the cavalry general-第2章
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another on the stones； whilst being rubbed down or simply because he
is fidgeted by flies。 Let any one try the experiment； and； I venture
to predict； not only will he come to trust my guidance； but he will
see his horse's hoofs grow just as round and solid as the cobbles。
＇23＇ See below； 〃Horse。〃 iv。 4。 The Greeks did not 〃shoe〃 their
horses。
Assuming； then； your horses are all that horses ought to be； how is
the trooper to attain a like degree of excellence？ To that question I
will now address myself。 The art of leaping on to horseback is one
which we would fain persuade the youthful members of the corps to
learn themselves； though； if you choose to give them an
instructor；＇24＇ all the greater credit to yourself。 And as to the
older men you cannot do better than accustom them to mount； or rather
to be hoisted up by aid of some one； Persian fashion。＇25＇
＇24＇ Like Pheidon； in the fragment of Mnesimachus's play 〃The Breeder
of Horses；〃 ap。 Athen。 See Courier； ib。 p。 55。
＇25＇ See 〃Anab。〃 IV。 iv。 4； 〃Horsemanship；〃 vi。 12。
With a view to keeping a firm seat on every sort of ground； it may be
perhaps be thought a little irksome to be perpetually marching out；
when there is no war；＇26＇ but all the same； I would have you call your
men together and impress upon them the need to train themselves； when
they ride into the country to their farms； or elsewhere； by leaving
the high road and galloping at a round pace on ground of every
description。＇27＇ This method will be quite as beneficial to them as
the regular march out； and at the same time not produce the same sense
of tedium。 You may find it useful also to remind them that the state
on her side is quite willing to expend a sum of nearly forty
talents＇28＇ yearly； so that in the event of war she may not have to
look about for cavalry； but have a thoroughly efficient force to hand
for active service。 Let these ideas be once instilled into their
minds； and； mark my words； your trooper will fall with zest to
practising horsemanship； so that if ever the flame of war burst out he
may not be forced to enter the lists a raw recruit； unskilled to fight
for fame and fatherland or even life itself。
＇26＇ In the piping days of peace。
＇27＇ See 〃Econ。〃 xi。 17。 Cf。 Theophr。 〃Ch。〃 viii。 〃The Late Learner〃：
｛kai eis agron eph' ippou allotriou katakhoumenos ama meletan
ippazesthai； kai peson ten kephalon kateagenai｝； 〃Riding into the
country on another's horse； he will practise his horsemanship by
the way； and falling； will break his head〃 （Jebb）。
＇28＇ = L10；000 circa。 See Boeckh； op。 cit。 p。 251。
It would be no bad thing either； to forewarn your troopers that one
day you will take them out yourself for a long march； and lead them
across country over every kind of ground。 Again； whilst practising the
evolutions of the rival cavalry display；＇29＇ it will be well to gallop
out at one time to one district and again to another。 Both men and
horses will be benefited。
＇29＇ Lit。 〃the anthippasia。〃 See iii。 11； and 〃Horsemanship；〃 viii。
10。
Next； as to hurling the javelin from horseback； the best way to secure
as wide a practice of the art as possible； it strikes me； would be to
issue an order to your phylarchs that it will be their duty to put
themselves at the head of the marksmen of several tribes； and to ride
out to the butts for practice。 In this way a spirit of emulation will
be rousedthe several officers will； no doubt； be eager to turn out
as many marksmen as they can to aid the state。＇30＇
＇30＇ On competition cf。 〃Cyrop。〃 II。 i。 22； and our author passim。
And so too； to ensure that splendour of accoutrement which the force
requires；＇31＇ the greatest help may once again be looked for from the
phylarchs； let these officers but be persuaded that from the public
point of view the splendid appearance of their squadrons＇32＇ will
confer a title to distinction far higher than that of any personal
equipment。 Nor is it reasonable to suppose that they will be deaf to
such an argument； since the very desire to hold the office of phylarch
itself proclaims a soul alive to honour and ambition。 And what is
more； they have it in their power； in accordance with the actual
provisions of the law； to equip their men without the outlay of a
single penny； by enforcing that self…equipment out of pay＇33＇ which
the law prescribes。
＇31＇ Or； 〃a beauty of equipment； worthy of our knights。〃 Cf。 Aristoph。
〃Lysistr。〃 561； and a fragment of 〃The Knights；〃 of Antiphanes；
ap。 Athen。 503 B； ｛pant' 'Amaltheias keras｝。 See 〃Hiero；〃 ix。 6；
〃Horse。〃 xi。 10。
＇32＇ Lit。 〃tribes；〃 ｛phulai｝ （each of the ten tribes contributing
about eighty men； or； as we might say； a squadron）。
＇33＇ i。e。 the ｛katastasis｝； 〃allowance；〃 so technically called。 Cf。
Lys。 〃for Mantitheos〃； Jebb； 〃Att。 Or。〃 i。 246； Boeckh； 〃P。 E。 A。〃
II。 xxi。 p。 263； K。 F。 Hermann； 152； 19； Martin； op。 cit。 p。 341。
But to proceed。 In order to create a spirit of obedience in your
