the cavalry general-第2节
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To come to the existing body of knights；＇20＇ it would tend；＇21＇ I
think； to better rearing and more careful treatment of their horses if
the senate issued a formal notice that for the future twice the amount
of drill will be required； and that any horse unable to keep up will
be rejected。 And so； too； with regard to vicious horses； I should like
to see an edict promulgated to the effect that all such animals will
be rejected。 This threat would stimulate the owners of such brutes to
part with them by sale； and； what is more； to exercise discretion at
the time of purchase。 So； too； it would be a good thing if the same
threat of rejection were made to include horses that kick on the
exercising…grounds； since it is impossible to keep such animals in the
ranks； and in case of an advance against a hostile force at any
point；＇22＇ they must perforce trail in the rear； so that； thanks to
the vice of the animal which he bestrides； the trooper himself is
rendered useless。
＇20＇ Or； 〃As regards those who are actually serving in the cavalry。〃
For a plausible emend。 of this passage （S。 13） see Courier （〃Notes
sur le texte；〃 p。 54）； L。 Dind。 ad loc。
＇21＇ Lit。 〃the senate might incite to 。 。 。〃
＇22＇ Reading ｛ean｝； or if ｛kan｝ with the MSS。； trans。 〃even in case of
an advance against the enemy。〃
With a view to strengthening the horses' feet： if any one has an
easier or more simple treatment to suggest； by all means let it be
adopted； but for myself； as the result of experience； I maintain that
the proper course is to lay down a loose layer of cobbles from the
road； a pound or so in weight； on which the horse should be put to
stand； when taken from the manger to be groomed。＇23＇ The point is；
that the horse will keep perpetually moving first one foot and then
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
