第 10 节
作者:九十八度      更新:2021-02-20 16:02      字数:9322
  '1'   {lampros}。   Cf。   Isae。   xi。   41   (〃On   the   estate   of   Hagnias〃);   Lys。
  xix。 63 (〃de Bon。 Arist。〃)。
  '2' See Berenger; ii。 68。
  '3' Lit。 〃testicles。〃
  There are; indeed; other methods of teaching these arts。'4' Some do so
  by   touching   the   horse   with   a   switch   under   the   hocks;   others   employ   an
  attendant   to   run   alongside   and   strike   the   horse   with   a   stick   under   the
  gaskins。 For ourselves; however; far the best method of instruction;'5' as
  we    keep    repeating;    is  to  let  the  horse    feel  that  whatever     he   does   in
  obedience       to  the   rider's  wishes     will   be  followed     by   some     rest  and
  relaxation。
  '4'   Lit。   〃People;   it   must   be   admitted;   claim   to   teach   these   arts   in
  varous wayssome by 。 。 。 others by bidding 。 。 。〃
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  '5' Reading   {didaskalion};  al。 {didaskalion};  〃systems。〃   Schneid。  cf。
  Herod。 v。 58。
  To quote a dictum of Simon; what a horse does under compulsion he
  does blindly; and his performance is no more beautiful than would be that
  of a ballet…dancer taught by whip and goad。 The performances of horse or
  man so treated would seem to be displays of clumsy gestures rather than
  of   grace   and   beauty。   What   we   need   is   that   the   horse   should   of   his   own
  accord exhibit his finest airs and paces at set signals。'6' Supposing; when
  he is in the riding…field;'7' you push him to a gallop until he is bathed in
  sweat; and when he begins to prance and show his airs to fine effect; you
  promptly dismount and take off the bit; you may rely upon it he will of his
  own accord another time break into the same prancing action。 Such are the
  horses   on   which   gods   and   heroes   ride;   as   represented   by   the   artist。   The
  majesty of men themselves is best discovered in the graceful handling of
  such animals。'8' A horse so prancing is indeed a thing of beauty; a wonder
  and   a   marvel;   riveting   the   gaze   of   all   who   see   him;   young   alike   and
  graybeards。 They will never turn their backs; I venture to predict; or weary
  of their gazing so long as he continues to display his splendid action。
  '6' Or; 〃by aids and signs;〃 as we say。
  '7' Or; 〃exercising…ground。〃
  '8'   Or;   〃and   the   man   who   knows   how   to   manage   such   a   creature
  gracefully himself at once appears magnificent。〃
  If the possessor of so rare a creature should find himself by chance in
  the   position   of   a   squadron   leader   or   a   general   of   cavalry;   he   must   not
  confine his zeal to the development of his personal splendour; but should
  study   all   the   more   to   make   the   troop   or   regiment   a   splendid   spectacle。
  Supposing (in accordance with the high praise bestowed upon the type of
  animal)'9' the leader is mounted on a horse which with his high airs and
  frequent   prancing   makes   but   the   slightest   movement   forwardobviously
  the rest of the troop must follow at a walking pace; and one may fairly ask
  where is the element of splendour in the spectacle? But now suppose that
  you; sir; being at the head of the procession; rouse your horse and take the
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  lead at a pace neither too fast nor yet too slow; but in a way to bring out
  the   best   qualities   in   all   the   animals;   their   spirit;   fire;   grace   of   mien   and
  bearing ripe for actionI say; if you take the lead of them in this style; the
  collective   thud;   the   general   neighing   and   the   snorting   of   the   horses   will
  combine to render not only you at the head; but your whole company'10'
  down to the last man a thrilling spectacle。
  '9' Reading as vulg。 {os malista epainousi tous toioutous ippous; os}。
  L。 Dind。 omits the words as a gloss。
  '10'   Reading      {oi}   (for   {osoi})   {sumparepomenoi}。   See   Hartmann;
  〃An。          Xen。 Nov。〃 xiv。 p。 343。
  One word more。 Supposing a man has shown some skill in purchasing
  his    horses;   and    can   rear   them    into   strong    and   serviceable     animals;
