o him than to do the contrary."

We see by this discourse that Socrates, designing to give the idea of a
good prince, required scarce anything of him but to render his subjects
happy.

CHAPTER III. ON THE BUSINESS OF A GENERAL OF HORSE.

Socrates at another time, as I well remember, had the following
conference with a general of the cavalry:--

"What was your reason," said Socrates, "to desire this office? I cannot
think it was that you might march first at the head of the troops, for
the horse-archers are to march before you. Nor can I believe it was to
make yourself be known, for no men are more generally known than madmen.
Perhaps it was because you thought you could mend what was amiss in the
cavalry, and make the troops better than they are, to the end that if the
Republic should have occasion to use them, you might be able to do your
country some eminent service." "That is my design," answered the other.
"It were well you could do this," said Socrates, "but does not your
office oblige you to have an eye on the horses and troopers?" "Most
certainly." "What course will you then take," continued Socrates, "to
get good horses?" "It is not my business to look to that," replied the
general; "every trooper must take care for himself." "And what," said
Socrates, "if they bring you horses whose feet and legs are good for
nothing, or that are so weak and lean that they cannot keep up with the
others, or so restive and vicious that it would be impossible to make
them keep their ranks, what good could you expect from such cavalry? What
service would you be able to do the State?" "You are much in the right,
Socrates, and I promise you I will take care what horses are in my
troops." "And will you not have an eye likewise on the troopers?" "Yes,"
answered he. "In my opinion then," answered Socrates, "the first thing
you ought to do is to make them learn to get a horseback." "No doubt of
it," replied the general, "for by that means they would the more easily
escape, if they should happen to be thrown off their horses." Socrates
went on: "You ought also to make them exercise, sometimes here, sometimes
there, and particularly in places like those where the enemy generally
is, that they may be good horsemen in all sorts of countries; for when
you are to fight you will not send to bid the enemy come to you in the
plain, where you used to exercise your horse. You must train them up,
likewise, to lance the spea