Complete Works of Onasander

by Onasander

  [2] ὅνπερ δ’ ἂν τρόπον, εἰ κυβερνήτης ἀφειμένος τῶν οἰάκων, ἃ δεῖ τοὺς ναύτας ποιεῖν, αὐτὸς πράττοι, κινδυνεύειν ἂν συμβαίη τὸ σκάφος, τοῦτον, εἰ στρατηγὸς ἀποστὰς τοῦ γνώμῃ τι βουλεύειν ἐπὶ τὰς τῶν στρατιωτῶν καταβαίνοι χρείας, ἡ τῶν ὅλων ἀκυβέρνητος ἀμελεία τὴν ἀναγκαιοτέραν ἄπρακτον ποιήσει βοήθειαν.

  [2] If a ship’s captain leaving the helm should himself do what the sailors ought to do, he would endanger his ship; in the same way, if the general, leaving his function of wise direction, should descend to the duties of a simple soldier, his neglect of the whole situation, due to his lack of governing, will render useless the common soldier’s mere routine service.

  [3] ὅμοιον δὴ κρίνω τὸν στρατηγὸν ἐμπαραβαλέσθαι τῇ ἑαυτοῦ ψυχῇ τῷ τῆς συμπάσης, εἰ πείσεταί τι, δυνάμεως ἀκηδεῖν· εἰ γάρ, ἐν ᾧ τοῦ σύμπαντος ἡ σωτηρία στρατεύματός ἐστιν, οὗτος οὐδὲν εἰ τεθνήξεται πεφρόντικε, τὸ πᾶν αἱρεῖται συνδιαφθεῖραι, καὶ ὀρθῶς δ’ ἄν τις αἰτιάσαιτο τοῦτον ὡς ἄπρακτον στρατηγὸν μᾶλλον ἢ ἀνδρεῖον.

  [3] Similar, I think, is the notion which the general gets into his heart when he thus disregards the welfare of his whole force in the event of accident to himself; for if he, with whom the safety of the whole army lies, has no care lest he himself should die, he prefers that everyone should die with him, and rightly he would be censured as an unsuccessful rather than a courageous general.

  [4] ὁ μὲν γὰρ πολλὰ γνώμῃ στρατηγήσας ἀρκεσθήσεται σεμνυνόμενος ἐπὶ ταῖς ἀπὸ ψυχῆς εὐπραγίας, ὅστις δ’ οὕτως ἀπειρόκαλός ἐστιν, ὥστ’ ἄν, εἰ μὴ διὰ μάχης εἰ χεῖρας ἔλθοι τοῖς πολεμίοις, οὐδὲν αὐτὸν ἄξιον εἰργᾶσθαι νομίζειν, οὐκ ἀνδρεῖος, ἀλλὰ ἄλογος καὶ τολμηρός ἐστιν.

  [4] He who has accomplished many feats of generalship through his wisdom must be satisfied with the honour for his intellectual successes, but he who is so stupid that, unless he comes to close quarters with the enemy, he believes he has accomplished nothing worthy of mention, is not brave but thoughtless and foolhardy.

  [5] ὅθεν ἐπιφαίνειν μὲν δεῖ τῷ πλήθει τὸ φιλοκίνδυνον, ἵνα τὴν προθυμίαν ἐκκαλῆται τῶν στρατιωτῶν, ἀγωνίζεσθαι δὲ ἀσφαλέστερον, καὶ τοῦ θανάτου μὲν καταφρονεῖν, εἴ τι πάσχοι τὸ στράτευμα, μηδ’ αὑτὸν αἱρούμενον ζῆν, σωζομένου δὲ καὶ τὴν ἰδίαν φυλάττειν ψυχήν· ἤδη γὰρ ἐπικυδέστερα τὰ τῶν φιλίων ὄντα ποτὲ στρατηγὸς ἀποθανὼν ἐμείωσεν· οἱ μὲν γὰρ πταίοντες ἐπανεθάρρησαν τὸ ἀντίπαλον ἀστρατήγητον ἰδόντες, οἱ δ’ εὐτυχοῦντες ἐδυσθύμησαν τὸν ἴδιον ἡγεμόνα ζητοῦντες.

