Humanitext Reader

Xenophon · On The Cavalry Commander §6.1-6.6

Winning the Goodwill, Respect, and Obedience of Troops

Passage 8 of 12 · Greek

Summary

Discusses the requirements for a ruler to win the goodwill and respect of his subordinates and make them obedient, in terms of mastering skills, showing consideration, and respecting the gods.

§6.1ἀλλὰ γὰρ οὐδὲν ἄν τις δύναιτο πλάσαι οἷον βούλεται, εἰ μὴ ἐξ ὧν γε πλάττοιτο παρεσκευασμένα εἴη ὡς πείθεσθαι τῇ τοῦ χειροτέχνου γνώμῃ· οὐδέ γʼ ἂν ἐξ ἀνδρῶν, εἰ μὴ σὺν θεῷ οὕτω παρεσκευασμένοι ἔσονται ὡς φιλικῶς τε ἔχειν πρὸς τὸν ἄρχοντα καὶ φρονιμώτερον σφῶν αὐτὸν ἡγεῖσθαι περὶ τῶν πρὸς τοὺς πολεμίους ἀγώνων.
But indeed, one would not be able to fashion anything such as he wishes, unless the materials from which he would fashion it should be prepared so as to obey the mind of the craftsman; nor indeed could one do so from men, unless with god's help they shall be so prepared as to be friendly toward the ruler and to deem him more prudent than themselves concerning the struggles against the enemy.
§6.2εὐνοϊκῶς μὲν οὖν ἔχειν ἐκ τῶνδε εἰκὸς τοὺς ἀρχομένους, ὅταν φιλοφρόνως τε ἔχῃ πρὸς αὐτοὺς καὶ προνοῶν φαίνηται ὅπως τε σῖτον ἕξουσι καὶ ὅπως ἀσφαλῶς μὲν ἀποχωρήσουσι, πεφυλαγμένως δὲ ἀναπαύσονται.
It is likely, then, that the subjects will be well-disposed from the following: whenever he is kindly disposed toward them and appears taking thought both that they shall have provisions, and how they shall retreat safely and rest with precautions.
§6.3ἐν δὲ ταῖς φρουραῖς χρὴ καὶ χιλοῦ καὶ σκηνῶν καὶ ὕδατος καὶ φρυγάνων καὶ τῶν ἄλλων ἐπιτηδείων φανερὸν εἶναι ἐπιμελόμενον καὶ προνοοῦντά τε καὶ ἀγρυπνοῦντα ἕνεκα τῶν ἀρχομένων.
And on guard duties, he must be seen taking care of and foreseeing fodder, tents, water, firewood, and other provisions, and being watchful on behalf of those ruled.
καὶ ὅταν γε πλέον ἔχῃ τι, τὸ μεταδοῦναι κερδαλέον τῷ προεστηκότι.
And whenever he has anything extra, it is profitable for the leader to share it.
§6.4ἥκιστα δʼ ἂν καταφρονοῖεν ἄρχοντος, ὡς μὲν συνελόντι εἰπεῖν, εἰ ὁπόσα ἐκείνοις παραινοίη, αὐτὸς ταῦτα βέλτιον ἐκείνων φαίνοιτο ποιῶν.
And they would least despise a ruler, to speak briefly, if, whatever things he might advise them, he himself should appear doing these things better than they.
§6.5ἀρξάμενον οὖν δεῖ ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀναβαίνειν ἐπὶ τοὺς ἵππους πάντα τὰ ἐν ἱππικῇ μελετᾶν, ὅπως ὁρῶσι τὸν ἄρχοντα δυνάμενον ἐπὶ τοῦ ἵππου καὶ τάφρους ἀσφαλῶς περᾶν καὶ τειχία ὑπερακρίζειν καὶ ἀπʼ ὄχθων κατορούειν καὶ ἀκοντίζειν ἱκανῶς· πάντα γὰρ ταῦτα προκόπτει τι εἰς τὸ μὴ καταφρονεῖσθαι.
Therefore, beginning from mounting horses, he must practice all things in horsemanship, so that they may see the ruler being able, on horse, both to cross ditches safely, and to leap over walls, and to leap down from banks, and to throw the javelin skillfully; for all these things contribute something toward not being despised.
§6.6ἢν δὲ δὴ καὶ τάττειν γνῶσιν ἐπιστάμενόν τε καὶ δυνάμενον παρασκευάζειν ὡς ἂν πλέον ἔχοιεν τῶν πολεμίων, πρὸς δὲ τούτοις κἀκεῖνο λάβωσιν εἰς τὴν γνώμην, ὡς οὔτʼ ἂν εἰκῇ οὔτʼ ἄνευ θεῶν οὔτε παρὰ τὰ ἱερὰ ἡγήσαιτʼ ἂν ἐπὶ πολεμίους, πάντα ταῦτα πιθανωτέρους τῷ ἄρχοντι τοὺς ἀρχομένους ποιεῖ.
And if, indeed, they also know that he understands how to draw up troops and is able to prepare them so that they might have the advantage over the enemy, and besides these things, if they should take this into their minds: that he would lead them against the enemy neither at random, nor without the gods, nor contrary to the sacrifices—all these things make the subjects more obedient to the ruler.

Notes

  1. 6.1οὐδέ γʼ ἂν ἐξ ἀνδρῶν — In this phrase, the verb phrase οὐδὲν ἄν τις δύναιτο πλάσαι (one would not be able to fashion anything) from the preceding clause is ellipted, meaning 'nor indeed [could one fashion anything] from men.'
  2. 6.3φανερὸν εἶναι — This construction depends on the impersonal verb χρὴ, meaning 'it is necessary that [the ruler] be manifest taking care of...' The participles ἐπιμελόμενον, προνοῦντα, and ἀγρυπνοῦντα are in the accusative case as they agree with the implied accusative subject of the infinitive εἶναι.
  3. 6.6ἢν δὲ δὴ καὶ τάττειν γνῶσιν ἐπιστάμενόν τε καὶ δυνάμενον — This is a participial construction dependent on the verb γνῶσιν (if they should know). The accusative participles ἐπιστάμενον (knowing/understanding) and δυνάμενον (being able) refer to the omitted subject of the action (the ruler, i.e., τὸν ἄρχοντα), meaning 'if they should know him to understand how to draw up [troops] and to be able to prepare...'

Cite this passage

Xenophon, On The Cavalry Commander §6.1-6.6. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0032.tlg012.humanitext-grc2:6.1-6.6

Please note the AI-draft status of the translation and the date accessed.

Translation, notes and summary are AI-generated drafts, revised through reader feedback.