The ox was, of course, the Peloponnesus, and the other horn was the Acro-Corinthus, which, with Ithome, gave Philip power over the whole peninsula.  The king then asked Aratus’ advice.  He said, “Thieves nestle in the fastnesses of rocks.  A king’s best fortress is loyalty and love;” and at his words Philip turned away, and left the fort to its own people. He was at that time a youth full of good promise, but he let himself be led astray by the vices and pleasures of his court, and withdrew his favour from Aratus.  Then he began to misuse the Messenians, and had their country ravaged.  Aratus, who was for the seventeenth time general of the League, made a complaint, and Philip, in return, contrived that he should be slowly poisoned.  He said nothing; only once, when a friend noticed his illness, he said, “This is the effect of the friendship of kings.”  He died in 213, and just about this time Philopœmen of Megalopolis returned from serving in the Cretan army to fight for his country.  He was a thoroughly noble-hearted man, and a most excellent general, and he did much to improve the Achaian army.  In the meantime Sparta had fallen under the power of another tyrant, called Nabis, a horribly cruel wretch, who had had a statue made in the likeness of his wife, with nails and daggers all over her breast.  His enemies were put into her arms; she clasped them, and thus they died.  He robbed the unhappy people of Sparta; and all the thieves, murderers, and outlaws of the country round were taken into his service, and parties of them sent out to collect plunder all over the Peloponnesus.  At last one of his grooms ran away with some horses, and took refuge at Megalopolis, and this Nabis made a cause for attacking both that city and Messenia; but at last Philopœmen was made general of the Achaian League, and gave the wretch such a defeat as forced him to keep at home, while Philopœmen ravaged Laconia.