the cavalry general-第3节
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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 main idea is that to desert one's post is base。 A want of
orderly arrangement； on the contrary； leads to confusion worse
confounded at every narrow road； at every passage of a river； and when
it comes to fighting； no one of his own free will assigns himself his
proper post in face of an enemey。
＇10＇ Lit。 〃where to ride；〃 i。e。 in what formation whether on the line
of march or in action。
The above are fundamental matters not to be performed without the
active help of every trooper who would wish to be a zealous and
unhesitating fellow…worker with his officer。＇11＇
＇11＇ Cf。 〃Hiero；〃 vii。 2； 〃Cyrop。〃 II。 iv。 10。
III
I come at length to certain duties which devolve upon the general of
cavalry himself in person： and first and foremost； it concerns him to
obtain the favour of the gods by sacrifices in behalf of the state
cavalry； and in the next place to make the great procession at the
festivals a spectacle worth seeing； and further； with regard to all
those public shows demanded by the state； wherever held；＇1＇ whether in
the grounds of the Acadamy or the Lyceum； at Phaleron or within the
hippodrome； it is his business as commander of the knights to see that
every pageant of the sort is splendidly exhibited。
＇1＇ Cf。 Theophr。 〃Ch。〃 vii。 （Jebb ad loc。 p。 204； n。 25）。
But these； again； are memoranda。＇2＇ To the question how the several
features of the pageant shall receive their due impress of beauty； I
will now address myself。
＇2＇ Read ｛tauta men alla upomnemata｝； or if with Pantazid。 ｛apla｝；
trans。 〃these are simply memoranda。〃
And first to speak of the Processions。＇3＇ These will； I think； be
rendered most acceptable to Heaven and to earth's spectators were the
riders to ride round the Agora and temples； commencing from the
Hermae； and pay honour to the sacred beings； each in turn； whose
shrines and statues are there congregated。 （Thus in the great
Dionysia＇4＇ the choruses embrace their gracious service to the other
gods and to the Twelve with circling dance。＇5＇） When the circuit is
completed； and the riders are back again in front of the Hermae； it
would add； I think； to the beauty of the scene＇6＇ if at this point
they formed in companies of tribes； and giving their horses rein；
swept forward at the gallop to the Eleusinion。 Nor must I omit to note
the right position of the lance； to lessen as far as possible the risk
of mutual interference。＇7＇ Each trooper should hold his lance straight
between the ears of his charger； which in proportion to the
distinctness given to the weapon will rouse terror； and at the same
time create a vague idea of multitudinousness。＇8＇
＇3＇ ｛tas pompas｝。 See A。 Martin； op。 cit。 147； 160。
