27.31
While
the king was preoccupied with the preparations for the Games, and was
allowing himself more recreation than was possible in a time of active
warfare, P. Sulpicius, setting sail from Naupactus, brought up his fleet
between Sicyon and Corinth, and spread devastation far and wide over that
wonderfully fertile land. This news brought Philip away from the Games. He
hurried off with his cavalry, leaving the infantry to follow, and caught the
Romans whilst they were dispersed through the fields in all directions, laden
with plunder, and utterly unsuspicious of danger. They were driven to their
ships, and the Roman fleet returned to Naupactus, far from happy at the
result of their raid. Philip returned to see the close of the Games, and their
splendour was enhanced by the news of his victory, for whatever its
importance it was still a victory over the Romans. What added to the
universal enjoyment of the festival was the way in which he gratified the
people by laying aside his diadem and purple robe and the rest of his royal
state so as to be, as far as appearance went, on a level with the rest. Nothing
is more grateful than this to the citizens of a free State. He would indeed
have given them every reason to hope that their liberties would remain
unimpaired if he had not sullied and disgraced all by his insufferable
debauchery. Accompanied by one or two boon companions, he ranged as he
pleased through homes and families, day and night, and by stooping to the
status of a private citizen he attracted less notice and was therefore under
less restraint. The liberty with which he had cheated others he turned in his
own case to unbridled licence, and he did not always effect his purpose by
money or blandishments but even resorted to criminal violence. It was a
dangerous thing for husbands and fathers to place obstacles in the way of the
king's lusts by any untimely scruples on their part. A lady called Polycratia,
the wife of Aratus, one of the leading men amongst the Achaeans, was taken
away from her husband and carried off to Macedon under a promise from
the king to marry her. In the midst of these debaucheries the sacred festival
of the Nemean Games came to a close. A few days afterwards Philip
marched to Dymae to expel the Aetolian garrison which the Eleans had
invited and admitted into their city. Here the king was met by the Achaeans
under Cycliadas their captain general, who were burning with resentment
against the Eleans for having deserted the Achaean League, and furious
against the Aetolians for having, as they believed, brought the arms of Rome
against them. The combined force left Dymae and crossed the Larisus, which
separates the territory of Elia from that of Dymae.