his arms and comforted her: "God help thee, lady ! Be Zeus of Olympus himself witness of mine oath, and Hera, queen of marriage,
LAMENT FOR BION. 379
bride of Zeus, that I will of a truth establish thee as my wedded wife in my house, when we are come on our return to the land of Hellas. "
So spake he, and therewith clasped her right hand in his own. Then bade she them row the swift ship with all speed unto the sacred grove, that they might take the fleece and bear it away against the will of JEetes, while yet it was night. Without delay deeds followed words ; for they made her embark, and at once thrust out the ship from the shore ; and loud was the din, as the heroes strained at their oars. But she, starting back, stretched her hands wildly to the shore; but Jason cheered her with words, and stayed her in her sore grief.
LAMENT FOR BION. By MOSCHUS. (Translated by Andrew Lang).
[Moschus was a poet of the school of Theocritus, born at Syracuse, and probably a pupil of Bion, and flourished about b. c. 200 ; only four of his idyls are extant. ]
Wail, let me hear you wail, ye woodland glades, and thou Dorian water; and weep ye rivers, for Bion, the well beloved! Now all ye green things mourn, and now ye groves lament him, ye flowers now in sad clusters breathe yourselves away. Now redden ye roses in your sorrow, and now wax red ye wind- flowers, now thou hyacinth, whisper the letters on the graven, and add a deeper ai ai to thy petals; he is dead, the beautiful singer.
Begin, ye Sicilian Muses, begin the dirge.
Ye nightingales that lament among the thick leaves of the trees, tell ye to the Sicilian waters of Arethusa the tidings that Bion the herdsman is dead, and that with Bion song too has died, and perished hath the Dorian minstrelsy.
Begin, ye Sicilian Muses, begin the dirge.
Ye Strymonian swans, sadly wail ye by the waters, and chant with melancholy notes the dolorous song, even such a song as in his time with voice like yours he was wont to sing. And
380 LAMENT FOR BION.
tell again to the CEagrian maidens, tell to all the Nymphs Bis- tonian, how that he hath perished, the Dorian Orpheus.
Begin, ye Sicilian Mases, begin the dirge.
No more to his herds he sings, that beloved herdsman, no more 'neath the lonely oaks he sits and sings, nay, but by Plu- teus's side he chants a refrain of oblivion. The mountains too are voiceless and the heifers that wander by the bulls lament and refuse their pasture.
Begin, ye Sicilian Muses, begin the dirge.
Thy sudden doom, O Bion, Apollo himself lamented, and the Satyrs mourned thee, and the Priapi in sable raiment, and the Panes sorrow for thy song, and the fountain fairies in the wood made moan, and their tears turned to rivers of waters. And Echo in the rocks laments that thou art silent, and no more she mimics thy voice. And in sorrow for thy fall the trees cast down their fruit, and all the flowers have faded. From the ewes hath flowed no fair milk, nor honey from the hives, nay, it hath perished for mere sorrow in the wax, for now hath thy honey perished, and no more it behooves men to gather the honey of the bees.
Begin, ye Sicilian Muses, begin the dirge.
Not so much did the dolphin mourn beside the sea-banks, nor ever sang so sweet the nightingale on the cliffs, nor so much lamented the swallow on the long ranges of the hills, nor shrilled so loud the halcyon o'er his sorrows.
Begin, ye Sicilian Muses, begin the dirge.
Nor so much, by the gray sea waves, did ever the sea bird sing, nor so much in the dells of dawn did the bird of Memnon bewail the son of the Morning, fluttering around his tomb, as
they lamented for Bion dead.
Nightingales, and all the swallows that once he was wont to
delight, that he would teach to speak, they sat over against each other on the boughs and kept moaning, and the birds sang in answer, " Wail, ye wretched ones, even ye ! "
Begin, ye Sicilian Muses, begin the dirge.
Who, ah, who will ever make music on thy pipe, O thrice desired Bion, and who will put his mouth to the reeds of thine
instrument? who is so bold?
For still thy lips and still thy breath survive, and Echo,
among the reeds, doth still feed upon thy songs. To Pan shall I bear the pipe? Nay, perchance even he would fear to set
LAMENT FOR BION. 381 his mouth to it, lest, after thee, he should win but the second
prize.
Begin, ye Sicilian Muses, begin the dirge.
