#tyrtaeus

Tyrtaeus, Arete

The new US Army recruitment advertising looks fantastic. This is so much better than the laughably woke ads they tried before to speak to Gen Z - the snowflake generation - as if joining the army was a latté lifestyle choice. Those ads made the US Army a laughing stock around the world. This is more on point as to what soldiering is about. Good Lord, as a British army veteran, I would fight next to Kang any day of the week.

Young Women of Sparta, Camille Corot, 1868-70

Tyrtaeus, Fragment 14

Shame and infamy affects an army, when in the head of the formation before the younglings you see the old man bleeding to death. This requires above all a youngling, while he still lovely in the locks of his hair wear a spring flower's wreath. Fair for women, handsome for men may he be seen in life: more beautiful he is in death, fallen on the pitch of slaughter.

This is a shared good for the whole state and the people, When a man stands firm among the front ranks, Relentless, completely forgetful of shameful retreat, Offering up his life and enduring heart, Ready with an encouraging word for the man next to him. This man proves to be good in war.

This is a shared good for the whole state and the people, When a man stands firm among the front ranks, Relentless, completely forgetful of shameful retreat, Offering up his life and enduring heart, Ready with an encouraging word for the man next to him. This man proves to be good in war.

I would not remember or take a man into account for either prowess in running or wrestling, not even if he had the size and strength of the Cyclopes, or if he beat the Thracian Boreas in a race, nor if his body was more beautiful than that of Tithonus, or if he was more rich than Midas and Cinyras, nor if he was more kingly than Pelops, the son of Tantalus, or if he had a smoother tongue than Adrastus, nor if he had a reputation for everything except impetuous force. For no man is good in war unless he can endure the sight of bloody slaughter and, standing close, can aim at the enemy. This is excellence; this is the best prize for humans and it is the finest prize for a young man to win. This is a common good for the city and all the people, whenever a man, standing firm in the front ranks, holds fast unceasingly, forgetting shameful flight entirely, risking his life and brave heart, and he stands next to the nearest man and encourages him: This man is good in war. He quickly turns back the jagged ranks of wretched men, and holds fast the waves of fighting with strenuous effort. And if he fell in the first ranks and lost his dear life for the glory of his city and his people and his father, having been pierced from the front through his breast and his bossed shield and through his coverlet. Young and old alike mourn him, and the whole city is distressed by the painful loss. Both the tomb and his children are pointed out amongst the people, and the children of his children and his lineage afterwards. His good fame and name aren't destroyed, but, although he is beneath the earth, he is in fact immortal, whoever it is that rushing Ares kills as he is brave, staying and fighting for his land and children. But if he escapes the doom of long-lasting suffering death and by his victory achieves his glorious spear-prayer, everyone honours him, both young and old alike, and he experiences many joys before he goes to Hades, and, as he grows old, he stands out among the townsmen; no one wants to deprive him of his due respect and rights, but everyone on the benches, the young, those of his own age and the elders would give up their seats. Now let any man try to reach this pinnacle of excellence with his heart without slacking in war.