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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 have gained the top＇12＇ of the incline； which leads down to the
theatre opposite； it would； I think； be obviously useful here to show the
skill with which your troopers can gallop down a steep incline＇13＇ with as
broad a front as the nature of the ground permits。 I am quite clear that your
troopers； if they can trust their own skill in galloping； will take kindly to
such an exhibition； while as certainly； if unpractised； they must look to it
that the enemy does not give them a lesson in the art some day； perforce。
＇10＇ ｛dielaunosin en Lukeio｝。 See A。 Martin； op。 cit。 196； cf。 Arist。
〃Peace；〃 356。
＇11＇ Or； as we might say； 〃in regimental order；〃 〃with the commanding
officer in front and their respective squadron…leaders〃； and for the
Lyceum see 〃Hell。〃 I。 i。 33； II。 iv。 27。
＇12＇ Lit。 〃the apex of the confronting theatre。〃
＇13＇ See 〃Horsemanship；〃 viii。 6； 〃Anab。〃 IV。 viii。 28。
To come to the test manouvres。＇14＇ The order in which the men will
ride with showiest effect on these occasions has been already noted。＇15＇
As far as the leader is himself concerned； and presuming he is mounted on
a powerful horse； I would suggest that he should each time ride round on
the outer flank； in which case he will himself be kept perpetually moving
at a canter； and those with him； as they become the wheeling flank； will；
by turns； fall into the same pace； with this result： the spectacle presented to
the senate will be that of an ever rapidly moving stream of cavaliers； and
the horses having； each in turn； the opportunity to recover breath； will not
be overdone。
＇14＇ ｛dokimasiais｝； reviews and inspections。 See A。 Martin； op。 cit。
p。 333。
＇15＇ Where？ Some think in a lost passage of the work （see Courier； p。
111； n。 1）； or is the reference to ch。 ii。 above？ and is the scene of the
｛dokimas