  supposing   further   he   can   handle   them   in   the   right   way;   not   only   in   the
  training for war; but in exercises with a view to display; or lastly; in the
  stress of actual battle; what is there to prevent such a man from  making
  every horse he owns of far more value in the end than when he bought it;
  with    the   further   outlook    that;  unless    some    power     higher   than   human
  interpose;'11'      he   will   become     the   owner    of   a  celebrated    stable;   and
  himself as celebrated for his skill in horsemanship。
  '11' Or; 〃there is nothing; humanly speaking; to prevent such a man。〃
  For the phrase see 〃Mem。〃 I。 iii。 5; cf。 〃Cyrop。〃 I。 vi。 18; and                     for the
  advice; 〃Econ。〃 iii。 9; 10。
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  XII
  We will now describe the manner in which a trooper destined to run
  the risks of battle upon horseback should be armed。 In the first place; then;
  we would insist; the corselet must be made to fit the person; since; if it fits
  well; its weight will be distributed over the whole body; whereas; if too
  loose; the shoulders will have all the weight to bear; while; if too tight; the
  corselet is no longer a defensive arm; but a 〃strait jacket。〃'1' Again; the
  neck; as being a vital part;'2' ought to have; as we maintain; a covering;
  appended to the corselet and close…fitting。 This will serve as an ornament;
  and   if   made   as   it   ought  to  be;  will   conceal   the   rider's  faceif   so  he
  choosesup to the nose。
  '1' Cf。 〃Mem。〃 III。 x。
  '2' L。 Dind。 cf。 Hom。 〃Il。〃 viii。 326:
  {。 。 。 othi kleis apoergei aukhena te stethos te; malista de kairion estin。}
  〃Where the collar…bone fenceth off neck and breast; and where is the
  most deadly spot〃 (W。 Leaf)。
  As to the helmet; the best kind; in our opinion; is one of the Boeotian
  pattern;'3' on the principle again; that it covers all the parts exposed above
  the breastplate without hindering vision。 Another point: the corselet should
  be    so  constructed     that  it  does  not   prevent    its   wearer  sitting   down    or
  stooping。 About   the   abdomen   and   the   genitals   and   parts   surrounding'4'
  flaps should be attached in texture and in thickness sufficient to protect'5'
  that region。
  '3' Schneider cf。 Aelian; 〃V。 H。〃 iii。 24; Pollux; i。 149。
  '4'   Schneider   cf。   〃Anab。〃   IV。   vii。   15;   and   for   {kai   ta   kuklo};   conj。
  {kuklo}; 〃the abdomen and middle should be encircled by a skirt。〃
  '5'   Lit。  〃let  there   be  wings    of   such   sort;  size;  and   number     as  to
  protect the limbs。〃
  Again;   as   an   injury   to   the   left   hand   may   disable   the   horseman;   we
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  would recommend the newly…invented piece of armour called the gauntlet;
  which   protects   the   shoulder;   arm;   and   elbow;   with   the   hand   engaged   in
  holding     the   reins;  being    so  constructed     as  to  extend    and   contract;    in
  addition to which it covers the gap left by the corselet under the armpit。
  The case is different with the right hand; which the horseman must needs
  raise to discharge a javelin or strike a blow。 Here; accordingly; any part of
  the   corselet   which   would   hinder   action   out   to   be   removed;   in   place   of
  which the corselet ought to have some extra flaps'6' at the joints; which as
  the outstretched arm is raised unfold; and as the arm descends close tight
  again。 The arm itself;'7' it seems to us; will better be protected by a piece
  like a greave stretched over it than bound up with the corselet。 Again; the
  part exposed when the right hand is raised should be covered close to the
  corselet either with calfskin or with metal; or else there will be a want of
  protection just at the most vital point。
  '6'   {prosthetai};   〃moveable;〃   〃false。〃   For   {gigglumois}   L。   &   S。   cf。
  Hipp。 411。 12; Aristot。 〃de An。〃 iii。 10。 9 = 〃ball…and…socket                    joints。〃
  '7' i。e。 〃forearm。〃
  Moreover; as any damage done to the horse will involve his rider in
  extreme peril; the horse also should be clad in armourfrontlet; breastplate;
  and thigh…pieces;'8' which latt