§4.70.1ποιησάμενος δὲ τὴν πορείαν διὰ τῆς Ἀρκαδίας, καὶ πολλὰς ἀναδεξάμενος χιόνας καὶ ταλαιπωρίας ἐν ταῖς περὶ τὸν Ὀλύγυρτον ὑπερβολαῖς, τῇ τρίτῃ τῶν ἡμερῶν κατῆρε νύκτωρ εἰς Καφύας.
Having made his march through Arcadia, and having encountered much snow and hardships in the passes around Oligyrtus, on the third day he arrived by night at Caphyae.
§4.70.2θεραπεύσας δὲ τὴν δύναμιν ἐπὶ δύʼ ἡμέρας ἐνταῦθα, καὶ προσαναλαβὼν Ἄρατον τὸν νεώτερον καὶ τοὺς ἅμα τούτῳ συνηθροισμένους τῶν Ἀχαιῶν, ὥστʼ εἶναι τὴν ὅλην δύναμιν εἰς τοὺς μυρίους, προῆγε διὰ τῆς Κλειτορίας ὡς ἐπὶ Ψωφῖδος, συναθροίζων ἐκ τῶν πόλεων ὧν διεπορεύετο βέλη καὶ κλίμακας.
Having rested his army there for two days, and having also taken with him the younger Aratus and the Achaeans who had assembled with him, so that the whole force amounted to about ten thousand men, he advanced through the territory of Cleitor towards Psophis, collecting missiles and scaling-ladders from the cities through which he passed.
§4.70.3ἡ δὲ Ψωφὶς ἔστι μὲν ὁμολογούμενον καὶ παλαιὸν Ἀρκάδων κτίσμα τῆς Ἀζανίδος, κεῖται δὲ τῆς μὲν συμπάσης Πελοποννήσου κατὰ τὴν μεσόγαιον, αὐτῆς δὲ τῆς Ἀρκαδίας ἐπὶ τοῖς πρὸς δυσμὰς πέρασι, συνάπτουσα τοῖς περὶ τὰς ἐσχατιὰς κατοικοῦσι τῶν προσεσπερίων Ἀχαιῶν·
Psophis is admittedly an ancient Arcadian foundation of Azanis, situated in the interior of the Peloponnese as a whole, but on the western borders of Arcadia itself, adjoining those of the western Achaeans who dwell on the frontiers.
§4.70.4ἐπίκειται δʼ εὐφυῶς τῇ τῶν Ἠλείων χώρᾳ, μεθʼ ὧν συνέβαινε τότε πολιτεύεσθαι αὐτήν.
It is advantageously situated over the territory of the Eleans, with whom it happened at that time to be politically united.
§4.70.5πρὸς ἣν Φίλιππος τριταῖος ἐκ τῶν Καφυῶν διανύσας, κατεστρατοπέδευε περὶ τοὺς ἀπέναντι τῆς πόλεως ὑπερκειμένους βουνούς, ἀφʼ ὧν ἦν κατοπτεύειν τήν τε πόλιν ὅλην ἀσφαλῶς καὶ τοὺς πέριξ αὐτῆς τόπους.
Having completed his march from Caphyae, Philip arrived before it on the third day and encamped on the hills that rise opposite the city, from which it was possible to overlook the whole city and its surrounding regions in safety.
§4.70.6συνθεωρῶν δὲ τὴν ὀχυρότητα τῆς Ψωφῖδος ὁ βασιλεὺς ἠπορεῖτο τί χρὴ ποιεῖν.
Reflecting on the strength of Psophis, the king was at a loss as to what he ought to do.
§4.70.7τὴν γὰρ ἀφʼ ἑσπέρας πλευρὰν αὐτῆς καταφέρεται λάβρος χειμάρρους ποταμός, ὃς κατὰ τὸ πλεῖστον μέρος τοῦ χειμῶνος ἄβατός ἐστι, ποιεῖ δὲ καὶ τὸ παράπαν ἐχυρὰν καὶ δυσπρόσοδον τὴν πόλιν διὰ τὸ μέγεθος τοῦ κοιλώματος, ὃ κατὰ βραχὺ τῷ χρόνῳ κατείργασται φερόμενος ἐξ ὑπερδεξίων τόπων.
For down its western side flows a rushing mountain-torrent, which is impassable for the greater part of the winter, and renders the city entirely secure and difficult of access on account of the depth of the ravine which it has gradually worn away over time as it rushes down from the higher ground.
§4.70.8παρὰ δὲ τὴν ἀπʼ ἠοῦς πλευρὰν ἔχει τὸν Ἐρύμανθον, μέγαν καὶ λάβρον ποταμόν, ὑπὲρ οὗ πολὺς καὶ ὑπὸ πολλῶν τεθρύληται λόγος.
And along its eastern side flows the Erymanthus, a large and rapid river, about which many legends are widely celebrated by many.
§4.70.9τοῦ δὲ χειμάρρου προσπίπτοντος πρὸς τὸν Ἐρύμανθον ὑπὸ τὸ πρὸς μεσημβρίαν μέρος τῆς πόλεως, συμβαίνει τὰς μὲν τρεῖς ἐπιφανείας αὐτῆς ὑπὸ τῶν ποταμῶν περιλαμβανομένας ἀσφαλίζεσθαι τὸν προειρημένον τρόπον· §4.70.10τῇ δὲ λοιπῇ, τῇ πρὸς ἄρκτον, βουνὸς ἐρυμνὸς ἐπίκειται τετειχισμένος, ἄκρας εὐφυοῦς καὶ πραγματικῆς λαμβάνων τάξιν.
Since the mountain-torrent meets the Erymanthus under the southern side of the city, it happens that three sides of it, being surrounded by the rivers, are secured in the manner described; while on the remaining side, to the north, rises a steep hill which has been fortified, serving the purpose of an naturally strong and effective citadel.
ἔχει δὲ καὶ τείχη διαφέροντα τῷ μεγέθει καὶ ταῖς κατασκευαῖς.
It also has walls outstanding in their size and construction.
§4.70.11πρὸς δὲ τούτοις βοήθειαν συνέβαινε παρὰ τῶν Ἠλείων εἰσπεπτωκέναι, καὶ τὸν Εὐριπίδαν ἐκ τῆς φυγῆς διασεσωσμένον ὑπάρχειν ἐν αὐτῇ.
In addition to this, a reinforcing force from the Eleans happened to have entered, and Euripidas, having escaped from his flight, was present in it.