the memorabilia-第23章
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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 them expert in mounting their
chargers？
Hipp。 That certainly； for if any of them were dismounted he would then
have a better chance of saving himself。
Soc。 Well； but when it comes to the hazard of engagement； what will
you do then？ Give orders to draw the enemy down to the sandy ground＇6＇
where you are accustomed to manouvre； or endeavour beforehand to put
your men through their practice on ground resembling a real
battlefield？
＇6＇ e。g。 the hippodrome at Phaleron。
Hipp。 That would be better； no doubt。
Soc。 Well； shall you regard it as a part of your duty to see that as
many of your men as possible can take aim and shoot on horseback？＇7＇
＇7＇ Cf。 〃Hipparch；〃 i。 21。
Hipp。 It will be better； certainly。
Soc。 And have you thought how to whet the courage of your troopers？ to
kindle in them rage to meet the enemy？which things are but
stimulants to make stout hearts stouter？
Hipp。 If I have not done so hitherto； I will try to make up for lost
time now。
Soc。 And have you troubled your head at all to consider how you are to
secure the obedience of your men？ for without that not one particle of
good will you get； for all your horses and troopers so brave and so
stout。
Hipp。 That is a true saying； but how； Socrates； should a man best
bring them to this virtue？＇8＇
＇8＇ ｛protrepsasthai｝。 See above； I。 ii。 64； below； IV。 v。 1。
Soc。 I presume you know that in any business whatever； people are more
apt to follow the lead of those whom they look upon as adepts； thus in
case of sickness they are readiest to obey him whom they regard as the
cleverest physician； and so on a voyage the most skilful pilot； in
matters agricultural the best farmer； and so forth。
Hipp。 Yes； certainly。
Soc。 Then in this matter of cavalry also we may reasonably suppose
that he who is looked upon as knowing his business best will command
the readiest obedience。
Hipp。 If； then； I can prove to my troopers that I am better than all
of them； will that suffice to win their obedience？
Soc。 Yes； if along with that you can teach them that obedience to you
brings greater glory and surer safety to themselves。
Hipp。 How am I to teach them that？
Soc。 Upon my word！ How are you to teach them that？ Far more easily； I
take it； than if you had to teach them that bad things are better than
good； and more advantageous to boot。
Hipp。 I suppose you mean that； besides his other qualifications a
commandant of cavalry must have command of speech and argument？＇9＇
＇9＇ Or； 〃practise the art of oratory〃； 〃express himself clearly and
rationally。〃 See Grote； 〃H。 G。〃 VIII。 lxvii。 p。 463 note；
〃Hipparch；〃 i。 24； viii。 22。
Soc。 Were you under the impression that the commandant was not to open
his mouth？ Did it never occur to you that all the noblest things which
custom＇10＇ compels us to learn； and to which indeed we owe our
knowledge of life； have all been learned by means of speech＇11＇ and
reason； and if there be any other noble learning which a man may
learn； it is this same reason whereby he learns it； and the best
teachers are those who have the freest command of thought and
language； and those that have the best knowledge of the most serious
things are the most brilliant masters of disputation。 Again； have you
not observed that whenever this city of ours fits out one of her
chorusessuch as that； for instance； which is sent to Delos＇12＇
there is nothing elsewhere from any quarter of the world which can
compete with it； nor will you find in any other state collected so
fair a flower of manhood as in Athens？＇13＇
＇10＇ Cf Arist。 〃Rhet。〃 ii。 12； ｛oi neoi pepaideuntai upo tou nomou
monon｝。
＇11＇ ｛dia logou｝。
＇12＇ See Thuc。 iii。 104； and below； IV。 viii。 2。
＇13＇ See references ap。 Schneider and Kuhner； 〃Symp。〃 iv。 17。
Hipp。 You say truly。
Soc。 But for all that； it is not in sweetness of voice that the
Athenians differ from the rest of the world so much； nor in stature of
body or strength of limb； but in ambition and that love of honour＇14＇
which most of all
