Aratus

And in truth Aratus had attempted to travel along that path. But since Antigonus[*](Antigonus Gonatas, king of Macedonia, 283-239 B.C.) neglected his promises and prolonged the time, and since the hopes derived from Egypt and Ptolemy[*](Ptolemy Philadelphus, king of Egypt 283-247 B.C.) were a long way off, he resolved to overthrow the tyrant by his own efforts.

The first to whom he imparted his design were Aristomachus and Ecdelus. Of these, the one was an exile from Sicyon, and Ecdelus was an Arcadian of Megalopolis, a student of philosophy and a man of action, who had been an intimate friend of Arcesilaüs the Academic at Athens.

These men eagerly adopted his proposals, and he then began conversations with the other exiles. A few of these took part in the enterprise because they were ashamed to disappoint the hope placed in them, but the majority actually tried to stop Aratus, on the ground that his inexperience made him over-bold.