  [5] Hence the general must show himself brave before the army, that he may call forth the zeal of his soldiers, but he must fight cautiously; he should despise death if his army is defeated, and not desire to live, but if his army is preserved he should guard his personal safety, for sometimes the death of a general lessens the glory of his army, since the defeated enemy is encouraged, perceiving that its opponents are without a general, and the successful army is discouraged, feeling the need of its own general.

  [6] στρατηγοῦ δ’ ἔστι τὸ παριππάζεσθαι ταῖς τάξεσιν, ἐπιφαίνεσθαι τοῖς κινδυνεύουσιν, ἐπαινεῖν τοὺς ἀνδριζομένους, ἀπειλεῖν τοῖς ἀποδειλιῶσι, παρακαλεῖν τοὺς μέλλοντας, ἀναπληροῦν τὸ ἐλλεῖπον, ἀντιμετάγειν εἰ δέοι λόχον, ἐπαμύνειν τοῖς κάμνουσι, προορᾶσθαι τὸν καιρόν, τὴν ὥραν, τὸ μέλλον.

  [6] The duty of the general is to ride by the ranks on horseback, show himself to those in danger, praise the brave, threaten the cowardly, encourage the lazy, fill up gaps, transpose a company if necessary, bring aid to wearied, anticipate the crisis, the hour, and the outcome.

  XXXIV. Περὶ τοῦ εὐεργετεῖν κατὰ τὸ μέτρον ἕνα ἕκαστον τῶν ἀνδραγαθούντων

  XXXIV. CONFERRING REWARDS PROPORTIONAL TO THE VALOUR OF EACH

  [1] Ἀνακαλεσάμενος δ’ ἐκ τῆς μάχης πρῶτον μὲν ἀποδιδότω τοῖς θεοῖς θυσίας καὶ πομπάς, αἷς ἐκ τοῦ καιροῦ χρῆσθαι πάρεστι, τὰ νομιζόμενα χαριστήρια μετὰ τὴν τοῦ πολέμου παντελῆ νίκην ἐπαγγελλόμενος ἀποδώσειν· ἔπειτα τοὺς μὲν ἀρίστους ἐν τοῖς κινδύνοις ἐξετασθέντας τιμάτω δωρεαῖς καὶ τιμαῖς, αἷς νόμος, τοὺς δὲ κακοὺς φανέντας κολαζέτω.

  [1] On returning from battle, the general should first offer to the gods such sacrifice and festal celebrations as the circumstances permit, promising to offer the customary thank-offerings after complete victory; then he should honour those soldiers who have faced danger most bravely with the gifts and marks of distinction which are usually given, and he should punish those who have shown themselves cowards.

  [2] τιμαὶ δ’ ἔστωσαν μὲν καὶ αἱ κατὰ τὰ πάτρια καὶ κατὰ τὰ παρ’ ἑκάστοις νόμιμα· στρατηγικαὶ δὲ αὗται· πανοπλίαι, κόσμοι, λαφύρων δόσεις, πεντηκονταρχίαι, ἑκατονταρχίαι, λοχαγίαι, τάξεων ἀφηγήσεις, καὶ αἱ ἄλλαι αἱ κατὰ νόμους παρ’ ἑκάστοις ἡγεμονίαι· τῶν μὲν ἰδιωτῶν τοῖς ἀνδραγαθήσασιν αἱ ἥττους ἐξουσίαι, τῶν δὲ ἡγεμόνων τοῖς ἀριστεύσασιν αἱ μείζους ἡγεμονίαι· αὗται γὰρ ἀμοιβαί τε μεγαλόψυχοι τοῖς ἤδη τὸ γενναῖον εἰργασμένοις προτροπαί τε ἀναγκαῖαι τοῖς τῶν αὐτῶν ἐπιθυμοῦσιν.

