of his spear. With the right hand
he should grip the reins along with a tuft of hair beside the
shoulder-joint, (3) so that he may not in any way wrench the horse's
mouth with the bit while mounting. In the act of taking the spring off
the ground for mounting, (4) he should hoist his body by help of the
left hand, and with the right at full stretch assist the upward movement
(5) (a position in mounting which will present a graceful spectacle also
from behind); (6) at the same time with the leg well bent, and taking
care not to place his knee on the horse's back, he must pass his leg
clean over to the off side; and so having brought his foot well round,
plant himself firmly on his seat. (7)

(1) Reading {otan... paradexetai... os anabesomenos}. Or,
reading {otan paradexetai ton ippea (sc. o. ippos) ws
anabesomenon}, transl. "the horse has been brought round ready for
mounting."

(2) So Courier, "la muserolle." It might be merely a stitched leather
strap or made of a chain in part, which rattled; as
{khrusokhalinon patagon psalion} (Aristoph. "Peace," 155) implies.
"Curb" would be misleading.

(3) "Near the withers."

(4) Or, "as soon as he has got the springing poise preliminary to
mounting."

(5) "Give himself simultaneously a lift." Reading {ekteinon}, or if
{enteinon}, "keeping his right arm stiff."

(6) Or, "a style of mounting which will obviate an ungainly attitude
behind."

(7) Lit. "lower his buttocks on to the horse's back."

To meet the case in which the horseman may chance to be leading his
horse with the left hand and carrying his spear in the right, it would
be good, we think, for every one to practise vaulting on to his seat
from the right side also. In fact, he has nothing else to learn except
to do with his right limbs what he has previously done with the left,
and vice versa. And the reason we approve of this method of mounting
is (8) that it enables the soldier at one and the same instant to
get astride of his horse and to find himself prepared at all points,
supposing he should have to enter the lists of battle on a sudden.

(8) Lit. "One reason for the praise which we bestow on this method of
mounting is that at the very instant of gaining his seat the
soldier finds himself fully prepared to engage the enemy on a
sudden, if occasion need."

But now, supposing the rider fairly seated, whether bareback or on a
saddle-cloth, a good se