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has learned to play the harp is a harper; even if he never touch the
instrument; or as one who has studied medicine is a physician; though
he does not practise; so our friend here from this time forward is now
and ever shall be a general; even though he does not receive a vote at
the elections。 But the dunce who has not the science is neither
general nor doctor; no; not even if the whole world appointed him。 But
(he proceeded; turning to the youth); in case any of us should ever
find ourselves captain or colonel'7' under you; to give us some
smattering of the science of war; what did the professor take as the
starting…point of his instruction in generalship? Please inform us。

'6' 〃Il。〃 iii。 169; 170。

'7' Or; 〃brigadier or captain;〃 lit。 taxiarch or lochagos。

Then the young man: He began where he ended; he taught me tactics'8'
tactics and nothing else。

'8' Cf。 〃Cyrop。〃 I。 vi。 12 foll。; VIII。 v。 15。

Yet surely (replied Socrates) that is only an infinitisemal part of
generalship。 A general'9' must be ready in furnishing the material of
war: in providing the commissariat for his troops; quick in devices;
he must be full of practical resource; nothing must escape his eye or
tax his endurance; he must be shrewd; and ready of wit; a combination
at once of clemency and fierceness; of simplicity and of insidious
craft; he must play the part of watchman; of robber; now prodigal as a
spendthrift; and again close…fisted as a miser; the bounty of his
munificence must be equalled by the narrowness of his greed;
impregnable in defence; a very dare…devil in attackthese and many
other qualities must he possess who is to make a good general and
minister of war; they must come to him by gift of nature or through
science。 No doubt it is a grand thing also to be a tactician; since
there is all the difference in the world between an army properly
handled in the field and the same in disorder; just as stones and
bricks; woodwork and tiles; tumbled together in a heap are of no use
at all; but arrange them in a certain orderat bottom and atop
materials which will not crumble or rot; such as stones and earthen
tiles; and in the middle between the two put bricks and woodwork; with
an eye to architectural principle;'10' and finally you get a valuable
possessionto wit; a dwelling…place。

'9' A strategos。 For the duties and spheres of action of this officer;
    see Gow; op。 cit。 xiv。 58。

'10' 〃As in the building of a house。〃 See Vitrivius; ii。 3; Plin。 xxv。
    14。

The simile is very apt; Socrates'11' (replied the youth); for in
battle; too; the rule is to draw up the best men in front and rear;
with those of inferior quality between; where they may be led on by
the former and pushed on by the hinder。

'11' Cf。 〃Il。〃 iv。 297 foll。; 〃Cyrop。〃 VI。 iii。 25; Polyb。 x。 22。

Soc。 Very good; no doubt; if the professor taught you to distinguish
good and bad; but if not; where is the use of your learning? It would
scarcely help you; would it; to be told to arrange coins in piles; the
best coins at top and bottom and the worst in the middle; unless you
were first taught to distinguish real from counterfeit。

The Youth。 Well no; upon my word; he did not teach us that; so that
the task of distinguishing between good and bad must devolve on
ourselves。

Soc。 Well; shall we see; then; how we may best avoid making blunders
between them?

I am ready (replied the youth)。

Soc。 Well then! Let us suppose we are marauders; and the task imposed
upon us is to carry off some bullion; it will be a right disposition
of our forces if we place in the vanguard those who are the greediest
of gain?'12'

'12' 〃Whose fingers itch for gold。〃

The Youth。 I should think so。

Soc。 Then what if there is danger to be faced? Shall the vanguard
consist of men who are greediest of honour?

The Youth。 It is these; at any rate; who will face danger for the sake
of praise and glory。'13' Fortunately such people are not hid away in a
corner; they shine forth conspicuous everywhere; and are easy to be
discovered。

'13' Cf。 Shakesp。 〃seeking the bubble reputation even in the cannon's
    mouth。〃

Soc。 But tell me; did he teach you how to draw up troops in general;
or specifically where and how to apply each particular kind of
tactical arrangement?