Yea, and Galatea laments thy song, she whom once thou wouldst delight, as with thee she sat by the sea-banks. For not like the Cyclops didst thou sing, — him fair Galatea ever fled, but on thee she still looked more kindly than on the salt water. And now hath she forgotten the wave, and sits on the lonely sands, but still she keeps thy kine.
Begin, ye Sicilian Muses, begin the dirge.
All the gifts of the Muses, herdsman, have died with thee, the delightful kisses of maidens, the lips of boys ; and woful round thy tomb the loves are weeping. But Cypris loves thee far more than the kiss wherewith she kissed the dying Adonis.
Begin, ye Sicilian Muses, begin the dirge.
This, O most musical of rivers, is thy second sorrow, this, Meles, thy new woe. Of old didst thou lose Homer, that sweet mouth of Calliope, and men say thou didst bewail thy goodly son with streams of many tears, and didst fill all the salt sea with the voice of thy lamentation — now again another son thou weepest, and in a new sorrow art thou wasting away.
Begin, ye Sicilian Muses, begin the dirge.
Both were beloved of the fountains, and one ever drank of the Pegasean fount, but the other would drain a draught of Arethusa. And the one sang the fair daughter of Tyndarus, and the mighty son of Thetis, and Menelaus, Atreus's son, but that other, —not of wars, not of tears, but of Pan, would he sing, and of herdsmen would he chant, and so singing, he tended the herds. And pipes he would fashion, and would milk the sweet heifer, and taught lads how to kiss, and Love he cherished in his bosom and woke the passion of Aphrodite.
Begin, ye Sicilian Muses, begin the dirge.
Every famous city laments thee, Bion, and all the towns. Ascra laments thee far more than her Hesiod, and Pindar is less regretted by the forests of Boeotia. Nor so much did pleasant Lesbos mourn for Alcaeus, nor did the Teian town so greatly bewail her poet, while for thee more than for Archilochus doth Paros yearn, and not for Sappho, but still for thee doth Myti- lene wail her musical lament ;
[Here seven verses are lost. ]
382 LAMENT FOR BION.
And in Syracuse Theocritus; but I sing thee the dirge of an Ausonian sorrow, I that am no stranger to the pastoral song, but heir of the Doric Muse which thou didst teach thy pupils. This was thy gift to me; to others didst thou leave thy wealth, to me thy minstrelsy.
Begin, ye Sicilian Muses, begin the dirge.
Ah me, when the mallows wither in the garden, and the green parsley, and the curled tendrils of the anise, on a later day they live again, and spring in another year; but we men, we the great and mighty or wise, when once we have died, in hollow earth we sleep, gone down into silence; a right long, and endless, and unawakening sleep. And thou, too, in the earth will be lapped in silence, but the nymphs have thought good that the frog should eternally sing. Nay, him I would not envy, for 'tis no sweet song he singeth.
Begin, ye Sicilian Muses, begin the dirge.
Poison came, Bion, to thy mouth, thou didst know poison. To such lips as thine did it come, and was not sweetened? What mortal was so cruel that could mix poison for thee, or who could give thee the venom that heard thy voice ? surely he had no music in his soul.
Begin, ye Sicilian Muses, begin the dirge.
But justice hath overtaken them all. Still for this sorrow I weep, and bewail thy ruin. But ah, if I might have gone down like Orpheus to Tartarus, or as once Odysseus, or Alcides of yore, I, too, would speedily have come to the house of Plu- teus, that thee perchance I might behold, and if thou singest to Pluteus, that I might hear what is thy song. Nay, sing to the Maiden some strain of Sicily, sing some sweet pastoral lay.
And she too is Sicilian, and on the shores by Mtn& she was wont to play, and she knew the Dorian strain. Not unre warded will the singing be; and as once to Orpheus's sweet minstrelsy she gave Eurydice to return with him, even so will she send thee too, Bion, to the hills. But if I, even I, and my piping had aught availed, before Pluteus I too would have sung.
LEADERS AND FORTUNES OF THE ACILEAN LEAGUE. 383
LEADERS AND FORTUNES OF THE ACH^AN LEAGUE.
