Dorimachus Leaves Messene
Even while he was actually in Messene, the pirates
came close to the city walls in the night, and by means of
scaling-ladders broke into a country-house called Chiron's
villa; killed all the slaves who resisted them; and having
bound the others, took them and the cattle away
with them. note The Messenian Ephors had long
been much annoyed by what was going on, and
by the presence of Dorimachus in their town; but this they
thought was too insolent: and they accordingly summoned
him to appear before the assembled magistrates. There
Sciron, who happened to be an Ephor at the time, and enjoyed
a high reputation for integrity among his fellow-citizens,
advised that they should not allow Dorimachus to leave the
city, until he had made good all the losses sustained by the
Messenians, and had given up the guilty persons to be
punished for the murders committed. This suggestion being
received with unanimous approval, as but just, Dorimachus
passionately exclaimed that "they were fools if they imagined
that they were now insulting only Dorimachus, and not the
Aetolian league." In fact he expressed the greatest indignation
at the whole affair, and said that "they would meet with
a public punishment, which would serve them well right."
Now there was at that time in Messene a man of disgraceful
and effeminate character named Babyrtas, who was so exactly
like Dorimachus in voice and person, that, when he was dressed
in Dorimachus's sun-hat and cloak, it was impossible to tell
them apart; and of this Dorimachus was perfectly aware. When
therefore he was speaking in these threatening and insolent
tones to the Messenian magistrates, Sciron lost his temper and
said: "Do you think we care for you or your threats,
Babyrtas?" After this Dorimachus was compelled for the
present to yield to circumstances, and to give satisfaction for
the injuries inflicted upon the Messenians: but when he
-- 280 --
returned to Aetolia, he nursed such a bitter and furious feeling
of anger at this taunt, that, without any other reasonable pretext, but for this cause and this alone, he got up a war against
the Messenians.
