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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 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 g