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For this； it seems； was his principle： in the one case； where a man is robbed； or defrauded； or kidnapped； and made a slave of； the injury of the misdeed； whatever it be； is personal to the individual so maltreated； but in the other case whole communities suffer foul treason at the hands of the base man and the coward。 So that it was only reasonable； in my opinion； that he should visit the heaviest penalty upon these latter。
Moreover； he laid upon them； like some irresistible necessity； the obligation to cultivate the whole virtue of a citizen。 Provided they duly performed the injunctions of the law； the city belonged to them； each and all； in absolute possession and on an equal footing。 Weakness of limb or want of wealth＇5＇ was no drawback in his eyes。 But as for him who； out of the cowardice of his heart； shrank from the painful performance of the law's injunction； the finger of the legistlator pointed him out as there and then disqualified to be regarded longer as a member of the brotherhood of peers。＇6＇
＇5＇ But see Aristot。 〃Pol。〃 ii。 9； 32。
＇6＇ Grote； 〃H。 G。〃 viii。 81； 〃Hell。〃 III。 iii。 5。
It may be added； that there was no doubt as to the great antiquity of this code of laws。 The point is clear so far； that Lycurgus himself is said to have lived in the days of the Heraclidae。＇7＇ But being of so long standing； these laws； even at this day； still are stamped in the eyes of other men with all the novelty of youth。 And the most marvellous thing of all is that； while everybody is agreed to praise these remarkable institutions； there is not a single state which cares to imitate them。
＇7＇ See Plut。 〃Lycurg。〃 1。
XI
The above form a common stock of blessings； open to every Spartan to enjoy； alike in peace and in war。 But if any one desires to be informed in what way the legislator improved upon the ordinary machinery of warfare and in reference to an army in the field； it is easy to satisfy his curiosity。
In the first instance； the ephors announce by proclamation the limit of age to which the service applies＇1＇ for cavalry and heavy infantry； and in the next place； for the various handicraftsmen。 So that； even on active service； the Lacedaemonians are well supplied with all the conveniences enjoyed by people living as citizens at home。＇2＇ All implements and instruments whatsoever； which an army may need in common； are ordered to be in readiness；＇3＇ some on waggons and others on baggage animals。 In this way anything omitted can hardly escape detection。
＇1＇ I。e。 〃in the particular case。〃 See 〃Hell。〃 VI。 iv。 17； Muller； 〃Dorians；〃 iii。 12 （vol。 ii。 242 foll。； Eng。 tr。）
＇2＇ Or； 〃the conveniences of civil life at home。〃
＇3＇ Reading ｛parekhein｝； or if ｛paragein｝； 〃to be conveyed。〃 Cf。 Pausan。 I。 xix。 1。 See 〃Cyrop。〃 VI。 ii。 34。
For the actual encounter under arms； the following inventions are attributed to him。 The soldier has a crimson…coloured uniform and a heavy shield of bronze； his theory being that such an equipment has no sort of feminine association； and is altogether most warrior…like。＇4＇ It is most quickly burnished； it is least readily soiled。＇5＇
＇4＇ Cf。 Aristoph。 〃Acharn。〃 320； and the note of the scholiast。
＇5＇ See Ps。 Plut。 〃Moral。〃 238 F。
He futher permitted those who were above the age of early manhood to wear their hair long。＇6＇ For so； he conceived； they would appear of larger stature； more free and indomitable； and of a more terrible aspect。
＇6＇ See Plut。 〃Lycurg。〃 22 （Clough； i。 114）。
So furnished and accoutred； he divided his citizen soldiers into six morai＇7＇ （or regimental divisions） of cavalry＇8＇ and heavy infantry。 Each of these citizen regiments （political divisions） has one polemarch＇9＇ （or colonel）； four lochagoi （or captains of companies）； eight penteconters （or lieutenants； each in command of half a company）； and sixteen enomotarchs （or commanders of sections）。 At the word of command any such regimental division can be formed readily either into enomoties （i。e。 single file） or into threes （i。e。 three files abreast）； or into sixes （i。e。 six files abreast）。＇10＇
＇7＇ The ｛mora｝。 Jowett； 〃Thuc。〃 ii。 320； note to Thuc。 v。 68； 3。
＇8＇ See Plut。 〃Lycurg。〃 23 （Clough； i。 115）； 〃Hell。〃 VI。 iv。 11； Thuc。 v。 67； Paus。 IV。 viii。 12。
＇9＇ See Thuc。 v。 66； 71。
＇10＇ See Thuch。 v。 68； and Arnold's note ad loc。； 〃Hell。〃 VI。 iv。 12； 〃Anab。〃 II。 iv。 26； Rustow and Kochly； op。 cit。 p。 117。
As to the idea； commonly entertained； that the tactical arrangement of the Laconian heavy infantry is highly complicated； no conception could be more opposed to fact。 For in the Laconian order the front rank men are all leaders；＇11＇ so that each file has everything necessary to play its part efficiently。 In fact； this disposition is so easy to understand that no one who can distinguish one human being from another could fail to follow it。 One set have the privilege of leaders； the other the duty of followers。 The evolutional orders；＇12＇ by which greater depth or shallowness is given to the battle line； are given by word of mouth by the enomotarch （or commander of the section）； who plays the part of the herald； and they cannot be mistaken。 None of these manouvres presents any difficulty whatsoever to the understanding。
＇11＇ See 〃Anab。〃 IV。 iii。 26； 〃Cyrop。〃 III。 iii。 59； VI。 iii。 22。
＇12＇ I。e。 〃for doubling depth〃； e。g。 anglice； 〃form two deep；〃 etc。； when marching to a flank。 Grote； 〃H。 G。〃 vii。 108； Thuc。 v。 66； also Rustow and Kochly； op。 cit。 p。 111； S。 8； note 19； p。 121； 17； note 41。
But when it comes to their ability to do battle equally well in spite of some confusion which has been set up； and whatever the chapter of accidents may confront them with；＇13＇ I admit that the tactics here are not so easy to understand； except for people trained under the laws of Lycurgus。 Even movements which an instructor in heavy…armed warfare＇14＇ might look upon as difficult are performed by the Lacedaemonians with the utmost ease。＇15＇ Thus； the troops； we will suppose； are marching in column； one section of a company is of course stepping up behind another from the rear。＇16＇ Now； if at such a moment a hostile force appears in front in battle order； the word is passed down to the commander of each section； 〃Deploy （into line） to the left。〃 And so throughout the whole length of the column； until the line is formed facing the enemy。 Or supposing while in this position an enemy appears in the rear。 Each file performs a counter…march＇17＇ with the effect of bringing the best men face to face with the enemy all along the line。＇18＇ As to the point that the leader previously on the right finds himself now on the left；＇19＇ they do not consider that they are necessarily losers thereby； but； as it may turn out； even gainers。 If； for instance； the enemy attempted to turn their flank； he would find himself wrapping round； not their exposed； but their shielded flank。＇20＇ Or if； for any reason； it be thought advisable for the general to keep the right wing； they turn the corps about；＇21＇ and counter…march by ranks； until the leader is on the right； and the rear rank on the left。 Or again； supposing a division of the enemy appears on the right whilst they are marchin