Cleomenes Invades Argos
Megalopolis having fallen, then, Antigonus spent the
note
winter at Argos. But at the approach of spring
Cleomenes collected his army, addressed a
suitable exhortation to them, and led them into
the Argive territory. Most people thought this a hazardous
and foolhardy step, because the places at which the frontier
was crossed were strongly fortified; but those who were
capable of judging regarded the measure as at once safe and
prudent. For seeing that Antigonus had dismissed his forces,
he reckoned on two things,—there would be no one to resist
him, and therefore he would run no risk; and when the
Argives found that their territory was being laid waste up to
their walls, they would be certain to be roused to anger and to
lay the blame upon Antigonus: therefore, if on the one hand
Antigonus, unable to bear the complaints of the populace, were
to sally forth and give him battle with his present forces, Cleomenes felt sure of an easy victory; but if on the other hand
Antigonus refused to alter his plans, and kept persistently aloof,
he believed that he would be able to effect a safe retreat
home, after succeeding by this expedition in terrifying his
enemies and inspiring his own forces with courage. And this
was the actual result. For as the devastation of the country
went on, crowds began to collect and abuse Antigonus: but
like a wise general and king, he refused to allow any consideration
to outweigh that of sound strategy, and persisted in remaining inactive. Accordingly Cleomenes, in pursuance of his
plan, having terrified his enemies and inspired courage in his
own army for the coming struggle, returned home unmolested.
