"For instance, what is a chorus?--a band composed of human beings, who
dance and sing; but suppose the company proceed to act as each may
chance--confusion follows; the spectacle has lost its charm. How
different when each and all together act and recite[4] with orderly
precision, the limbs and voices keeping time and tune. Then, indeed,
these same performers are worth seeing and worth hearing.

[4] Or, "declaim," {phtheggontai}, properly of the "recitative" of the
chorus. Cf. Plat. "Phaedr." 238 D.

"So, too, an army," I said, "my wife, an army destitute of order is
confusion worse confounded: to enemies an easy prey, courting attack;
to friends a bitter spectacle of wasted power;[5] a mingled mob of
asses, heavy infantry, and baggage-bearers, light infantry, cavalry,
and waggons. Now, suppose they are on the march; how are they to get
along? In this condition everybody will be a hindrance to everybody:
'slow march' side by side with 'double quick,' 'quick march' at cross
purposes with 'stand at ease'; waggons blocking cavalry and asses
fouling waggons; baggage-bearers and hoplites jostling together: the
whole a hopeless jumble. And when it comes to fighting, such an army
is not precisely in condition to deliver battle. The troops who are
compelled to retreat before the enemy's advance[6] are fully capable
of trampling down the heavy infantry detachments in reserve.[7]

[5] Reading {agleukestaton}, or, if with Breit, {akleestaton}, "a most
inglorious spectacle of extreme unprofitableness."

[6] Or, "whose duty (or necessity) it is to retire before an attack,"
i.e. the skirmishers. Al. "those who have to retreat," i.e. the
non-combatants.