the cavalry general(骑兵队长)-第3章
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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 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。〃
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＇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＇
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＇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＇
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＇3＇ ｛tas pompas｝。 See A。 Martin； op。 cit。 147； 160。
＇4＇ Celebrated in March （Elaphebolion）。
＇5＇ Or； 〃by dancing roundelays in honour of the gods； especially The
Twelve〃； and as to the Twelve cf。 Aristoph。 〃Knights；〃 235； 〃Birds；〃
95； Plat。 〃Laws；〃 654； Paus。 i。 3。 3； 40。 3； viii。 25。 3； Plut。 〃Nic。〃 13；
Lycurg。 198。
＇6＇ Or； 〃it would be a beautiful sequel to the proceedings； in my
opinion； if at this point they formed in squadron column； and giving
rein to their chargers； swept forward at full gallop to the Eleusinion。〃
See Leake； op。 cit。 i。 296。
＇7＇ Lit。 〃nor will I omit how the lances shall as little as possible
overlap one another。〃
＇8＇ Lit。 〃Every trooper should be at pains to keep his lance straight
between the ears of his charger； if these weapons are to be distinct
and terror…striking； and at the same time to appear numerous。〃
As soon as they have ceased from the charge at full gallop； the pace
should at once be changed； and now； with footing slow； let them retrace
their course back to the temples。 In this way every detail characteristic of
knightly pageantry＇9＇ will have been displayed to the delight of god and
man。 That our knights are not accustomed to these actual evolutions； I am
well aware； but I also recognise the fact that the performances are good
and beautiful and will give pleasure to spectators。 I do not fail to note；
moreover； that novel feats of horsemanship have before now been
performed by our knights； when their commanders have had the ability to
get their wishes readily complied with。
＇9＇ Lit。 〃everything that may be performed on a mounted horse。〃
Possibly； as Cobet suggests； ｛kala｝ has dropped out。 See
〃Horsemanship；〃 xi。 3； 6。
But now； let us suppose it is the occasion of the march…past；＇10＇ in the
grounds of the Lyceum； before the javelin…throwing。 The scene would gain
in beauty if the tribal squadrons were to ride in line of columns＇11＇ as if
for battle； in two divisions； five squadrons in the one and five in the other；
with the hipparch and the phylarchs at their head； in such formation as to
allow the whole breadth of the racecourse to be filled。 Then； as soon as
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they ha