By POLYBIUS. (Translated by E. S. Shuckburgh. )
[Poltbius, born b. c. 204, was son of Lycortas, a leader of the Achaean League in its latter days, and himself was one of its active officials from youth. In b. c. 167 the Romans deported him to Italy as one of a thousand political prison ers and kept him there sixteen years. He, however, became tutor to the sons of -5Smilius Paulus, the conqueror of Macedonia, one of whom by adoption was the younger Scipio ; and so gained the high respect and friendship of the Scipio circle and all the foremost men in Rome, which he served in political and mili tary capacities. In b. c. 151 he returned to Greece, and as commissioner after its conquest in b. c. 146 gained perhaps better terms for it. He died about b. c. 122. His great literary work was the "Histories" of Roman affairs from the beginning of the Hannibalic war (b. c. 220) to the final crushing of Greece and Carthage (b. c. 146), with a lengthy introduction on the Achaean League and other matters. Only five of its forty books are preserved in full, with several long fragments of others. ]
When at length the country did obtain leaders of suffi cient ability, it quickly manifested its intrinsic excellence by the accomplishment of that most glorious achievement, — the union of the Peloponnese. The originator of this policy in the first instance was Aratus of Sicyon ; its active promotion and con summation was due to Philopoemen of Megalopolis ; while Lycortas and his party must be looked upon as the authors of the permanence which it enjoyed.
For the first twenty-five years of the league, a secretary and two strategi for the whole union were elected by each city in turn. But after this period they determined to appoint one strategus only, and put the entire management of the affairs of the union in his hands. The first to obtain this honor was Margos of Caryneia (b. c. 255-254). In the fourth year after this man's tenure of the office, Aratus of Sicyon (born 271) caused his city to join the league, which, by his energy and courage, he had, when only twenty years of age, delivered from the yoke of its tyrant. In the eighth year again after this, Aratus, being elected strategus for the second time, laid a plot to seize the Acrocorinthus, then held by Antigonus ; and by his success freed the inhabitants of the Peloponnese from a source of serious alarm : and having thus
384 LEADERS AND FORTUNES OF THE ACILEAN LEAGUE.
liberated Corinth, he caused it to join the league. In his same term of office, he got Megara into his hands, and caused it to join also. These events occurred in the year before the decisive defeat of the Carthaginians (b. c. 241), in consequence of which they evacuated Sicily and consented for the first time to pay tribute to Rome.
Having made this remarkable progress in his design in so short a time, Aratus continued thenceforth in the position of leader of the Achaean League, and in the consistent direction of his whole policy to one single end: which was to expel Macedonians from the Peloponnese, to depose the despots, and to establish in each state the common freedom which their ancestors had enjoyed before them. So long, therefore, as Antigonus Gonatas was alive, he maintained a continual opposition to his interference, as well as to the encroaching spirit of the JStolians, and in both cases with signal skill and success ; although their presumption and contempt for jus tice had risen to such a pitch that they had actually made a formal compact with each other for the disruption of the Achaeans.
After the death of Antigonus, however, the Achaeans made terms with the iEtolians, and joined them energetically in the war against Demetrius; and, in place of the feelings of estrangement and hostility, there gradually grew up a senti ment of brotherhood and affection between the two peoples. Upon the death of Demetrius (B. C. 229), after a reign of only ten years, just about the time of the first invasion of Illyri- cum by the Romans, the Achaeans had a most excellent oppor tunity of establishing the policy which they had all along maintained. For the despots in the Peloponnese were in despair at the death of Demetrius. It was the loss to them of their chief supporter and paymaster. And now Aratus was forever impressing upon them that they ought to abdi cate, holding out rewards and honors for those of them who consented, and threatening those who refused with still greater vengeance from the Achaeans. There was therefore a general movement among them to voluntarily restore their several states to freedom and to join the league. I ought, however, to say that Ludiades of Megalopolis, in the lifetime of Deme trius, of his own deliberate choice, and foreseeing with great shrewdness and good sense what was going to happen, had abdicated his sovereignty and become a citizen of the national
LEADERS AND FORTUNES OF THE ACH^AN LEAGUE. 385
league. His example was followed by Aristomachus, tyrant of Argos, Xeno of Hermione, and Cleonymus of Phlius, who all likewise abdicated and joined the democratic league.