The Youth。 Nothing of the sort。

Soc。 And yet there are and must be innumerable circumstances in which
the same ordering of march or battle will be out of place。

The Youth。 I assure you he did not draw any of these fine
distinctions。

He did not; did not he? (he answered)。 Bless me! Go back to him again;
then; and ply him with questions; if he really has the science; and is
not lost to all sense of shame; he will blush to have taken your money
and then to have sent you away empty。


II

At another time he fell in with a man who had been chosen general and
minister of war; and thus accosted him。

Soc。 Why did Homer; think you; designate Agamemnon 〃shepherd of the
peoples〃?'1' Was it possibly to show that; even as a shepherd must
care for his sheep and see that they are safe and have all things
needful; and that the objects of their rearing be secured; so also
must a general take care that his soldiers are safe and have their
supplies; and attain the objects of their soldiering? Which last is
that they may get the mastery of their enemies; and so add to their
own good fortune and happiness; or tell me; what made him praise
Agamemnon; saying

    He is both a good king and a warrior bold?'2'

Did he mean; perhaps; to imply that he would be a 'warrior bold;' not
merely in standing alone and bravely battling against the foe; but as
inspiring the whole of his host with like prowess; and by a 'good
king;' not merely one who should stand forth gallantly to protect his
own life; but who should be the source of happiness to all over whom
he reigns? Since a man is not chosen king in order to take heed to
himself; albeit nobly; but that those who chose him may attain to
happiness through him。 And why do men go soldiering except to
ameliorate existence?'3' and to this end they choose their generals
that they may find in them guides to the goal in question。 He; then;
who undertakes that office is bound to procure for those who choose
him the thing they seek for。 And indeed it were not easy to find any
nobler ambition than this; or aught ignobler than its opposite。

'1' 〃Il。〃 ii。 243。 〃The People's Paster;〃 Chapman。

'2' 〃Il。〃 iii。 179; cf。 〃Symp。〃 iv。 6。 A favourite line of Alexander
    the Great's; it is said。

'3' Of; 〃that life may reach some flower of happiness。〃

After such sort he handled the question; what is the virtue of a good
leader? and by shredding off all superficial qualities; laid bare as
the kernel of the matter that it is the function of every leader to
make those happy whom he may be called upon to lead。'4'

'4' Cf。 Plat。 〃Rep。〃 342。


III

The following conversation with a youth who had just been elected
hipparch'1' (or commandant of cavalry); I can also vouch for。'2'

'1' Cf。 〃Hipparch。〃

'2' Lit。 〃I know he once held。〃

Soc。 Can you tell us what set you wishing to be a general of cavalry;
young sir? What was your object? I suppose it was not simply to ride
at the head of the 〃knights;〃 an honour not denied to the mounted
archers;'3' who ride even in front of the generals themselves?

'3' Lit。 〃Hippotoxotai。〃 See Boeckh; 〃P。 E。 A。〃 II。 xxi。 p。 264 (Eng。
    tr。)

Hipp。 You are right。

Soc。 No more was it for the sake merely of public notoriety; since a
madman might boast of that fatal distinction。'4'

'4' Or; 〃as we all know; 'Tom Fool' can boast;〃 etc。

Hipp。 You are right again。

Soc。 Is this possibly the explanation? you think to improve the
cavalryyour aim would be to hand it over to the state in better
condition than you find it; and; if the cavalry chanced to be called
out; you at their head would be the cause of some good thing to
Athens?

Hipp。 Most certainly。

Soc。 Well; and a noble ambition too; upon my wordif you can achieve
your object。 The command to which you are appointed concerns horses
and riders; does it not?

Hipp。 It does; no doubt。

Soc。 Come then; will you explain to us first how you propose to
improve the horses。

Hipp。 Ah; that will scarcely form part of my business; I fancy。 Each
trooper is personally responsible for the condition of his horse。

Soc。 But suppose; when they present themselves and their horses;'5'
you find that some have brought beasts with bad feet or legs or
otherwise infirm; and others such ill…fed jades that they cannot keep
up on the march; others; again; brutes so ill broken and unmanageable
that they will not keep their place in the ranks; and others such
desperate plungers that they cannot be got to any place in the ranks
at all。 What becomes of your cavalry force then? How will you charge
at the head of such a troop; and win glory for the state?

'5' For this phrase; see Schneider and Kuhner ad loc。

Hipp。 You are right。 I will try to look after the horses to my utmost。

Soc。 Well; and will you not lay your hand to improve the men
themselves?

Hipp。 I will。

Soc。 The first thing will be to make

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