第 8 节
作者:九十八度      更新:2021-02-20 16:02      字数:9321
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  On Horsemanship
  proximity   to   the   foe;   he   must   keep   his   horse   well   in   hand。   This;   in   all
  probability; will enable him to do the greatest mischief to the enemy; and
  to receive least damage at his hands。
  '12' See 〃Hipparch;〃 viii。 23。
  The gods have bestowed on man; indeed; the gift of teaching man his
  duty by means of speech and reasoning; but the horse; it is obvious; is not
  open to instruction   by  speech and   reasoning。  If   you would   have a   horse
  learn to perform his duty; your best plan will be; whenever he does as you
  wish; to show him some kindness in return; and when he is disobedient to
  chastise him。 This principle; though capable of being stated in a few words;
  is one which holds good throughout the whole of horsemanship。 As;  for
  instance; a horse will more readily take the bit; if each time he accepts it
  some   good   befalls   him;   or;   again;   he   will   leap   ditches   and   spring   up
  embankments and perform all the other feats incumbent on him; if he be
  led to associate obedience to the word of command with relaxation。'13'
  '13' Lit。 〃if every time he performs the word of command he is led to
  expect some relaxation。〃
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  On Horsemanship
  IX
  The   topics   hitherto   considered   have   been:   firstly;   how   to   reduce   the
  chance   of   being   cheated   in   the   purchase   of   a   colt   or   full…grown   horse;
  secondly;   how   to   escape   as   much   as   possible   the   risk   of   injuring   your
  purchase by mishandling; and lastly; how to succeed in turning out a horse
  possessed   of   all   the   qualities   demanded   by   the   cavalry   soldier   for   the
  purposes of war。
  The time has come perhaps to add a few suggestions; in case the rider
  should   be   called   upon   to   deal   with   an   animal   either   unduly   spirited   or
  again unduly sluggish in disposition。 The first point to recognise is; that
  temper of spirit in a horse takes the place of passion or anger in a man; and
  just   as   you   may    best   escape     exciting    a  man's    ill…temper    by   avoiding
  harshness   of   speech   and   act;   so   you   will   best   avoid   enraging   a   spirited
  horse   by   not   annoying   him。   Thus;   from   the   first   instant;   in   the   act   of
  mounting him; you should take pains to minimise the annoyance; and once
  on his back you should sit quiet for longer than the ordinary time; and so
  urge   him   forward   by   the   gentlest   signs   possible;   next;   beginning   at   the
  slowest pace; gradually work him into a quicker step; but so gradually that
  he will find himself at full speed without noticing it。'1' Any sudden signal
  will bewilder a spirited horse; just as a man is bewildered by any sudden
  sight or   sound   or   other experience。   'I   say  one   should   be   aware   that   any
  unexpected shock will produce disturbance in a horse。''2'
  '1' Or; 〃so that the horse may insensibly fall into a gallop。〃
  '2' L。 Dindorf and others bracket; as spurious。
  So   if   you   wish   to   pull   up   a   spirited   horse   when   breaking   off   into   a
  quicker      pace   than    requisite;   you    must    not   suddenly     wrench     him;    but
  quietly and gently bring the bit to bear upon him; coaxing him rather than
  compelling him to calm down。 It is the long steady course rather than the
  frequent turn which tends to calm a horse。'3' A quiet pace sustained for a
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  long time has a caressing;'4' soothing effect; the reverse of exciting。 If any
  one   proposes   by   a   series   of   fast   and   oft…   repeated   gallops   to   produce   a
  sense of weariness in the horse; and so to tame him; his expectation will
  not be justified by the result; for under such circumstances a spirited horse
  will   do   his   best   to   carry   the   day   by   main   force;'5'   and   with   a   show   of
  temper; like a passionate man;  may contrive to bring on himself and his
  rider irreparable mischief。
  '3'   Or;   〃long   stretches   rather   than   a   succession   of   turns   and   counter
  turns;〃 {apostrophai}。
  '4' Reading {katapsosi} with L。 Dind。
  '5'    {agein    bia};   vi  agere;    vi  uti;  Sturz;   al。  〃go   his   own    gait   by
  sheer force。〃
  A spirited horse should be kept in check; so that he does not dash off at
  full speed; and on the same principle; you should absolutely abstain from
  setting him  to   race against   another;   as   a general   rule;   your   fiery…spirited
  horse is only too fond of contention。'6'
  '6'   Reading   {skhedon   gar   kai   phil   oi   thum};   or   if   {。   。   。   oi   thil   kai
  th。}    transl。   〃the    more     eager    and    ambitious      a  horse     is;  the   more
  mettlesome he will tend to become。〃
  Smooth bits are better and more serviceable than rough; if a rough bit
  be inserted at all; it must be made to resemble a smooth one as much as
  possible by lightness of hand。
  It is a good thing also for the rider to accustom himself to keep a quiet
  seat; especially when mounted on a spirited horse; and also to touch him
  as little as possible with anything except that part of the body necessary to
  secure a firm seat。
  Again; it should be known that the conventional 〃chirrup〃'7' to quiet
  and 〃cluck〃 to rouse a horse are a sort of precept of the training school;
  and supposing any one from the beginning chose to associate soft soothing
  actions     with    the   〃cluck〃    sound;    and    harsh    rousing    actions    with    the
  〃chirrup;〃 the horse could be taught to rouse himself at the 〃chirrup〃 and
  to calm himself at the 〃cluck〃 sound。 On this principle; at the sound of the
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  trumpet   or   the   shout   of   battle   the   rider   should   avoid   coming   up   to   his
  charger      in  a   state   of  excitement;       or;  indeed;     bringing     any   disturbing
  influence   to   bear   on   the   animal。   As   far   as   possible;   at   such   a   crisis   he
  should      halt   and   rest   him;    and;   if  circumstances       permit;     give   him    his
  morning or his evening   meal。  But the   best advice   of   all is   not to get   an
  over…spirited horse for the purposes of war。
  '7'   Al。   〃whistling;〃   and   see   Berenger;   ii。   68。   {poppusmos};   a   sound
  from the lips; {klogmos}; from the cheek。
  As to the sluggish type of animal; I need only suggest to do everything
  the opposite to what we advise as appropriate in dealing with an animal of
  high spirit。
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  X
  But possibly you are not content with a horse serviceable for war。 You
  want to find him him a showy; attractive animal; with a certain grandeur of
  bearing。 If so; you must abstain from pulling at his mouth with the bit; or
  applying the spur and whipmethods commonly adopted by people with a
  view to a fine effect; though; as a matter of fact; they thereby achieve the
  very opposite of what they are aiming at。 That is to say; by dragging the
  mouth up they render the horse blind instead of alive to what is in front of
  him; and what with spurring and whipping they distract the creature to the
  point of absolute bewilderment and danger。'1' Feats indeed!the feats of
  horses   with   a  strong   dislike   to   being   riddenup  to   all   sorts   of   ugly   and
  ungainly tricks。 On the contrary; let the horse be taught to be ridden on a
  loose   bridle;   and   to   hold   his   head   high   and   arch   his   neck;   and   you   will
  practically be making him perform the very acts which he himself delights
  or rather exults in; and the best proof of the pleasure which he takes is;
  that   when   he   is   let   loose   with   other   horses;   and   more   particularly   with
  mares; you will see him rear his head aloft to the full height; and arch his
  neck     with   nervous    vigour;'2'     pawing    the   air  with   pliant   legs'3'   and
  waving his tail on high。 By training him to adopt the very airs and graces
  which he naturally assumes when showing off to best advantage; you have
  got    what   you    are  aiming    ata  horse    that  delights    in