The Cavalry General | Page 4

on horseback easily--a feat to which
many a man has owed his life ere now. And next, he must be able to
ride with freedom over every sort of ground, since any description of
country may become the seat of war. When, presently, your men have
got firm seats, your aim should be to make as many members of the
corps as possible not only skilled to hurl the javelin from horseback
with precision, but to perform all other feats expected of the expert
horseman. Next comes the need to arm both horse and man in such a
manner as to minimise the risk of wounds, and yet to increase the force
of every blow delivered.[7] This attended to, you must contrive to
make your men amenable to discipline, without which neither good

horses, nor a firm seat, nor splendour of equipment will be of any use at
all.
[7] Lit. "so that whilst least likely to be wounded themselves, they may
most be able to injure the enemy."
The general of cavalry,[8] as patron of the whole department, is
naturally responsible for its efficient working. In view, however, of the
task imposed upon that officer had he to carry out these various details
single-handed, the state has chosen to associate[9] with him certain
coadjutors in the persons of the phylarchs (or tribal captains),[10] and
has besides imposed upon the senate a share in the superintendence of
the cavalry. This being so, two things appear to me desirable; the first
is, so to work upon the phylarch that he shall share your own
enthusiasm for the honour of the corps;[11] and secondly, to have at
your disposal in the senate able orators,[12] whose language may instil
a wholesome fear into the knights themselves, and thereby make them
all the better men, or tend to pacify the senate on occasion and disarm
unseasonable anger.
[8] See "Mem." III. iii.
[9] Cf. Theophr. xxix. "The Oligarchic Man": "When the people are
deliberating whom they shall associate with the archon as joint
directors of the procession." (Jebb.)
[10] Or, "squadron-leaders."
[11] "Honour and prestige of knighthood."
[12] "To keep a staff of orators." Cf. "Anab." VII. vi. 41; "Cyrop." I. vi.
19; "Hell." VI. ii. 39.
The above may serve as memoranda[13] of the duties which will claim
your chief attention. How the details in each case may best be carried
out is a further matter, which I will now endeavour to explain.
[13] "A sort of notes and suggestions," "mementoes." Cf.
"Horsemanship," iii. 1, xii. 14.
As to the men themselves--the class from which you make your pick of
troopers--clearly according to the law you are bound to enrol "the
ablest" you can find "in point of wealth and bodily physique"; and "if
not by persuasion, then by prosecution in a court of law."[14] And for
my part, I think, if legal pressure is to be applied, you should apply it in
those cases where neglect to prosecute might fairly be ascribed to
interested motives;[15] since if you fail to put compulsion on the

greater people first, you leave a backdoor of escape at once to those of
humbler means. But there will be other cases;[16] say, of young men in
whom a real enthusiasm for the service may be kindled by recounting
to them all the brilliant feats of knighthood; while you may disarm the
opposition of their guardians by dwelling on the fact that, if not you, at
any rate some future hipparch will certainly compel them to breed
horses,[17] owing to their wealth; whereas, if they enter the service[18]
during your term of office, you will undertake to deter their lads from
mad extravagance in buying horses,[19] and take pains to make good
horsemen of them without loss of time; and while pleading in this strain,
you must endeavour to make your practice correspond with what you
preach.
[14] Lit. "by bringing them into court, or by persuasion," i.e. by legal if
not by moral pressure. See Martin, op. cit. pp. 316, 321 foll.
[15] i.e. "would cause you to be suspected of acting from motives of
gain."
[16] Reading {esti de kai ous}, or if as vulg. {eti de kai}, "More than
that, it strikes me one may work on the feelings of young fellows in
such a way as to disarm." See Hartmann, "An. Xen. N." 325.
[17] Cf. Aesch. "P. V." 474; Herod. vi. 35; Dem. 1046. 14; Thuc. vi. 12;
Isocr. {peri tou zeugous}, 353 C. {ippotrophein d' epikheiresas, o ton
eudaimonestaton ergon esti.} See Prof. Jebb's note to Theophr. "Ch." vi.
p. 197, note 16.
[18] Lit. "if they mount."
[19] Like that of Pheidippides in the play; see Aristoph. "Clouds," 23
foll. And for the price of horses, ranging from 3 minas (= L12 circa)