  [2] Honours should be bestowed according to tradition and custom in each case. Those bestowed by generals are the following: full equipments of armour, decorations, spoils, and appointments to commands as over fifties, over hundreds, over companies, over squads, and the other parts of command prescribed by the laws of the country in question. The bravest of the private soldiers should receive the lesser commands, and those of his officers who have distinguished themselves should have the higher commands, since these rewards strengthen the self-esteem of those who have deserved well, and encourage others who desire similar rewards.

  [3] ὅπου δὲ τιμὴ μὲν ἀποδίδοται τοῖς ἀγαθοῖς, τιμωρία δ’ οὐ παραπέμπεται τῶν κακῶν, ἐνταῦθα καλὰς ἐλπίδας ἔχειν ἀνάγκη τὸ στρατόπεδον· οἱ μὲν γὰρ ἐφοβήθησαν ἁμαρτάνειν, οἱ δὲ ἐφιλοτιμήθησαν ἀνδραγαθεῖν.

  [3] Whenever honour is paid to the brave and punishment of the cowardly is not neglected, then an army must have fair expectation; the latter are afraid to be found wanting, the former are ambitious to show prowess.

  [4] ἔνθα μέντοι χρὴ καὶ νικῶντα μὴ κατ’ ἄνδρα μόν
ον ἀμοιβὰς ἐκτίνειν, ἀλλὰ καὶ τῷ σύμπαντι στρατεύματι τῶν κινδύνων ἐπικαρπίαν ἀποδιδόναι· τὰ γὰρ τῶν πολεμίων ἐπιτρεπέτω τοῖς στρατιώταις διαρπάζειν, εἰ χάρακος ἢ ἀποσκευῆς ἢ φρουρίου κυριεύσειεν, ὁτὲ δὲ καὶ πόλεως, εἰ μή τι μέλλοι περὶ αὐτῆς χρηστότερον βουλεύειν.

  [4] It is not only necessary in victory to distribute rewards to individual men but also to make recompense to the army as a whole for its dangers. The soldiers should be allowed to plunder the possessions of the enemy if they should capture a camp or baggage train or fortress, or sometimes even a city, unless the general intends to put it to a more profitable use.

  [5] οὕτως γὰρ ἂν καὶ μάλιστα μήπω τέλος εἰληφότος τοῦ πολέμου συνοίσοι πρὸς τὰ μέλλοντα προθυμότερον ἐπὶ τὰς μάχας αὐτῶν ἐξιόντων, εἰ μὴ νομίζομεν τοὺς μὲν θηρευτικοὺς κύνας δελεάζειν ἀναγκαῖον εἶναι τοῖς κυνηγοῖς αἵματι θηρίων καὶ τοῖς τοῦ συλληφθέντος ζῴου σπλάγχνοις, τοῖς δὲ νικῶσι στρατιώταις τὰ τῶν ἡττημένων εἰς προτροπὴν οὐ μάλα δή τι συμφέρον ἀποδιδόναι.

  [5] This course will serve well the interests of the future, especially if the war is not ended, since the soldiers will be more eager to enter battle, unless we are to believe that, while huntsmen must entice their dogs with the blood of wild beasts and the entrails of the animal which the dogs have caught, nevertheless it is not at all advantageous to give the possessions of the defeated enemy, as encouragement, to the victorious army.

  XXXV. α´. Ὅτι οὐ χρὴ πάντοτε ἐπιτρέπειν τὰς ἁρπαγάς, καὶ ὅτι τὰ σώματα οὐ χρὴ ἁρπάζειν, ἀλλὰ τὸν στρατηγὸν πιπράσκειν

  XXXV. (1) INDISCRIMINATE PILLAGE MUST NOT ALWAYS BE PERMITTED; PRISONERS MUST NOT BE REGARDED AS LOOT, BUT MUST BE SOLD BY THE GENERAL

  [1] Τὰς δ’ ἁρπαγὰς οὔτ’ ἐπὶ πάσης μάχης ἐπιτρεπτέον, οὐδ’ αἰεὶ πάντων, ἀλλ’ ὧν μέν, ὧν δ’ οὔ, τῶν δὲ σωμάτων ἥκιστα· ταῦτα δὲ πιπράσκειν τὸν στρατηγόν.

