Intrigue of Apelles Against Aratus
Meanwhile Philip left Megalopolis, and marching by
note
way of Tegea arrived at Argos, and there spent
the rest of the winter, having gained in this
campaign an admiration beyond his years for his
general conduct and his brilliant achievements. But, in spite
of all that had happened, Apelles was by no means inclined to
desist from the policy on which he had entered; but was
resolved little by little to bring the Achaeans under the
yoke. He saw that the most determined opponents of his
scheme were the elder and younger Aratus; and that Philip
was inclined to listen to them, and especially to the elder,
both on account of his former intimacy with Antigonus,
and his pre-eminent influence in Achaia, and, most of all,
because of his readiness of resource and practical ability: he
therefore determined to devote his attention to them, and
enter upon the intrigue against them which I shall proceed to
describe. He sought out in the several cities all such as were
opposed to Aratus, and invited them to visit him: and having
got them into his hands he tried all he could to win their
affections, encouraged them to look upon him as a friend,
and introduced them to Philip. To the king he was always
pointing out that, if he listened to Aratus, he would have to
treat the Achaeans according to the letter of the treaty of
alliance; but that, if he would listen to him, and take men like
those which he had introduced to him into favour, he would
have the whole of the Peloponnese at his own unfettered disposal.
But what he was most anxious about was the election; being
desirous to secure the office of Strategus for one of this party,
and to oust Aratus in accordance with his settled plan. note With
this purpose, he persuaded Philip to be at
Aegium at the time of the Achaean election, on
-- 354 --
the pretext of being on his way to Elis. note The king's consent to
this enabled Apelles himself to be there at the right time; and
though he found great difficulty, in spite of
entreaties and threats, in carrying his point; yet
he did eventually succeed in getting Eperatus
of Pharae elected Strategus, and Timoxenus, the
candidate proposed by Aratus, rejected.
