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＇36＇ 〃But how；〃 asked Cyrus； 〃can I catch him in all these blunders？〃
〃Simply because both you and he are bound to be often in some such
case； both of you must take your meals sometime； both of you must
sleep； your men must scatter in the morning to satisfy the needs of
nature； and； for better for worse； whatever the roads are like； you
will be forced to make use of them。 All these necessities you must lay
to heart； and wherever you are weaker； there you must be most on your
guard； and wherever your foe is most assailable； there you must press
the attack。〃
＇37＇ Then Cyrus asked； 〃And are these the only cases where one can
apply the great principle of greed； or are there others？〃
〃Oh； yes； there are many more； indeed in these simple cases any
general will be sure to keep good watch； knowing how necessary it is。
But your true cheat and prince of swindlers is he who can lure the
enemy on and throw him off his guard； suffer himself to be pursued and
get the pursuers into disorder； lead the foe into difficult ground and
then attack him there。 ＇38＇ Indeed； as an ardent student； you must not
confine yourself to the lessons you have learnt； you must show
yourself a creator and discoverer； you must invent stratagems against
the foe； just as a real musician is not content with the mere elements
of his art； but sets himself to compose new themes。 And if in music it
is the novel melody； the flower…like freshness； that wins popularity；
still more in military matters it is the newest contrivance that
stands the highest； for the simple reason that such will give you the
best chance of outwitting your opponent。 ＇39＇ And yet； my son； I must
say that if you did no more than apply against human beings the
devices you learnt to use against the smallest game； you would have
made considerable progress in this art of overreaching。 Do you not
think so yourself？ Why； to snare birds you would get up by night in
the depth of winter and tramp off in the cold； your nets were laid
before the creatures were astir； and your tracks completely covered
and you actually had birds of your own； trained to serve you and decoy
their kith and kin； while you yourself lay in some hiding…place；
seeing yet unseen； and you had learnt by long practice to jerk in the
net before the birds could fly away。 ＇40＇ Or you might be out after
hares； and for a hare you had two breeds of dogs； one to track her out
by scent； because she feeds in the dusk and takes to her form by day；
and another to cut off her escape and run her down； because she is so
swift。 And even if she escaped these； she did not escape you； you had
all her runs by heart and knew all her hiding…places； and there you
would spread your nets； so that they were scarcely to be seen； and the
very haste of her flight would fling her into the snare。 And to make
sure of her you had men placed on the spot to keep a look…out； and
pounce on her at once。 And there were you at her heels； shouting and
scaring her out of her wits； so that she was caught from sheer terror；
and there lay your men； as you had taught them； silent and motionless
in their ambuscade。 ＇41＇ I say； therefore； that if you chose to act
like this against human beings； you would soon have no enemies left to
fight； or I am much mistaken。 And even if； as well may be； the
necessity should arise for you to do battle on equal terms in open
field； even so； my son； there will still be power in those arts which
you have studied so long and which teach you to out…villain villainy。
And among them I include all that has served to train the bodies and
fire the courage of your men； all that has made them adepts in every
craft of war。 One thing you must ever bear in mind： if you wish your
men to follow you； remember that they expect you to plan for them。
＇42＇ Hence you must never know a careless mood； if it be night； you
must consider what your troops shall do when it is day； if day； how
the night had best be spent。 ＇43＇ For the rest； you do not need me to
tell you now how you should draw up your troops or conduct your march
by day or night； along broad roads or narrow lanes； over hills or
level ground； or how you should encamp and post your pickets； or
advance into battle or retreat before the foe； or march past a hostile
city； or attack a fortress or retire from it； or cross a river or pass
through a defile； or guard against a charge of cavalry or an attack
from lancers or archers； or what you should do if the enemy comes into
sight when you are marching in column and how you are to take up
position against him； or how deploy into action if you are in line and
he takes you in flank or rear； and how you are to learn all you can
about his movements； while keeping your own as secret as may be； these
are matters on which you need no further word of mine； all that I know
about them you have heard a hundred times； and I am sure you have not
neglected any other authority on whom you thought you could rely。 You
know all their theories； and you must apply them now； I take it；
according to circumstances and your need。 ＇44＇ But；〃 he added； 〃there
is one lesson that I would fain impress on you； and it is the greatest
of them all。 Observe the sacrifices and pay heed to the omens； when
they are against you； never risk your army or yourself； for you must
remember that men undertake enterprises on the strength of probability
alone and without any real knowledge as to what will bring them
happiness。 ＇45＇ You may learn this from all life and all history。 How
often have cities allowed themselves to be persuaded into war； and
that by advisers who were thought the wisest of men； and then been
utterly destroyed by those whom they attacked！ How often have
statesmen helped to raise a city or a leader to power； and then
suffered the worst at the hands of those whom they exalted！ And many
who could have treated others as friends and equals； giving and
receiving kindnesses； have chosen to use them as slaves； and then paid
the penalty at their hands； and many； not content to enjoy their own
share of good； have been swept on by the craving to master all； and
thereby lost everything that they once possessed； and many have won
the very wealth they prayed for and through it have found destruction。
＇46＇ So little does human wisdom know how to choose the best； helpless
as a man who could but draw lots to see what he should do。 But the
gods； my son； who live for ever； they know all things； the things that
have been and the things that are and the things that are to be； and
all that shall come from these； and to us mortals who ask their
counsel and whom they love they will show signs； to tell us what we
should do and what we should leave undone。 Nor must we think it
strange if the gods will not vouchsafe their wisdom to all men
equally； no compulsion is laid on them to care for men； unless it be
their will。〃
NOTES
＇This work concludes the translation of Xenophon undertaken by Mr。
Dakyns。 （〃The Works of Xenophon；〃 with maps； introductions； and notes；
Vols。 I。…III。； Macmillan。） From references in the earlier vols。 （e。g。
Vol。 I。 pp。 lvii。； lxx。； xc。； cxiii。； cxxxi。