But the increased power and national advancement which these events brought to the Achaeans excited the envy of the ^tolians; who, besides their natural inclination to unjust and selfish aggrandizement, were inspired with the hope of breaking up the union of Achaean states, as they had before succeeded in partitioning those of Acarnania with Alexander, and had planned to do those of Achaia with Antigonus Gonatas. Instigated once more by similar expectations, they had now the assurance to enter into communication and close alliance at once with Antigonus (Doson — acceded B. C. 229)
(at that time ruling Macedonia as guardian of the young King Philip), and with Cleomenes, King of Sparta. They
saw that Antigonus had undisputed possession of the throne of Macedonia, while he was an open and avowed enemy of the Achaeans, owing to the surprise of the Acrocorinthus ; and they supposed that if they could get the Lacedaemonians to join them in their hostility to the league, they would easily subdue by selecting a favorable opportunity for their attack, and securing that should be assaulted on all sides at once. And they would in all probability have succeeded, but that they had left out the most important element in the calculation, namely, that in Aratus they had to reckon with an opponent to their plans of ability equal to almost any emergency. Accordingly, when they attempted this violent and unjust interference in Achaia, so far from succeeding in any of their devices, they, on the contrary, strengthened Aratus, the then president of the league, as well as the league itself. So consummate was the ability with which he foiled their plan and reduced them to impotence. The manner in which this was done will be made clear in what am about to relate.
There could be no doubt of the policy of the -35tolians. They were ashamed indeed to attack the Achaeans openly, be cause they could not ignore their recent obligations to them in the war with Demetrius but they were plotting with the Lace daemonians and showed their jealousy of the Achieans by not only conniving at the treacherous attack of Cleomenes upon Tegea, Mantinea, and Orchomenus (cities not only in alliance with them, but actually members of their league), but by con-
vol. iv. — 25
;
:
I
it
it,
386 LEADERS AND FORTUNES OF THE ACH^AN LEAGUE.
firming his occupation of those places. In old times they had thought almost any excuse good enough to justify an appeal to arms against those who, after all, had done them no wrong ; yet they now allowed themselves to be treated with such treachery, and submitted without remonstrance to the loss of the most im portant towns, solely with the view of creating in Cleomenes a formidable antagonist to the Achaeans. These facts were not lost upon Aratus and the other officers of the league ; and they resolved that without taking the initiative in going to war with any one, they would resist the attempts of the Lacedaemonians. Such was their determination, and for a time they persisted in it ; but immediately afterwards Cleomenes began to build the hostile fort in the territory of Megalopolis, called the Athe naeum, and showed an undisguised and bitter hostility. Aratus and his colleagues accordingly summoned a meeting of the league, and it was decided to proclaim war openly against Sparta.
[Aratus gave up to Antigonus the citadel of Corinth, making him master of Greece ; and Cleomenes was defeated at Sellasia. ]
This was the origin of what is called the Cleomenic War. At first the Achaeans were for depending on their own re sources for facing the Lacedaemonians. They looked upon it as more honorable not to look to others for preservation, but to guard their own territory and cities themselves ; and at the same time the remembrances of his former services made them desirous of keeping up their friendship with Ptolemy (Euerge- tes, B. C. 247-222), and averse from the appearance of seeking aid elsewhere. But when the war had lasted some time, and Cleomenes had revolutionized the constitution of his country, and had turned its constitutional monarchy into a despotism, and, moreover, was conducting the war with extraordinary skill and boldness, seeing clearly what would happen, and fear ing the reckless audacity of the jEtolians, Aratus determined that his first duty was to be well beforehand in frustrating their plans. He satisfied himself that Antigonus was a man of ac tivity and practical ability, with some pretensions to the charac ter of a man of honor ; he however knew perfectly well that kings look on no man as a friend or foe from personal consid erations, but ever measure friendships and enmities solely by the standard of expediency. He therefore conceived the idea
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of addressing himself to this monarch, and entering into friendly relations with him, taking occasion to point out to him the cer tain result of his present policy. But to act openly in this mat ter he thought inexpedient for several reasons. By doing so he would not only incur the opposition of Cleomenes and the JEtolians, but would cause consternation among the Achaeans themselves, because his appeal to their enemies would give the impression that he had abandoned all the hopes he once had in them. This was the very last idea he desired should go abroad; and he therefore determined to conduct this intrigue in secrecy.
The Battle of Sellasia, b. o. 221.
Cleomenes had expected the attack, and had secured the passes into the country by posting garrisons, digging trenches, and felling trees ; while he took up position at a place called Sellasia, with an army amounting to twenty thousand, having calculated that the invading forces would take that direction : which turned out to be the case.
The sight of these preparations decided Antigonus not to make an immediate attack upon the position, or rashly hazard an engagement. He pitched his camp a short distance from it, covering his front by the stream called Gorgylus, and there re mained for some days ; informing himself by reconnaisances of the peculiarities of the ground and the character of the troops, and at the same time endeavoring by feigned movements to elicit the intentions of the enemy. But he could never find an unguarded point, or one where the troops were not entirely on the alert ; for Cleomenes was always ready at a moment's notice to be at any point that was attacked. He therefore gave up all thoughts of attacking the position ; and finally an under standing was come to between him and Cleomenes to bring the matter to the decision of battle. And indeed, fortune had there brought into competition two commanders equally endowed by nature with military skill.
The moment for beginning the battle had come : the signal was given to the Illyrians, and the word passed by the officers to their men to do their duty ; and in a moment they started into view of the enemy and began assaulting the hill. But the light-armed troops who were stationed with Cleomenes' cav alry, observing that the Achaean lines were not covered by any
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other troops behind them, charged them on the rear ; and thus reduced the division while endeavoring to carry the hill of Evas to a state of great peril, — being met as they were on their front by Eucleidas from the top of the hill, and being charged and vigorously attacked by the light-armed mercenaries on their rear. It was at this point that Philopoemen of Megalopolis, with a clear understanding of the situation and a foresight of what would happen, vainly endeavored to point out the cer tain result to his superior officers. They disregarded him for his want of experience in command and his extreme youth ; and accordingly he acted for himself, and cheering on the men of his own city made a vigorous charge on the enemy. This ef fected a diversion ; for the light-armed mercenaries, who were engaged in harassing the rear of the party ascending Evas, hear ing the shouting and seeing the cavalry engaged, abandoned their attack upon this party and hurried back to their original position to render assistance to the cavalry. The result was that the division of Illyrians, Macedonians, and the rest who were advancing with them, no longer had their attention di verted by an attack upon their rear, and so continued their advance upon the enemy with high spirits and renewed confi dence. This afterwards caused it to be acknowledged that to Philopoemen was due the honor of the success against Eucleidas.
It is clear that Antigonus at any rate entertained that opinion; for after the battle he asked Alexander, the com mander of the cavalry, with the view of convicting him of his shortcoming, "Why he had engaged before the signal was given ? " And upon Alexander answering that " He had not done so, but that a young officer from Megalopolis "had pre sumed to anticipate the signal, contrary to his wish : Antigo nus replied, " That young man acted like a good general in grasping the situation ; you, general, were the youngster. "
What Eucleidas ought to have done, when he saw the ene my's lines advancing, was to have rushed down at once upon them, thrown their ranks into disorder, and then retired him self step by step to continually higher ground into a safe posi tion ; for by thus breaking them up, and depriving them to begin with of the advantages of their peculiar armor and dis position, he would have secured the victory by the superiority of his position. But he did the very opposite of all this, and thereby forfeited the advantages of the ground. As though
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victory were assured, he kept his original position on the sum mit of the hill, with the view of catching the enemy at as great an elevation as possible, that their flight might be all the longer over steep and precipitous ground. The result, as might have been anticipated, was exactly the reverse. For he left himself no place of retreat, and by allowing the enemy to reach his position, unharmed and in unbroken order, he was placed at the disadvantage of having to give them battle on the very summit of the hill : and so, as soon as he was forced by the weight of their heavy armor and their close order to give any ground, it was immediately occupied by the Illyrians ; while his own men were obliged to take lower ground, because they had no space for maneuvering on the top. The result was not long in arriv ing : they suffered a repulse, which the difficult and precipitous nature of the ground over which they had to retire turned into a disastrous flight.
