the cavalry general(骑兵队长)-第3章
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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
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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；
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〃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 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
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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 trusties
