Book 4
19
The Lacedaemonians had dishonourably failed to send theTreason of the Spartans. full complement of men to which they were bound by their engagement, but had despatched a small contingent only of horse and foot, to save appearances.
19
Aratus however, having his Achaean troops, behaved in thisInactivity of Aratus. instance also with the caution of a statesman, rather than the promptness of a general: for remembering his previous failure he remained inactively watching events, until Scopas and Dorimachus had accomplished all they wanted and were safe home again; although they had marched through a line of country which was quite open to attack, full of defiles, and wanting only a trumpeterReading, μόνου. See ch. 13. to sound a call to arms. But the great disaster and misfortunes endured by the Cynaethans at the hands of the Aetolians were looked upon as most richly deserved by them.
20
Now, seeing that the Arcadians as a whole have a The reasons of the barbarity of the Cynaethans. Their neglect of the refining influences of music, which is carefully encouraged in the rest of Arcadia. reputation for virtue throughout Greece, not only in respect of their hospitality and humanity, but especially for their scrupulous piety, it seems worth while to investigate briefly the barbarous character of the Cynaethans: and inquire how it came about that, though indisputably Arcadians in race, they at that time so far surpassed the rest of Greece in cruelty and contempt of law.
