the cavalry general-第3章
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〃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 devolve upon the ｛ouragos｝ under many circumstances）。 Cf。
〃Cyrop。〃 II。 iii。 21； 〃Hell。〃 IV。 viii。 37； Plat。 〃Laws；〃 760 D。 =
our 〃officer serre…file；〃 to some extent。 So Courier： 〃Celui qui
commande en serre…file。 C'est chez nous le capitaine en second。〃
＇8＇ Or； 〃the rest of the squadron。〃 Lit。 〃his own tribesmen。〃
An even number of file…leaders will admit of a greater number of equal
subdivisions than an odd。
The above formation pleases me for two good reasons： in the first
place； all the front…rank men are forced to act as officers；＇9＇ and
the same man； mark you； when in command is somehow apt to feel that
deeds of valour are incumbent on him which； as a private； he ignores；
and in the next place； at a crisis when something calls for action on
the instant； the word of command passed not to privates but to
officers takes speedier effect。
＇9＇ i。e。 all find themselves in a position of command； and there is
nothing like command to inspire that feeling of noblesse oblige
which is often lacking in the private soldier。 See Thuc。 v。 66；
〃Pol。 Lac。〃 xi。 5。
Supposing； then； a regiment of cavalry drawn up in this formation：
just as the squadron…leaders have their several positions for the
march （or the attack＇10＇） assigned them by the commander； so the file…
leaders will depend upon the captain for the order passed along the
line in what formation they are severally to march； and all being
prearranged by word of mouth； the whole will work more smoothly than
if left to chancelike people crowding out of a theatre to their
mutual annoyance。 And when it comes to actual encounter greater
promptitude will be displayed： supposing the attack is made in front；
by the file…leaders who know that this is their appointed post； or in
case of danger suddenly appearing in rear； then by the rear…rank men；
whose m
