[dhcp-agent-commits] Ill be able to hit the enemy far harder, and pull through absolute

[Cotta <un...@da...>]

 degree of excellence? To that question I will now address myself. The
art of leaping on to horseback is one which we would fain persuade the
youthful members of the corps to learn themselves; though, if you choose
to give them an instructor, (24) all the greater credit to yourself. And
as to the older men you cannot do better than accustom them to mount, or
rather to be hoisted up by aid of some one, Persian fashion. (25) (24)
Like Pheidon, in the fragment of Mnesimachus's play "The Breeder of
Horses," ap. Athen. See Courier, ib. p. 55. (25) See "Anab." IV. iv. 4;
"Horsemanship," vi. 12. With a view to keeping a firm seat on every sort
of ground, it may be perhaps be thought a little irksome to be
perpetually marching out, when there is no war; (26) but all the same, I
would have you call your men together and impress upon them the need to
train themselves, when they ride into the country to their farms, or
elsewhere, by leaving the high road and galloping at a round pace on
ground of every description. (27) This method will be quite as
beneficial to them as the regular march out, and at the same time not
produce the same sense of tedium. You may find it useful also to remind
them that the state on her side is quite willing to expend a sum of
nearly forty talents (28) yearly, so that in the event of war she may
not have to look about for cavalry, but have a thoroughly efficient
force to hand for active service. Let these ideas be once instilled into
their minds, and, mark my words, your trooper will fall with zest to
practising horsemanship, so that if ever the flame of war burst out he
may not be forced to enter the lists a raw recruit, unskilled to fight
for fame and fatherland or even life itself. (26) In the piping days of
peace. (27) See "Econ." xi. 17. Cf. Theophr. "Ch." viii. "The Late
Learner": {kai eis agron eph' ippou allotriou katakhoumenos ama meletan
ippazesthai, kai peson ten kephalon kateagenai}, "Riding into the
country on another's horse, he will practise h