Arrival at Leucas
Next morning, too, he sent for Aratus and bade him
note
have no fears, for that he would see that the business was
properly settled. When Leontius learned what had happened
to Megaleas, he came to the king's tent with some peltasts,
believing that, owing to his youth, he should overawe the king,
and quickly induce him to repent of his purpose. Coming
into the royal presence he demanded who had ventured to lay
hands on Megaleas, and lead him to confinement? But when
the king answered with firmness that he had given the order,
Leontius was dismayed; and, with an exclamation of indignant
sorrow, departed in high wrath. Immediately
after getting the fleet across the gulf, and
anchoring at Leucas, the king first gave orders
to the officers appointed to distribute the spoils to carry out
that business with all despatch; and then summoned his
friends to council, and tried the case of Megaleas. In his
speech as accuser Aratus went over the crimes of Leontius
and his party from beginning to end; detailed the massacre in
Argos perpetrated by them after the departure of Antigonus;
their arrangement made with Apelles; and finally their contrivance to prevent success at Palus. Of all these accusations he
gave distinct proof, and brought forward witnesses: and
Megaleas and Crinon being entirely unable to refute any of
them, were unanimously condemned by the king's friends.
Crinon remained under arrest, but Leontius went bail for the
payment of the Megaleas's fine. Thus the intrigue of Apelles
and Leontius turned out quite contrary to their original hopes:
for they had expected, by terrifying Aratus and isolating
Philip, to do whatever seemed to suit their interests; whereas
the result had been exactly the reverse.
-- 374 -- 