subordinates； you have two formidable instruments；＇34＇ as a matter of
plain reason you can show them what a host of blessings the word
discipline implies； and as a matter of hard fact you can； within the
limits of the law； enable the well…disciplined to reap advantage；
while the undisciplined are made to feel the pinch at every turn。
＇34＇ 〃The one theoretic； the other practical。〃
But if you would rouse the emulation of your phylarchs； if you would
stir in each a personal ambition to appear at the head of his own
squadron in all ways splendidly appointed； the best incentive will be
your personal example。 You must see to it that your own bodyguard＇35＇
are decked with choice accoutrement and arms； you must enforce on them
the need to practise shooting pertinaciously； you must expound to them
the theory of the javelin； yourself an adept in the art through
constant training。＇36＇
＇35＇ Techn。 ｛prodromoi｝； possibly = the Hippotoxotai； or corps of 200
mounted archersScythians； cf。 〃Mem。〃 III。 iii。 11。 Or； probably；
〃mounted skirmishers；〃 distinct from the ｛ippotexotai｝。 Cf。
Arrian； 〃An。〃 i。 12。 7。 See Aristot。 〃Ath。 Pol。〃 49。 5。
＇36＇ Reading as vulg。 ｛eisegoio｝； or if with L。 D。 ｛egoio｝ （cf。 above；
S。 21）； trans。 〃you must lead them out to the butts yourself。〃
Lastly； were it possible to institute and offer prizes to the several
tribal squadrons in reward for every excellence of knighthood known to
custom in the public spectacles of our city； we have here； I think； an
incentive which will appeal to the ambition of every true Athenian。
How small； in the like case of our choruses； the prizes offered； and
yet how great the labour and how vast the sums expended！＇37＇ But we
must discover umpires of such high order that to win their verdict
will be as precious to the victor as victory itself。
＇37＇ See 〃Hell。〃 III。 iv。 15； 〃Hiero；〃 ix。 3； 〃Cyrop。〃 I。 vi。 18；
Martin； op。 cit。 p。 260 f。
II
Given； then； that your troopers are thoroughly trained in all the
above particulars； it is necessary； I presume； that they should
further be instructed in a type of evolution the effect of which will
show itself not only in the splendour of the great processions＇1＇ in
honour of the gods； but in the manouvres of the exercising…ground； in
the valorous onslaught of real battle when occasion calls； and in the
ease with which whole regiments will prosecute their march； or cross a
river； or thread a defile without the slightest symptom of confusion。
What this formation isessential； at least in my opinion； to the
noblest execution of their several dutiesI will now； without delay；
endeavour to explain。＇2＇
＇1＇ e。g。 the Panathenaic； as depicted on the frieze of the Parthenon。
＇2＇ Or； 〃what this best order is； the adoption of which will give
these several features fair accomplishment； I will without further
pause set forth。〃
We take as our basis； then； the constitutional division of ten
tribes。＇3＇ Given these； the proper course； I say； is to appoint； with
the concurrence of the several phylarchs； certain decadarchs
（file…leaders）＇4＇ to be selected from the men ripest of age and
strength； most eager to achieve some deed of honour and to be known to
fame。 These are to form your front…rank men；＇5＇ and after these； a
corresponding number should be chosen from the oldest and the most
sagacious members of the squadron； to form the rear…rank of the files
or decads； since； to use an illustration； iron best severs iron when
the forefront of the blade＇6＇ is strong and tempered； and the momentum
at the back is sufficient。
＇3＇ See 〃Revenues；〃 iv。 30。
＇4＇ Decadarchs； lit。 commanders of ten； a 〃file〃 consisting normally
（or ideally） of ten men。 Cf。 〃Cyrop。 II。 ii。 30； VIII。 i。 14。 It
will be borne in mind that a body of cavalry would； as a rule； be
drawn up in battle line at least four deep （see 〃Hell。〃 III。 iv。
13）； and frequently much deeper。 （The Persian cavalry in the
engagement just referred to were twelve deep。）
＇5＇ See 〃Cyrop。〃 III。 iii。 41； 57； VI。 iii。 24； 27； VII。 i。 15； 〃Pol。
Lac。〃 xi。 5。 These front…rank men would seem to correspond to our
〃troop guides；〃 and the rear…rank men to our serre…files to some
extent。
＇6＇ Cf。 Aelian Tact。 26； ap。 Courier。
The interval between the front and rear…rank men will best be filled
supposing that the decadarchs are free to choose their own supports；
and those chosen theirs； and so on following suit； since on this
principle we may expect each man to have his trustiest comrade at his
back。
As to your lieutenant；＇7＇ it is every way important to appoint a good
man to this post； whose bravery will tell； and in case of need at any
time to charge the enemy； the cheering accents of his voice will
infuse strength into those in front； or when the critical moment of
retreat arrives； his sage conduct in retiring will go far； we may well
conclude； towards saving his division。＇8＇
＇7＇ ｛ton aphegoumenon｝； lit。 〃him who leads back〃 （a function which
would de
