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entire space with extended front； so forcing out the mob of people from
the centre；＇17＇ and secondly； that in the sham fight＇18＇ which ensues； the
tribal squadrons； swiftly pursuing and retiring； should gallop right across
and through each other； the two hipparchs at their head； each with five
squadrons under him。 Consider the effect of such a spectacle： the grim
advance of rival squadrons front to front； the charge； the solemn pause as；
having swept across the hippodrome； they stand once more confronting
one another； and then the trumpet sounds； whereat a second and yet
swifter hostile advance； how fine the effect！and once again they are at
the halt； and once again the trumpet sounds； and for the third time； at the
swiftest pace of all； they make a final charge across the field； before
dismissal； after which they come to a halt en masse； in battle order； and； as
now customary；＇19＇ ride up to salute the senate； and disband。 These
evolutions will at once approve themselves； I think； not only for their
novelty； but for their resemblacne to real warfare。 The notion that the
hipparch is to ride at a slower pace than his phylarchs； and to handle his
horse precisely in their style； seems to me below the dignity of the office。
＇16＇ In the hippodrome near Munychia； I suppose。
＇17＇ Lit。 〃。 。 。 it would be beautiful to form with extended front； so
as to fill the hippodrome with horses and drive out the people from
the central space； beautiful to 。 。 。〃 The new feature of the review
would seem to have been the introduction of a sham fight in three
parts； down to the customary advance of the whole corps； ｛epi
phalaggos｝。 Cf。 Virg。 〃Aen。〃 v。 545 foll。 But see Martin； op。 cit。 197。
＇18＇ Lit。 〃the anthippasia。〃
＇19＇ 〃As is your custom。〃 See 〃Mem。〃 III。 iii。 6。
When the cavalry parade takes place on the hard…trodden＇20＇ ground
of the Academy； I have the following advice to give。 To avoid being jolted
off his horse at any moment； the trooper should； in charging； lean well
back；＇21＇ and to prevent his charger stumbling； he should while wheeling
hold his head well up； but along a straight stretch he should force the pace。
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Thus the spectacle presented to the senate will combine the elements of
beauty and of safety。
＇20＇ Cf。 Thuc。 vii。 27。
＇21＇ See 〃Horsemanship；〃 vii。 17。
IV
To pass to a different topic： on the march； the general will need to
exercise a constant forethought to relieve the horses' backs and the
troopers' legs； by a judicious interchange of riding and of marching。
Wherein consists the golden mean； will not be hard to find； since 〃every
man a standard to himself；〃＇1＇ applies； and your sensations are an index to
prevent your fellows being overdone through inadvertence。
＇1＇ The phrase is proverbial。 Cf。 Plat。 〃Theaet。〃 183 B。
But now supposing you are on the march in some direction； and it is
uncertain whether you will stumble on the enemy； your duty is to rest your
squadrons in turn； since it will go hard with you； if the enemy come to
close quarters when the whole force is dismounted。＇2＇ Or； again； suppose
the roads are narrow； or you have to cross a defile； you will pass； by word
of mouth； the command to diminish the front；＇3＇ or given； again； you are
debouching on broad roads； again the word of command will pass by word
of mouth； to every squadron； 〃to increase their front〃； or lastly； supposing
you have reached flat country； 〃to form squadron in order of battle。〃 If
only for the sake of practice； it is well to go through evolutions of the
sort；＇4＇ besides which it adds pleasure to the march thus to diversify the
line of route with cavalry mavouvres。
＇2＇ See 〃Hell。〃 V。 iv。 40 for a case in point。
＇3＇ Or； 〃advance by column of route。〃 See 〃Hell。〃 VII。 iv。 23。
＇4＇ Or； 〃it is a pleasant method of beguiling the road。〃 Cf。 Plat。
〃Laws；〃 i。 625 B。
Supposing； however； you are off roads altogether and moving fast over
difficult ground； no matter whether you are in hostile or in friendly
territory； it will be useful if the scouts attached to squadrons＇5＇ rode on in
advance； their duty being； in case of encountering pathless clefts or gullies；
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to work round on to practicable ground； and to discover at what point the
troopers may effect a passage； so that whole ranks may not go blindly
roaming。＇6＇
＇5＇ ｛ton upereton｝ = 〃ground scouts；〃 al。 〃orderlies。〃 Ordonnances；
trabans （Courier）。 See Rustow and Kochly； p。 140。 〃Cyrop。〃 II。 i。 21；
II。 iv。 4； V。 iii。 52； VII。 v。 18； and VI。 ii。 13； 〃Anab。〃 I。
ix。 27； II。 i。 9； where 〃adjutants；〃 〃orderlies〃 would seem to be
implied。
＇6＇ Al。 〃to prevent whole divisions losing their way。〃 Cf。 〃Anab。〃
VIII。 iii。 18。
Again； if there is prospect of danger on the march； a prudent general
can hardly show his wisdom better than by sending out advanced patrols
in front of the ordinary exploring parties to reconnoitre every inch of
ground minutely。 So to be apprised of the enemy's position in advance； and
at as great a distance off as possible； cannot fail to be useful； whether for
purposes of attack or defence； just as it is useful also to enforce a halt at
the passage of a river or some other defile； so that the men in rear may not
knock their horses all to bits in endeavouring to overtake their leader。
These are precepts known； I admit； to nearly all the world； but it is by no
means every one who will take pains to apply them carefully。＇7＇
＇7＇ See 〃Econ。〃 xx。 6。 foll。
It is the business of the hipparch to take infinite precautions while it is
still peace； to make himself acquainted with the details； not only of his
own； but of the hostile territory；＇8＇ or if； as may well betide； he personally
should lack the knowledge； he should invite the aid of others＇9＇those
best versed in the topography of any district。 Since there is all the
difference in the world between a leader acquainted with his roads and one
who is not； and when it comes to actual designs upon the enemy； the
difference between knowing and not knowing the locality can hardly be
exaggerated。
＇8＇ Or； 〃with hostile and friendly territories alike。〃
＇9＇ Lit。 〃he should associate with himself those of the rest〃； i。e。
his colleagues or other members of the force。
So； too； with regard to spies and intelligencers。 Before war commences
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your business is to provide yourself with a supply of people friendly to
both states； or maybe merchants （since states are ready to receive the
importer of goods with open arms）； sham deserters may be found
occasionally useful。＇10＇ Not； of course； that the confidence you feel in
your spies must ever cause you to neglect outpost duty； indeed your state
of preparation should at any moment be precisely what it ought to be；
supposing the approach or the imminent arrival of the enemy were to be
announced。 Let a spy be ever so faithful； there is always the risk he may
fail to report his intelligence at the critical moment； since the obstacles
which present themselves in war are not to be counted on the fingers。
＇10＇ Cf。 〃Cyrop。〃 VI。 i。 39； where one of the Persians； Araspas；
undertakes to play this role to good effect。
But to proceed to another topic。 The enemy is less likely to get wind of
an advance of cavalry； if the orders for march were passed from mouth to
mouth rather th