10-23-2006, 08:37 PM
Quote:Book Two:
'...For a courageous army is not so because the men in it are courageous, but because the ranks are well disciplined; for if I am of the first line fighters, and being overcome, I know where I have to retire, and who is to take my place, I will always fight with courage seeing my succor nearby: If I am of the second line fighters, I would not be dismayed at the first line being pushed back and repulsed, for I would have presupposed it could happen, and I would have desired it in order to be he who, as it was not them, would give the victory to my patron.'
[url:4ivnl0ys]http://www.constitution.org/mac/artofwar2.htm[/url]
He may also be talking about maniples, but I think somehow he means individual ranks.
The original text is not very specific; "ranks are well disciplined" in the original text is "ordini bene ordinati", in the context of phrase the best sense is "have the troops/units in good order". "first line fighters" "second line fighters" in the text is "primi combattitori" and "secondi combattitori" "first fighters" "second fighters". The entire pass is much generic but the phrase "I know where I have to retire" implicitly appears a reference to a long distance movement like a unit change not to a ranks change.
"Each historical fact needs to be considered, insofar as possible, no with hindsight and following abstract universal principles, but in the context of own proper age and environment" Aldo A. Settia
a.k.a Davide Dall\'Angelo
SISMA- Società Italiana per gli Studi Militari Antichi
a.k.a Davide Dall\'Angelo
SISMA- Società Italiana per gli Studi Militari Antichi
