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The excerpt represents the core issue or deciding factor on which you must meditate, and is drawn from The Cavalry General by Xenophon: the same man, mark you, when in command is somehow apt to feel that
deeds of valour are incumbent on him which, as a private, he ignores;
and in the next place, at a crisis when something calls for action on
the instant, the word of command passed not to privates but to
officers takes speedier effect.
[9] i.e. all find themselves in a position of command, and there is
nothing like command to inspire that feeling of noblesse oblige
which is often lacking in the private soldier. See Thuc. v. 66;
"Pol. Lac." xi. 5.
Supposing, then, a regiment of cavalry drawn up in this formation:
just as the squadron-leaders have their several positions for the
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