on horsemanship(骑马术)-第10节
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＇1＇ ｛lampros｝。 Cf。 Isae。 xi。 41 （〃On the estate of Hagnias〃）； Lys。
xix。 63 （〃de Bon。 Arist。〃）。
＇2＇ See Berenger； ii。 68。
＇3＇ Lit。 〃testicles。〃
There are； indeed； other methods of teaching these arts。＇4＇ Some do so
by touching the horse with a switch under the hocks； others employ an
attendant to run alongside and strike the horse with a stick under the
gaskins。 For ourselves； however； far the best method of instruction；＇5＇ as
we keep repeating； is to let the horse feel that whatever he does in
obedience to the rider's wishes will be followed by some rest and
relaxation。
＇4＇ Lit。 〃People； it must be admitted； claim to teach these arts in
varous wayssome by 。 。 。 others by bidding 。 。 。〃
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＇5＇ Reading ｛didaskalion｝； al。 ｛didaskalion｝； 〃systems。〃 Schneid。 cf。
Herod。 v。 58。
To quote a dictum of Simon； what a horse does under compulsion he
does blindly； and his performance is no more beautiful than would be that
of a ballet…dancer taught by whip and goad。 The performances of horse or
man so treated would seem to be displays of clumsy gestures rather than
of grace and beauty。 What we need is that the horse should of his own
accord exhibit his finest airs and paces at set signals。＇6＇ Supposing； when
he is in the riding…field；＇7＇ you push him to a gallop until he is bathed in
sweat； and when he begins to prance and show his airs to fine effect； you
promptly dismount and take off the bit； you may rely upon it he will of his
own accord another time break into the same prancing action。 Such are the
horses on which gods and heroes ride； as represented by the artist。 The
majesty of men themselves is best discovered in the graceful handling of
such animals。＇8＇ A horse so prancing is indeed a thing of beauty； a wonder
and a marvel； riveting the gaze of all who see him； young alike and
graybeards。 They will never turn their backs； I venture to predict； or weary
of their gazing so long as he continues to display his splendid action。
＇6＇ Or； 〃by aids and signs；〃 as we say。
＇7＇ Or； 〃exercising…ground。〃
＇8＇ Or； 〃and the man who knows how to manage such a creature
gracefully himself at once appears magnificent。〃
If the possessor of so rare a creature should find himself by chance in
the position of a squadron leader or a general of cavalry； he must not
confine his zeal to the development of his personal splendour； but should
study all the more to make the troop or regiment a splendid spectacle。
Supposing （in accordance with the high praise bestowed upon the type of
animal）＇9＇ the leader is mounted on a horse which with his high airs and
frequent prancing makes but the slightest movement forwardobviously
the rest of the troop must follow at a walking pace； and one may fairly ask
where is the element of splendour in the spectacle？ But now suppose that
you； sir； being at the head of the procession； rouse your horse and take the
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On Horsemanship
lead at a pace neither too fast nor yet too slow； but in a way to bring out
the best qualities in all the animals； their spirit； fire； grace of mien and
bearing ripe for actionI say； if you take the lead of them in this style； the
collective thud； the general neighing and the snorting of the horses will
combine to render not only you at the head； but your whole company＇10＇
down to the last man a thrilling spectacle。
＇9＇ Reading as vulg。 ｛os malista epainousi tous toioutous ippous； os｝。
L。 Dind。 omits the words as a gloss。
＇10＇ Reading ｛oi｝ （for ｛osoi｝） ｛sumparepomenoi｝。 See Hartmann；
〃An。 Xen。 Nov。〃 xiv。 p。 343。
One word more。 Supposing a man has shown some skill in purchasing
his horses； and can rear them into strong and serviceable animals；
supposing further he can handle them in the right way； not only in the
training for war； but in exercises with a view to display； or lastly； in the
stress of actual battle； what is there to prevent such a man from making
every horse he owns of far more value in the end than when he bought it；
with the further outlook that； unless some power higher than human
interpose；＇11＇ he will become the owner of a celebrated stable； and
himself as celebrated for his skill in horsemanship。
＇11＇ Or； 〃there is nothing； humanly speaking； to prevent such a man。〃
For the phrase see 〃Mem。〃 I。 iii。 5； cf。 〃Cyrop。〃 I。 vi。 18； and for the
advice； 〃Econ。〃 iii。 9； 10。
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XII
We will now describe the manner in which a trooper destined to run
the risks of battle upon horseback should be armed。 In the first place； then；
we would insist； the corselet must be made to fit the person； since； if it fits
well； its weight will be distributed over the whole body； whereas； if too
loose； the shoulders will have all the weight to bear； while； if too tight； the
corselet is no longer a defensive arm； but a 〃strait jacket。〃＇1＇ Again； the
neck； as being a vital part；＇2＇ ought to have； as we maintain； a covering；
appended to the corselet and close…fitting。 This will serve as an ornament；
and if made as it ought to be； will conceal the rider's faceif so he
choosesup to the nose。
＇1＇ Cf。 〃Mem。〃 III。 x。
＇2＇ L。 Dind。 cf。 Hom。 〃Il。〃 viii。 326：
｛。 。 。 othi kleis apoergei aukhena te stethos te； malista de kairion estin。｝
〃Where the collar…bone fenceth off neck and breast； and where is the
most deadly spot〃 （W。 Leaf）。
As to the helmet； the best kind； in our opinion； is one of the Boeotian
pattern；＇3＇ on the principle again； that it covers all the parts exposed above
the breastplate without hindering vision。 Another point： the corselet should
be so constructed that it does not prevent its wearer sitting down or
stooping。 About the abdomen and the genitals and parts surrounding＇4＇
flaps should be attached in texture and in thickness sufficient to protect＇5＇
that region。
＇3＇ Schneider cf。 Aelian； 〃V。 H。〃 iii。 24； Pollux； i。 149。
＇4＇ Schneider cf。 〃Anab。〃 IV。 vii。 15； and for ｛kai ta kuklo｝； conj。
｛kuklo｝； 〃the abdomen and middle should be encircled by a skirt。〃
＇5＇ Lit。 〃let there be wings of such sort； size； and number as to
protect the limbs。〃
Again； as an injury to the left hand may disable the horseman； we
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would recommend the newly…invented piece of armour called the gauntlet；
which protects the shoulder； arm； and elbow； with the hand engaged in
holding the reins； being so constructed as to extend and contract； in
addition to which it covers the gap left by the corselet under the armpit。
The case is different with the right hand； which the horseman must needs
raise to discharge a javelin or strike a blow。 Here； accordingly； any part of
the corselet which would hinder action out to be removed； in place of
which the corselet ought to have some extra flaps＇6＇ at the joints； which as
the outstretched arm is raised unfold； and as the arm descends close tight
again。 The arm itself；＇7＇ it seems to us； will better be protected by a piece
like a greave stretched over it than bound up with the corselet。 Again； the
part exposed when the right hand is raised should be covered close to the
corselet either with calfskin or with metal； or else there will be a want of
protection just at the most vital point。
＇6＇ ｛prosthetai｝； 〃moveable；〃 〃false。〃 For ｛gigglumois｝ L。 & S。 cf。
Hipp。 411。 12； Aristot。 〃de An。〃 iii。 10。 9 = 〃ball…and…socket joints。〃
＇7＇ i。e。 〃forearm。〃
Moreover； as any damage done to the horse will involve his rider in
extreme peril； the horse also should be clad in armourfrontlet； breastplate；
and thigh…pieces；＇8＇ which latt