  [1] Plundering should not be permitted after every battle nor in the case of all kinds of property, but only in the case of certain things, and least of all of prisoners, for these should be sold by the general.

  [2] εἰ δὲ χρημάτων δέοι καὶ δαπάνης κοινῆς καὶ μεγάλης, καὶ ὅσα ἄγεται καὶ φέρεται πάνθ’ ὡς αὐτὸν ἀναπέμπεσθαι κηρυττέτω.

  [2] If he lack money and resources to meet a large public expense, he should order that all the plundered property, including the live-stock, be turned over to him.

  [3] γνώῃ δ’ ἂν αὐτὸς ἄριστα πρὸς τοὺς καιρούς, εἰ τὰ πάντα δέοι λαμβάνειν, εἴτ’ ἐκ μέρους, εἴτε μηθὲν ὧν ἔτυχεν· οὔ γε μὴν ἔστι πολέμου καὶ τοῖς κοινοῖς εἶναι χρημάτων δαψίλειαν καὶ τοῖς στρατιώταις ἀνεπικώλυτον ὠφέλειαν· ἤδη δὲ καὶ παρὰ τοὺς τῶν ἡττημένων πλούτους καὶ παρὰ τὰς τῶν τόπων εὐδαιμονίας αἱ ὠφέλειαί σφισι δαψιλέστεραι γίγνονται.

  [3] The general will know what is best according to the circumstances, whether to seize everything or a part or nothing, of that on which he chances; certainly it is not the characteristic of war to cause both abundance of wealth to the community and unlimited gain to the private soldiers; in fact it happens sometimes that the gains of a victorious army are proportionate to the wealth of the vanquished and the prosperity of their territory.

  β´. Περὶ αἰχμαλώτων

  (2) PRISONERS

  [4] Τοὺς δὲ αἰχμαλώτους, ἐὰν ὁ πόλεμος ἔτι συνεστὼς ᾖ, μή κτεινέτω, μάλιστα μὲν τῶν πρὸς οὕς ἐστιν ὁ πόλεμος, κἂν δοκῇ οἱ, τοὺς συμμάχους ἀναιρεῖν, ἥκιστα δὲ καὶ τοὺς ἐνδοξοτάτους καὶ λαμπροὺς παρὰ τοῖς πολεμίοις, ἐνθυμούμενος τὰ ἄδηλα τῆς τύχης καὶ τὸ παλίντροπον τοῦ δαιμονίου φιλοῦντος ὡς τὰ πολλὰ νεμεσᾶν, ἵν’ εἴ τινων αὐτοὶ ἢ σωμάτων, ὧν πολὺς πόθος, ἢ φρουρίου κρατήσαιειν, ἱκανὰ ἀντικαταλλάγματα δοὺς ἔχῃ κομίσασθαι τὰ τῶν φιλίων, ἢ τότε γε μὴ βουλομένων ἐνδίκως εἰς ἴσον ἀμύνηται.

  [4] Prisoners, if the war is still in progress, the general should not kill — at the very most he may kill, if he thinks best, the allies of those against whom the war is directed, but least of all those who stand in highest repute and position among the enemy, remembering the uncertainties of chance, and the reversals caused by providence, which usually brings retribution. His purpose should be, if his army should capture certain prisoners for whom there is great desire in their own country, or some stronghold, that he may be able by giving enough in exchange to redeem the property of his friends, or at least then, should the enemy not wish to deal justly with him, that he may protect himself on equal terms.

  [5] μετὰ δὲ τὰ κατορθώματα καὶ τοὺς κινδύνους ἐπιτρεπέσθων αὐτοῖς εὐωχίαι τε καὶ κλισίαι καὶ πόνων ἀνέσεις, ἵν’ εἰδότες, οἷον τέλος ἐστὶ τοῦ μαχομένους νικᾶν, ὑπομένωσι τὰ δυσχερῆ πάντα πρὸ τοῦ νικᾶν.

