ken, being minded to anticipate the goodwill
of the god. And round about the place of sacrifice are present the
polemarchs and captains, the lieutenants and sub-lieutenants, with the
commandants of the baggage train, and any general of the states (7) who
may care to assist. There, too, are to be seen two of the ephors, who
neither meddle nor make, save only at the summons of the king, yet have
they their eyes fixed on the proceedings of each one there and keep
all in order, (8) as may well be guessed. When the sacrifices are
accomplished the king summons all and issues his orders (9) as to
what has to be done. And all with such method that, to witness the
proceedings, you might fairly suppose the rest of the world to be
but bungling experimenters, (10) and the Lacedaemonians alone true
handicraftsmen in the art of soldiering.

(7) I.e. "allied"? or "perioecid"?

(8) {sophronizousin}, "keep every one in his sober senses."

(9) See Thuc. v. 66.

(10) {autoskhediastai, tekhnitai}. See Jebb, "Theophr." x. 3.

Anon the king puts himself at the head of the troops, and if no enemy
appears he heads the line of march, no one preceding him except the
Sciritae, and the mounted troopers exploring in front. (11) If, however,
there is any reason to anticipate a battle, the king takes the leading
column of the first army corps (12) and wheels to the right until he has
got into position with two army corps and two generals of division on
either flank. The disposition of the supports is assigned to the eldest
of the royal council (13) (or staff corps) acting as brigadier--the
staff consisting of all peers who share the royal mess and quarters,
with the soothsayers, surgeons, (14) and pipers, whose place is in the
front of the troops, (15) with, finally, any volunteers who happen to be
present. So that there is no check or hesitation in anything to be done;
every contingency is provided for.

(11) Or, "who are on scouting duty. If, however, they expect a
battle," etc.

(12) Technically, "mora."

(13) {ton peri damosian}. See "Hell." IV. v. 8; vii. 4.

(14) See "Anab." III. iv. 30; "Cyrop." I. vi. 15; L. Dindorf, n. ad
loc.

(15) Schneider refers to Polyaenus, i. 10.

The following details also seem to me of high utility among the
inventions of Lycurgus with a view to the final arbitrament of battle.
Whensoever, the enemy being now close enough to watch the proceedings,
(16) the goat is sacrificed; then, say