[23] You Hyrcanians must go in front of us as a screen, that we may lie behind you as long as may be.

And as soon as I close with them, you must give me, each of you, a squadron of horse, to use in case of need while I am waiting at the camp.

[24] I would advise the older men among you and the officers, to ride in close order, so that your ranks should not be broken, if you come across a compact body of the foe; let the younger men give chase, and do the killing; our safest plan to-day is to leave as few of the enemy alive as possible.

[25] And if we conquer," he added, "we must beware of what has overset the fortune of many a conqueror ere now, I mean the lust for plunder.

The man who plunders is no longer a man, he is a machine for porterage, and all who list may treat him as a slave.