erwhelming numbers of the enemy, the Acarnanians urged
Demosthenes, the Athenian general, to build a wall so as to cut off
the town from the continent, a measure which they were convinced would
secure its capture and rid them once and for all of a most troublesome
enemy.

Demosthenes however had in the meanwhile been persuaded by the
Messenians that it was a fine opportunity for him, having so large an
army assembled, to attack the Aetolians, who were not only the enemies
of Naupactus, but whose reduction would further make it easy to gain
the rest of that part of the continent for the Athenians. The Aetolian
nation, although numerous and warlike, yet dwelt in unwalled villages
scattered far apart, and had nothing but light armour, and might,
according to the Messenians, be subdued without much difficulty before
succours could arrive. The plan which they recommended was to attack
first the Apodotians, next the Ophionians, and after these the
Eurytanians, who are the largest tribe in Aetolia, and speak, as is
said, a language exceedingly difficult to understand, and eat their
flesh raw. These once subdued, the rest would easily come in.

To this plan Demosthenes consented, not only to please the Messenians,
but also in the belief that by adding the Aetolians to his other
continental allies he would be able, without aid from home, to march
against the Boeotians by way of Ozolian Locris to Kytinium in Doris,
keeping Parnassus on his right until he descended to the Phocians, whom
he could force to join him if their ancient friendship for Athens did
not, as he anticipated, at once decide them to do so. Arrived in Phocis
he was already upon the frontier of Boeotia. He accordingly weighed from
Leucas, against the wish of the Acarnanians, and with his whole armament
sailed along the coast to Sollium, where he communicated to them his
intention; and upon their refusing to agree to it on account of the
non-investment of Leucas, himself with the rest of the forces, the
Cephallenians, the Messenians, and Zacynthians, and three hundred
Athenian marines from his own ships (the fifteen Corcyraean vessels
having departed), started on his expedition against the Aetolians. His
base he established at Oeneon in Locris, as the Ozolian Locrians were
allies of Athens and were to meet him with all their forces in the
interior. Being neighbours of the Aetolians and armed in the same way,
it was thought that they would be of great service upon