Cleomenes Tries to Take Megalopolis
Again the Spartan Cleomenes, when proposing to take
note
Megalopolis by a stratagem, arranged with the
guards of that part of the wall near what is called
the Cavern to come out with all their men in the third watch,
the hour at which his partisans were on duty on the wall;
but not having taken into consideration the fact that at the
time of the rising of the Pleiads the nights are
very short, he started his army from Sparta
about sunset. note The result was that he was not able to get
there in time, but being overtaken by daybreak, made a rash
and ill-considered attempt to carry the town, and was repulsed
with considerable loss and the danger of a complete overthrow.
Now if he had, in accordance with his arrangement, hit the
proper time, and led in his men while his partisans were in
command of the entrance, he would not have failed in his
attempt.
Similarly, once more, King Philip, as I have already note
stated, when carrying on an intrigue in the
city of Meliteia, made a mistake in two ways.
The ladders which he brought were too short
for their purpose, and he mistook the time. For having
arranged to arrive about midnight, when every one was fast
asleep, he started from Larissa and arrived in the territory of
Meliteia too early, and was neither able to halt, for fear of his
arrival being announced in the city, nor to get back again
without being discovered. Being compelled therefore to continue his advance, he arrived at the city while the inhabitants
were still awake. Consequently he could neither carry the
wall by an escalade, because of the insufficient length of the
ladders; nor enter by the gate, because it was too early for his
partisans inside to help him. Finally, he did nothing but
irritate the people of the town; and, after losing a considerable
number of his own men, retired unsuccessful and covered with
disgrace; having only given a warning to the rest of the
world to distrust him and be on their guard against him.
