08-02-2007, 04:55 PM
After reading the passage in context, I note the following things.
1. Vegetius is talking about a hypothetical ideal formation. He mentions teaching the military step along with the ideal height for recruits, keeping weavers etc out of the army and like. This is thus not saying what is, it is saying what ought to be.
2. However, his military step was in common use at the time. If it was a term he made up himself, or pulled from a tome of the ancients, he would have to explain it. He does not. He lists its benefits in the manner of one arguing in favor of a known proposition, no of one explaining what the concept is, IMHO. From the way it is worded, I think his intended audience knows what this military step is, and he is trying to prove it is worthwhile.
3. No mention of music other sound is made. He does list long practice as a requisite however, while de Saxe noted that with music, a cadenced march is natural and easy to learn. Indeed, he claims he has seen men being to march in cadence when music is being played on the march, even without training or orders. That makes me guess that no musical aid was used, and it was simply learned by doing it over and over until you got it. That is just my guess though, feel free to criticize it. :lol:
1. Vegetius is talking about a hypothetical ideal formation. He mentions teaching the military step along with the ideal height for recruits, keeping weavers etc out of the army and like. This is thus not saying what is, it is saying what ought to be.
2. However, his military step was in common use at the time. If it was a term he made up himself, or pulled from a tome of the ancients, he would have to explain it. He does not. He lists its benefits in the manner of one arguing in favor of a known proposition, no of one explaining what the concept is, IMHO. From the way it is worded, I think his intended audience knows what this military step is, and he is trying to prove it is worthwhile.
3. No mention of music other sound is made. He does list long practice as a requisite however, while de Saxe noted that with music, a cadenced march is natural and easy to learn. Indeed, he claims he has seen men being to march in cadence when music is being played on the march, even without training or orders. That makes me guess that no musical aid was used, and it was simply learned by doing it over and over until you got it. That is just my guess though, feel free to criticize it. :lol:
David Walker