Simultaneously with these events the cavalry engagement was also being brought to a decision, in which all the Achaean cav alry, and especially Philopoemen, fought with conspicuous gal lantry, for to them it was a contest for freedom. Philopoemen himself had his horse killed under him, and while fighting accordingly on foot received a severe wound through both his thighs. Meanwhile the two kings on the other hill, Olympus, began by bringing their light-armed troops and mercenaries into action, of which each of them had five thousand. Both the kings and their entire armies had a full view of this action, which was fought with great gallantry on both sides : the charges taking place sometimes in detachments, and at other times along the whole line, and an eager emulation being dis played between the several ranks, and even between individuals. But when Cleomenes saw that his brother's division was retreat ing, and that the cavalry in the low ground were on the point of doing the same, alarmed at the prospect of an attack at all points at once, he was compelled to demolish the palisade in his front, and to lead out his whole force in line by one side of his position. A recall was sounded on the bugle for the light- armed troops of both sides, who were on the ground between the two armies ; and the phalanxes shouting their war cries, and with spears couched, charged each other. Then a fierce struggle arose : the Macedonians sometimes slowly giving ground and yielding to the superior courage of the soldiers of Sparta, and at another time the Lacedaemonians being forced to give
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way before the overpowering weight of the Macedonian pha lanx. At length Antigonus ordered a charge in close order and in double phalanx ; the enormous weight of this peculiar formation proved sufficient to finally dislodge the Lacedaemo nians from their strongholds, and they fled in disorder and suf fering severely as they went. Cleomenes himself, with a guard of cavalry, effected his retreat to Sparta ; but the same night he went down to Gythium, where all preparations for crossing the sea had been made long before in case of mishap, and with his friends sailed to Alexandria.
After the expulsion of Cleomenes (B. C. 222-221) the Pelo- ponnesians, weary of the wars that had taken place, and trust ing to the peaceful arrangement that had been come to, neglected all warlike preparations. Aratus, however, indignant and in censed at the audacity of the j5£tolian8 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 summon ing the Achaeans to an armed levy, and was all eagerness to attack the jEtolians. Eventually he took over from Timoxe- nus the seal of the league (b. c. 220) 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 Megalopolis.
Aratus had many of the qualities of a great ruler. He could speak, and contrive, and conceal his purpose : no one surpassed him in the moderation which he showed in political contests, or in his power of attaching friends and gaining allies : in intrigue, stratagem, and laying plots against a foe, and in bringing them to a successful termination by personal endurance and courage, he was preeminent. Many clear instances of these qualities may be found ; but none more convincing than the episodes of the capture of Sicyon and Mantinea, of the expulsion of the iEto- lians from Pellene, and especially of the surprise of the Acroco- rinthus. On the other hand, whenever he attempted a campaign in the field, he was slow in conception and timid in execution, and without personal gallantry in the presence of danger. The result was that the Peloponnese was full of trophies which marked reverses sustained by him ; and that in this particular department he was always easily defeated.
[He died in 213, at fifty-eight, and believed himself poisoned by Philip V. , probably without reason. ]
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In consequence of having been so often elected Strategus of the Achaean League, and of having performed so many splendid services for that people, Aratus after his death met with the honors he deserved, both in his own native city and from the league as a body. They voted him sacrifices and the honors of heroship, and, in a word, everything calculated to perpetuate his memory ; so that, if the departed have any consciousness, it is but reasonable to think that he feels pleas ure at the gratitude of the Achaeans, and at the thought of the hardships and dangers he endured in his life.
Philopcemen.
Philopoemen was of good birth (born B. C. 252), descended from one of the noblest families in Arcadia. He was also educated under that most distinguished Mantinean, Oleander, who had been his father's friend before, and happened at that time to be in exile. When he came to man's estate, he attached himself to Ecdemus and Demophanes, who were by birth natives of Megalopolis, but who, having been exiled by the tyrant, and having associated with the philosopher Arce- silaus during their exile, not only set their own country free by entering into an intrigue against Aristodemus the tyrant, but also helped in conjunction with Aratus to put down Nicocles, the tyrant of Sicyon. On another occasion, also, on the invitation of the people of Cyrene, they stood forward as their champions and preserved their freedom for them. Such were the men with whom he passed his early life ; and he at once began to show a superiority to his contemporaries by his power of enduring hardships in hunting, and by his acts of daring in war. He was, moreover, careful in his manner of life, and moderate in the outward show which he maintained ; for he had imbibed from these men the conviction, that it was impossible for a man to take the lead in public business with honor who neglected his own private affairs ; nor again to abstain from embezzling public money if he lived beyond his private income.
Being then appointed Hipparch by the Achaean league at this time (210), and finding the squadrons in a state of utter demoralization, and the men thoroughly dispirited, he not only restored them to a better state than they were, but in a short
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time made them even superior to the enemy's cavalry, by bring ing them all to adopt habits of real training and genuine emu lation.
