the cavalry general(骑兵队长)-第9节
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shoulders to hang on the heels of an enemy in security； and to determine
with precision＇11＇ the exact number of the enemy he will care to deal with。
Occasionally the fine chance occurs to atack the foe while encamping or
breakfasting or supping； or as the men turn out of bed： seasons at which
the soldier is apt to be unharnessedthe hoplite for a shorter； the cavalry
trooper for a longer period。＇12＇
＇11＇ See 〃Anab。〃 II。 v。 18； 〃Cyrop。〃 III。 iii。 47； IV。 i。 18。
｛tamieusasthai｝； 〃with the precision of a controller。〃
＇12＇ Cf。 〃Hell。〃 II。 iv。 6； VII。 i。 16。
As to vedettes and advanced outposts； you should never cease
planning and plotting against them。 For these in their turn； as a rule； are
apt to consist of small numbers； and are sometimes posted at a great
distance from their own main body。 But if after all it turns out that the
enemy are well on their guard against all such attempts； then； God helping；
it would be a feat of arms to steal into the enemy's country； first making it
your business to ascertain＇13＇ his defences； the number of men at this； that；
and the other point； and how they are distributed throughout the country。
For there is no booty so splendid as an outpost so overmastered； and these
frontier outposts are especially prone to be deceived； with their propensity
to give chase to any small body they set eyes on； regarding that as their
peculiar function。 You will have to see； however； in retiring that your line
of retreat is not right into the jaws of the enemy's reliefs hastening to the
scene of action。
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＇13＇ Or； 〃having first studied。〃 Cf。 〃Mem。〃 III。 vi。 10。
VIII
It stands to reason； however； that in order to be able to inflict real
damage upon a greatly superior force； the weaker combatant must possess
such a moral superiority over the other as shall enable him to appear in the
position of an expert； trained in all the feats of cavalry performance in the
field； and leave his enemy to play the part of raw recruits or amateurs。＇1＇
＇1＇ Cf。 〃Cyrop。〃 I。 v。 11； 〃Mem。〃 III。 vii。 7。
And this end may be secured primarily on this wise： those who are to
form your guerilla bands＇2＇ must be so hardened and inured to the saddle
that they are capable of undergoing all the toils of a campaign。＇3＇ That a
squadron （and I speak of horse and man alike） should enter these lists in
careless； disorderly fashion suggests the idea of a troop of women stepping
into the arena to cope with male antagonists。
＇2＇ Or； add； 〃for buccaneers and free…lances you must be。〃
＇3＇ Lit。 〃every toil a soldier can encounter。〃
But reverse the picture。 Suppose men and horses to have been taught
and trained to leap trenches and scale dykes； to spring up banks； and
plunge from heights without scathe； to gallop headlong at full speed
adown a steep： they will tower over unpractised opponents as the birds of
the air tower over creatures that crawl and walk。＇4＇ Their feet are case…
hardened by constant training； and； when it comes to tramping over rough
ground； must differ from the uninitiated as the sound man from the lame。
And so again； when it comes to charging and retiring； the onward…dashing
gallop； the well…skilled； timely retreat； expert knowledge of the ground
and scenery will assert superiority over inexpertness like that of eyesight
over blindness。
＇4＇ See 〃Horse。〃 viii。 6； cf。 〃Hunting；〃 xii。 2； 〃Cyrop。〃 I。 vi。 28
foll。
Nor should it be forgotten； that in order to be in thorough efficiency
the horses must not only be well fed and in good condition； but at the same
time so seasoned by toil that they will go through their work without the
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The Cavalry General
risk of becoming broken…winded。 And lastly； as bits and saddle…cloths （to
be efficient）＇5＇ need to be attached by straps； a cavalry general should
never be without a good supply； whereby at a trifling expense he may
convert a number of nonplussed troopers into serviceable fighting men。＇6＇
＇5＇ ＇｛khresima｝＇ L。D。 For the ｛upomnema｝ itself cf。 〃Cyrop。〃 VI。 ii。
32。
＇6＇ Or； 〃thus at a trifling outlay he will be able to render so many
non…efficients useful。〃 Al。 〃make the articles as good as new。〃
But if any one is disposed to dwell on the amount of trouble it will cost
him； if he is required to devote himself to horsemanship so assiduously； let
him console himself with the reflection that the pains and labours
undergone by any man in training for a gymnastic contest are far larger
and more formidable than any which the severest training of the horseman
will involve； and for this reason； that the greater part of gymnastic
exercises are performed 〃in the sweat of the brow；〃 while equestrian
exercise is performed with pleasure。 Indeed； there is no accomplishment
which so nearly realises the aspiration of a man to have the wings of a bird
than this of horsemanship。＇7＇ But further； to a victory obtained in war
attaches a far greater weight of glory than belongs to the noblest contest of
the arena。＇8＇ Of these the state indeed will share her meed of glory；＇9＇ but
in honour of victory in war the very gods are wont to crown whole states
with happiness。＇10＇ So that； for my part； I know not if there be aught else
which has a higher claim to be practised than the arts of war。
＇7＇ Cf。 〃Cyrop。〃 IV。 iii。 15； Herod。 iv。 132； Plat。 〃Rep。〃 v。 467 D。
＇8＇ Cf。 Eur。 〃Autolycus；〃 fr。 1； trans。 by J。 A。 Symonds； 〃Greek
Poets；〃 2nd series； p。 283。
＇9＇ Cf。 Plut。 〃Pelop。〃 34 （Clough； ii。 p。 235）： 〃And yet who would
compare all the victories in the Pythian and Olympian games put
together； with one of these enterprises of Pelopidas； of which he
successfully performed so many？〃
＇10＇ 〃To bind about the brows of states happiness as a coronal。〃
And this； too； is worth noting： that the buccaneer by sea； the
privateersman； through long practice in endurance； is able to live at the
expense of far superior powers。 Yes； and the life of the freebooter is no
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less natural and appropriate to landsmenI do not say； to those who can
till and gather in the fruit of their fields； but to those who find themselves
deprived of sustenance； since there is no alternativeeither men must till
their fields or live on the tillage of others； otherwise how will they find the
means either of living or of obtaining peace？＇11＇
＇11＇ Cf。 〃Econ。〃 v。 7。
Here； too； is a maxim to engrave upon the memory： in charging a
superior force； never to leave a difficult tract of ground in the rear of your
attack； since there is all the difference in the world between a stumble in
flight and a stumble in pursuit。
There is another precaution which I feel called upon to note。 Some
generals；＇12＇ in attacking a force which they imagine to be inferior to their
own； will advance with a ridiculously insufficient force；＇13＇ so that it is
the merest accident if they do not experience the injury they were minded
to inflict。 Conversely； in attacking any enemy whose superiority is a well…
known fact； they will bring the whole of their force into action。
＇12＇ Or； 〃one knows of generals；〃 e。g。 Iphicrates at Oneion； 369 B。C。
Cf。 〃Hell。〃 VI。 v。 51。
＇13＇ Lit。 〃an absolutely weak force。〃
Now； my maxim would be precisely converse： if you attack with a
prospect of superiority； do not grudge employing all the power at your
command； excess of victory＇14＇ never yet caused any conqueror one pang
of remorse。
＇14＇ Or； 〃a great and decided victory。〃 Cf。 〃Hiero；〃 ii。 16。
But in any attempt to attack superior forces； in full certainty that； do
what you can； you must eventually retire； it is far better； say I； under these
circumstances to bring a fraction only of your whole
