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and the art of riding； are of all arts most befitting to a freeman； for
they only who are thus trained in the use of arms are the athletes of our
military profession； trained in that on which the conflict turns。 Moreover
in actual battle； when you have to fight in a line with a number of others；
such an acquirement will be of some use； and will be of the greatest
whenever the ranks are broken and you have to fight singly； either in
pursuit； when you are attacking some one who is defending himself； or in
flight； when you have to defend yourself against an assailant。 Certainly
he who possessed the art could not meet with any harm at the hands of a
single person； or perhaps of several； and in any case he would have a great
advantage。 Further； this sort of skill inclines a man to the love of other
noble lessons； for every man who has learned how to fight in armour will
desire to learn the proper arrangement of an army； which is the sequel of
the lesson： and when he has learned this； and his ambition is once fired；
he will go on to learn the complete art of the general。 There is no
difficulty in seeing that the knowledge and practice of other military arts
will be honourable and valuable to a man； and this lesson may be the
beginning of them。 Let me add a further advantage； which is by no means a
slight one；that this science will make any man a great deal more valiant
and self…possessed in the field。 And I will not disdain to mention； what
by some may be thought to be a small matter；he will make a better
appearance at the right time； that is to say； at the time when his
appearance will strike terror into his enemies。 My opinion then；
Lysimachus； is； as I say； that the youths should be instructed in this art；
and for the reasons which I have given。 But Laches may take a different
view； and I shall be very glad to hear what he has to say。
LACHES： I should not like to maintain； Nicias； that any kind of knowledge
is not to be learned； for all knowledge appears to be a good： and if； as
Nicias and as the teachers of the art affirm； this use of arms is really a
species of knowledge； then it ought to be learned； but if not； and if those
who profess to teach it are deceivers only； or if it be knowledge； but not
of a valuable sort； then what is the use of learning it？ I say this；
because I think that if it had been really valuable； the Lacedaemonians；
whose whole life is passed in finding out and practising the arts which
give them an advantage over other nations in war； would have discovered
this one。 And even if they had not； still these professors of the art
would certainly not have failed to discover that of all the Hellenes the
Lacedaemonians have the greatest interest in such matters； and that a
master of the art who was honoured among them would be sure to make his
fortune among other nations； just as a tragic poet would who is honoured
among ourselves； which is the reason why he who fancies that he can write a
tragedy does not go about itinerating in the neighbouring states； but
rushes hither straight； and exhibits at Athens； and this is natural。
Whereas I perceive that these fighters in armour regard Lacedaemon as a
sacred inviolable territory； which they do not touch with the point of
their foot； but they make a circuit of the neighbouring states； and would
rather exhibit to any others than to the Spartans； and particularly to
those who would themselves acknowledge that they are by no means firstrate
in the arts of war。 Further； Lysimachus； I have encountered a good many of
these gentlemen in actual service； and have taken their measure； which I
can give you at once； for none of these masters of fence have ever been
distinguished in war；there has been a sort of fatality about them； while
in all other arts the men of note have been always those who have practised
the art； they appear to be a most unfortunate exception。 For example； this
very Stesilaus； whom you and I have just witnessed exhibiting in all that
crowd and making such great professions of his powers； I have seen at
another time making； in sober truth； an involuntary exhibition of himself；
which was a far better spectacle。 He was a marine on board a ship which
struck a transport vessel； and was armed with a weapon； half spear； half
scythe； the singularity of this weapon was worthy of the singularity of the
man。 To make a long story short； I will only tell you what happened to
this notable invention of the scythe spear。 He was fighting； and the
scythe was caught in the rigging of the other ship； and stuck fast； and he
tugged； but was unable to get his weapon free。 The two ships were passing
one another。 He first ran along his own ship holding on to the spear； but
as the other ship passed by and drew him after as he was holding on； he let
the spear slip through his hand until he retained only the end of the
handle。 The people in the transport clapped their hands； and laughed at
his ridiculous figure； and when some one threw a stone； which fell on the
deck at his feet； and he quitted his hold of the scythe…spear； the crew of
his own trireme also burst out laughing； they could not refrain when they
beheld the weapon waving in the air； suspended from the transport。 Now I
do not deny that there may be something in such an art； as Nicias asserts；
but I tell you my experience； and； as I said at first； whether this be an
art of which the advantage is so slight； or not an art at all； but only an
imposition； in either case such an acquirement is not worth having。 For my
opinion is； that if the professor of this art be a coward； he will be
likely to become rash； and his character will be only more notorious； or if
he be brave； and fail ever so little； other men will be on the watch； and
he will be greatly traduced； for there is a jealousy of such pretenders；
and unless a man be pre…eminent in valour； he cannot help being ridiculous；
if he says that he has this sort of skill。 Such is my judgment；
Lysimachus； of the desirableness of this art； but； as I said at first； ask
Socrates； and do not let him go until he has given you his opinion of the
matter。
LYSIMACHUS： I am going to ask this favour of you； Socrates； as is the more
necessary because the two councillors disagree； and some one is in a manner
still needed who will decide between them。 Had they agreed； no arbiter
would have been required。 But as Laches has voted one way and Nicias
another； I should like to hear with which of our two friends you agree。
SOCRATES： What； Lysimachus； are you going to accept the opinion of the
majority？
LYSI