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ever a wakeful eye in the interest of those under him； and in case of any
advantage won； the truest gain which the head of affairs can reap is to
share with his men the profits of success。
＇1＇ Al。 〃on garrison outpost duty。〃
＇2＇ Reading ｛phulakon｝； or if with Courier ｛thulakon｝； 〃haversacks；〃
i。e。 〃la farine； le contenant pour le contenu。〃
Indeed； to put the matter in a nutshell； there is small risk a general will
be regarded with contempt by those he leads； if； whatever he may have to
preach； he shows himself best able to perform。
Beginning with the simple art of mounting on horseback； let him so
train himself in all particulars of horsemanship that； to look at him； the
men must see their leader is a horseman who can leap a trench unscathed
or scale a parapet；＇3＇ or gallop down a bank； and hurl a javelin with the
best。 These are accomplishments which one and all will pave the way to
make contempt impossible。 If； further； the men shall see in their
commander one who； with the knowledge how to act； has force of will and
cunning to make them get the better of the enemy； and if； further； they
have got the notion well into their heads that this same leader may be
trusted not to lead them recklesssly against the foe； without the help of
Heaven； or despite the auspices I say； you have a list of virtues which
will make those under his command the more obedient to their ruler。
＇3＇ Or； 〃stone walls；〃 〃dykes。〃
VII
If prudence may be spoken of as the one quality distinctive of true
generalship； there are two respects in which a general of cavalry at Athens
should pre…eminently excel。 Not only must he show a dutiful submission
to the gods； but he must possess great fighting qualities； seeing that he has
on his borders a rival cavalry equal to his own in number and backed by a
large force of heavy infantry。＇1＇ So that； if he undertake to invade the
enemy's territory unsupported by the other forces of the city＇2＇in dealing
with two descriptions of forces single…handed； he and his cavalry must
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look for a desperate adventure； or to take the converse case； that the
enemy invades the soil of Attica； to begin with； he will not invade at all；
unless supported by other cavalry besides his own and an infantry force
sufficient to warrant the supposition that no force on our side can cope
with him。
＇1＇ The reference is doubtless to the Thebans。 Unfortunately we do not
know； on good authority； how many troops of either arm they had in
the field at Leuctra or at Mantinea。
＇2＇ Lit。 〃without the rest of the city；〃 i。e。 the hoplites； etc。
Now； to deal with this vast hostile array； if only the city will determine
to sally out en masse to protect her rural districts； the prospect is fair。
Under God； our troopers； if properly cared for； are the finer men； our
infantry of the line are no less numerous； and as regards physique； if it
comes to that； not one whit inferior； while in reference to moral qualities；
they are more susceptible to the spur of a noble ambition； if only under
God's will they be correctly trained。 Or again； as touching pride of
ancestry； what have Athenians to fear as against Boeotians on that
score？＇3＇
＇3＇ See 〃Mem。〃 III。 v。 3； where it is contended that in pride of
ancestry Athenians can hold their own against Boeotians。
But suppose the city of Athens determine to betake herself to her navy；
as in the old days when the Lacedaemonians； leagued with the rest of
Hellas； brought invasion；＇4＇ and is content once more simply to protect
her walls through thick and thin。 As to protecting what lies outside the city
wall she looks to her cavalry for that； and single…handed her troopers must
do desperate encounter against the united forces of the enemy。 I say； under
these circumstances； we shall need in the first place the strong support of
Heaven； and in the second place； well will it be for us if our cavalry
commander prove himself a consummate officer。＇5＇ Indeed； he will have
need of large wisdom to deal with a force so vastly superior in numbers；
and of enterprise to strike when the critical moment comes。
＇4＇ See Thuc。 ii。 13； 14； 22； etc。； and in particular iv。 95；
Hippocrates' speech before the battle of Delium； 424 B。C。
＇5＇ A 〃parfait marechal。〃
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He must also； as it appears to me； be capable of great physical
endurance；＇6＇ since clearly； if he has to run full tilt against an armament
present； as we picture； in such force that not even our whole state cares to
cope with it； it is plain he must accept whatever fate is due； where might is
right； himself unable to retaliate。
＇6＇ So Jason； 〃Hell。〃 VI。 i。 4。
If； on the contrary； he elect to guard the territory outside the walls＇7＇
with a number just sufficient to keep a look…out on the enemy； and to
withdraw into safe quarters from a distance whatever needs protectiona
small number； be it observed； is just as capable of vedette duty； as well
able； say； to scan the distant horizon； as a large； and by the same token
men with no great confidence in themselves or in their horses are not ill…
qualified to guard； or withdraw within shelter＇8＇ the property of friends；
since fear； as the proverb has it； makes a shrewd watchman。 The proposal；
therefore； to select from these a corps of observation will most likely
prove true strategy。 But what then of the residue not needed for outpost
duty？ If any one imagines he has got an armament； he will find it
miserably small； and lacking in every qualification necessary to risk an
open encounter。
＇7＇ Or； 〃His better plan would be to。〃
＇8＇ Reading ｛anakhorizein｝。 Cf。 〃Cyrop。〃 II。 ii。 8； 〃Anab。〃 V。 ii。 10；
or if ｛anakhorein eis｝； transl。 〃or retire into safe quarters。〃 See
〃Hell。〃 IV。 vi。 44。
But let him make up his mind to employ it in guerilla war； and he will
find the force quite competent for that； I warrant。 His business； so at least
it seems to me； will be to keep his men perpetually in readiness to strike a
blow； and without exposing himself； to play sentinel； waiting for any false
move on the part of the hostile armament。 And it is a way with soldiers；
bear in mind； the more numerous they are； the more blunders they commit。
They must needs scatter of set purpose＇9＇ in search of provisions； or
through the disorder incidental to a march； some will advance and others
lag behind； beyond a proper limit。 Blunders like these； then； our hipparch
must not let pass unpunished （unless he wishes the whole of Attica to
become a gigantic camp）；＇10＇ keeping his single point steadily in view；
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that when he strikes a blow he must be expeditious and retire before the
main body has time to rally to the rescue。
＇9＇ ｛epimeleia｝。 Cf。 〃Cyrop。〃 V。 iii。 47。
＇10＇ Lit。 〃or else the whole of Attica will be one encampment。〃 As at
the date of the fortification of Decelea （413 B。C。）； which
permanently commanded the whole country。 See Thuc。 vii。 27。 Al。
Courier； 〃autrement vous n'avez plus de camp； ou pour mieux dire；
tout le pays devient votre camp。〃
Again； it frequently happens on the march； that an army will get into
roads where numbers are no advantage。 Again； in the passage of rivers；
defiles； and the like； it is possible for a general with a head on his
shoulders to hang on the heels of an enemy in security； and to determine
with precision＇11＇ the exact number of the enemy he