  [5] After successful engagements and the dangers of battle, the general should allow feasts and celebrations and holidays, in order that the soldiers, knowing what happens as the result of victory by battle, may patiently undergo all hardships necessary for such victory.

  XXXVI. α´. Περὶ τοῦ θάπτειν τοὺς ἐν πολέμῳ ἀναιρουμένους

  XXXVI. (1) ON THE BURIAL OF THE FALLEN

  [1] Προνοείσθω δὲ τῆς τῶν νεκρῶν κηδείας, μήτε καιρὸν μήθ’ ὥραν μήτε τόπον μήτε φόβον προφασιζόμενος, ἄν τε τύχῃ νικῶν, ἄν τε ἡττώμενος· ὁσία μὲν γὰρ καὶ ἡ πρὸς τοὺς ἀποιχομένους εὐσέβεια, ἀναγκαία δὲ καὶ ἡ πρὸς τοὺς ζῶντας ἀπόδειξις.

  [1] The general should take thought for the burial of the dead, offering as a pretext for delay neither occasion nor time nor place nor fear, whether he happen to be victorious or defeated. Now this is both a holy act of reverence toward the dead and also a necessary example for the living.

  [2] ἕκαστος γὰρ τῶν στρατιωτῶν ὡς αὐτὸς ἀμελούμενος, εἰ πεσὼν ἔτυχεν, παρ’ ὀφθαλμοῖς ὁρῶν τὴν τύχην καὶ ὑπὲρ τοῦ μέλλοντος καταμαντευόμενος, ὡς οὐδ’ αὐτός, εἰ τεθναίη, ταφησόμενος ἐπαχθῶς φέρει τὴν ἀτύμβευτον ὕβριν.

  [2] For if the dead are not buried, each soldier believes that no care will be taken of his own body, should he chance to fall, observing what happens before his own eyes, and thereby judging of the future, feeling that he, likewise, if he should die, would fail of burial, waxes indignant at the contemptuous neglect of burial.

  β´. Περὶ τοῦ ἐπανορθοῦσθαι τὴν ἐλάττωσιν

  (2) ENCOURAGEMENT IN D
EFEAT

  [3] Εἰ δὲ ἡττῷτο, παραμυθησάμενος τοὺς ἀνασωθέντας ἐκ τῆς μάχης ἐφεδρευέτω, καιρὸν ἔνθα που καὶ μᾶλλον οἰόμενος ἐπανορθώσασθαι τὴν ἐλάττωσιν.

  [3] If the general be defeated, by encouraging the soldiers who have survived the battle, he should prepare for another bout, thinking that very likely there is at such a time an even better opportunity to retrieve defeat.

  [4] εἰώθασι γὰρ ὡς τὰ πολλὰ μετ’ εὐπραγίας οἱ στρατιῶται ῥᾳθυμότερον ἐκλύεσθαι περὶ τὰς φυλακάς· ἡ γὰρ τῶν πέλας καταφρόνησις ἀμελείας σφίσι γίγνεται αἰτία τῶν οἰκείων, οὕτως τε πολλάκις τὰ εὐτυχήματα πλεῖον ἔβλαψε τῷ δυστυχημάτων.

  [4] For, as a rule, soldiers after victory are accustomed to relax their vigilance, for their contempt for their near-by opponents causes carelessness of their own interests, and thus good fortune has often done more harm than misfortune.

  [5] ὁ μὲν γὰρ πταίσας ἐδιδάχθη καὶ φυλάξασθαι τὸ μέλλον, ἐξ ὧν ἔπαθεν, ὁ δὲ τοῦ δυστυχεῖν ἄπειρος οὐδ’, ὡς δεῖ φυλάξαι τὰς εὐπραγίας, ἔμαθεν.

  [5] For he who has suffered a defeat has been taught to guard in future against that from which he has suffered, but he who is inexperienced in misfortune has not even learned that it is necessary to guard his success.