[An account of his military reforms is given. He had also rebuked dandy ism in the officers, and urged them to transfer the care of their persons to their armor, which they do. ]
So true it is that a single word spoken by a man of credit is often sufficient not only to turn men from the worst courses, but even to incite them to the noblest. But when such a speaker can appeal to his own life as in harmony with his words, then indeed his exhortation carries a weight which noth ing can exceed. And this was above all others the case with Philopoemen. For in his dress and eating, as well as in all that concerned his bodily wants, he was plain and simple ; in his manners to others without ceremony or pretense ; and through out his life he made it his chief aim to be absolutely sincere. Consequently a few unstudied words from him were sufficient to raise a firm conviction in the minds of his hearers ; for as he could point to his own life as an example, they wanted little more to convince them. Thus it happened, on several occasions, that the confidence he inspired, and the consciousness of his achieve ments, enabled him in a few words to overthrow long and, as his opponents thought, skillfully argued speeches.
So on this occasion, as soon as the council of the league separated, all returned to their cities deeply impressed both by the words and the man himself, and convinced that no harm could happen to them with him at their head.
afterwards Philopoemen set out on a visitation of the cities, which he performed with great energy and speed. He then summoned a levy of citizens (B. C. 208), and began forming them into companies and drilling them ; and at last, after eight months of this preparation and training, he mustered his forces at Mantinea, prepared to fight the tyrant Machanidas in behalf of the freedom of all the Peloponnesians.
Second Battle of Mantinea.
Machanidas had now acquired great confidence, and looked upon the determination of the Achaeans as extremely favorable to his plans. As soon as he heard of their being in force at Mantinea (b. o. 207), he duly harangued his Lacedaemonians at Tegea, and the very next morning at daybreak advanced upon
Immediately
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Mantinea. He led the right wing of the phalanx himself ; his mercenaries marched in two parallel columns on each side of his front, and behind them were carts carrying quantities of field artillery and bolts for the catapults. Meanwhile Philopoe- men, too, had arranged his army in three divisions, and was leading them out of Mantinea.
Machanidas at first looked as though he meant to attack the enemy's right wing in column ; but when he got within moder ate distance he deployed into line by the right, and by this ex tension movement made his right wing cover the same amount of ground as the left wing of the Achaeans, and fixed his cata pults in front of the whole force at intervals. Philopoemen understood that the enemy's plan was, by pouring volleys from the catapults into his phalanx, to throw the ranks into confu sion ; he therefore gave him no time or interval of repose, but opened the engagement by a vigorous charge of his Tarentines close to the temple of Poseidon, where the ground was flat and suitable for cavalry. Whereupon Machanidas was constrained to follow suit by sending his Tarentines forward also.
At first the struggle was confined to these two forces, and was maintained with spirit. But the light-armed troops com ing gradually to the support of such of them as were wavering, in a very short time the whole of the mercenaries on either side were engaged. They fought sometimes in close order, some times in pairs ; and for a long time so entirely without decisive result that the rest of the two armies, who were watching in which direction the cloud of dust inclined, could come to no conclusion, because both sides maintained for a long while exactly their original ground. But after a time the mercenaries of the tyrant began to get the better of the struggle, from their numbers, and the superiority in skill obtained by long prac tice, the Illyrians and men with body armor, who formed the reserve supporting the mercenaries of the Achaean army, were unable to withstand their assault ; but were all driven from their position, and fled in confusion towards the city of Man tinea, which was about seven stades distant.
And now there occurred an undoubted instance of what some doubt, namely, that the issues in war are for the most part decided by the skill or want of skill of the commanders. For though perhaps it is a great thing to be able to follow up afirst success properly, it is a greater thing still that, when the first step has proved a failure, a man should retain his presence of
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mind, keep a good lookout for any error of judgment on the part of the victors, and avail himself of their mistakes. At any rate one often sees the side, which imagines itself to have obtained a clear victory, ultimately lose the day ; while those who seemed at first to have failed recover themselves by pres ence of mind, and ultimately win an unexpected victory. Both happened on this occasion to the respective leaders.
The whole of the Achaean mercenaries having been driven from their ground, and their left wing having been thoroughly broken up, Machanidas abandoned his original plan of winning the day by outflanking the enemy with some of his forces and charging their front with others, and did neither ; but, quite losing his head, rushed forward heedlessly with all his mer cenaries in pursuit of the fugitives, as though the panic was not in itself sufficient to drive those who had once given way up to the town gates.
