Translation by H. G. Dakyns





THE DUTIES OF A HIPPARCH[1]

or

Commander of Cavalry at Athens



I

Your first duty is to offer sacrifice, petitioning the gods to grant
you such good gifts[2] as shall enable you in thought, word, and deed
to discharge your office in the manner most acceptable to Heaven, and
with fullest increase to yourself, and friends, and to the state at
large of affection, glory, and wide usefulness. The goodwill of
Heaven[3] so obtained, you shall proceed to mount your troopers,
taking care that the full complement which the law demands is reached,
and that the normal force of cavalry is not diminished. There will
need to be a reserve of remounts, or else a deficiency may occur at
any moment,[4] looking to the fact that some will certainly succumb to
old age, and others, from one reason or another, prove unserviceable.

[1] For the title, etc., see Schneid. "Praemon. de Xeno." {Ipp}.