2.5
As to the food, he required the prefect to bring with himσυμβολεύειν is the conjecture of F. Portus for συμβουλεύειν, and εἴρενα that of Schneider for ἄρρενα. The prefect took his meals with the class of which he had charge. But Stobaeus’ text runs σῖτόν γε μὴν τοσοῦτον ἔχειν (for which read ἐσθίειν) συνεβούλευεν ὡς, he recommended them to eat so moderately that they; and this is probably right. such a moderate amount of it that the boys would never suffer from repletion, and would know what it was to go with their hunger unsatisfied; for he believed that those who underwent this training would be better able to continue working on an empty stomach, if necessary, and would be capable of carrying on longer without extra food, if the word of command were given to do so: they would want fewer delicacies and would accommodate themselves more readily to anything put before them, and at the same time would enjoy better health.
2.6
He also thought that a diet which made their bodies slim would do more to increase their height than one that consisted of flesh-forming food.
2.6
On the other hand, lest they should feel too much the pinch of hunger,Anabasis, 4.6.14. while not giving them the opportunity of taking what they wanted without trouble he allowed them to alleviate their hunger by stealing something.
2.7
It was not on account of a difficulty in providing for them that he encouraged them to get their food by their own cunning. No one, I suppose, can fail to see that. Obviously a man who intends to take to thieving must spend sleepless nights and play the deceiver and lie in ambush by day, and moreover, if he means to make a capture, he must have spies ready. There can be no doubt then, that all this education was planned by him in order to make the boys more resourceful in getting supplies, and better fighting men.
2.7
Someone may ask:
