the essays of montaigne, v8-第2章
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best account。 A man may repose more confidence in a sword he holds in
his hand than in a bullet he discharges out of a pistol； wherein there
must be a concurrence of several circumstances to make it perform its
office； the powder； the stone； and the wheel： if any of which fail it
endangers your fortune。 A man himself strikes much surer than the air
can direct his blow：
〃Et； quo ferre velint； permittere vulnera ventis
Ensis habet vires； et gens quaecumque virorum est；
Bella gerit gladiis。〃
＇〃And so where they choose to carry ＇the arrows＇； the winds allow
the wounds； the sword has strength of arm： and whatever nation of
men there is； they wage war with swords。〃Lucan； viii。 384。＇
But of that weapon I shall speak more fully when I come to compare the
arms of the ancients with those of modern use； only； by the way； the
astonishment of the ear abated； which every one grows familiar with in a
short time； I look upon it as a weapon of very little execution； and hope
we shall one day lay it aside。 That missile weapon which the Italians
formerly made use of both with fire and by sling was much more terrible：
they called a certain kind of javelin； armed at the point with an iron
three feet long； that it might pierce through and through an armed man；
Phalarica； which they sometimes in the field darted by hand； sometimes
from several sorts of engines for the defence of beleaguered places； the
shaft being rolled round with flax； wax； rosin； oil； and other
combustible matter； took fire in its flight； and lighting upon the body
of a man or his target； took away all the use of arms and limbs。 And
yet； coming to close fight； I should think they would also damage the
assailant； and that the camp being as it were planted with these flaming
truncheons； would produce a common inconvenience to the whole crowd：
〃Magnum stridens contorta Phalarica venit；
Fulminis acta modo。〃
＇〃The Phalarica； launched like lightning； flies through
the air with a loud rushing sound。〃AEneid； ix。 705。＇
They had； moreover； other devices which custom made them perfect in
（which seem incredible to us who have not seen them）； by which they
supplied the effects of our powder and shot。 They darted their spears
with so great force； as ofttimes to transfix two targets and two armed
men at once； and pin them together。 Neither was the effect of their
slings less certain of execution or of shorter carriage：
＇〃Culling round stones from the beach for their slings； and with
these practising over the waves； so as from a great distance to
throw within a very small circuit； they became able not only to
wound an enemy in the head； but hit any other part at pleasure。〃
Livy； xxxviii。 29。＇
Their pieces of battery had not only the execution but the thunder of our
cannon also：
〃Ad ictus moenium cum terribili sonitu editos；
pavor et trepidatio cepit。〃
＇〃At the battery of the walls； performed with a terrible noise；
the defenders began to fear and tremble。〃Idem； ibid。； 5。＇
The Gauls； our kinsmen in Asia； abominated these treacherous missile
arms； it being their use to fight； with greater bravery； hand to hand：
＇〃They are not so much concerned about large gashes…the bigger and
deeper the wound； the more glorious do they esteem the combat but
when they find themselves tormented by some arrow…head or bullet
lodged within； but presenting little outward show of wound；
transported with shame and anger to perish by so imperceptible a
destroyer； they fall to the ground。〃…Livy； xxxviii。 21。＇
A pretty description of something very like an arquebuse…shot。 The ten
thousand Greeks in their long and famous retreat met with a nation who
very much galled them with great and strong bows； carrying arrows so long
that； taking them up； one might return them back like a dart； and with
them pierce a buckler and an armed man through and through。 The engines；
that Dionysius invented at Syracuse to shoot vast massy darts and stones
of a prodigious greatness with so great impetuosity and at so great a
distance； came very near to our modern inventions。
But in this discourse of horses and horsemanship； we are not to forget
the pleasant posture of one Maistre Pierre Pol； a doctor of divinity；
upon his mule； whom Monstrelet reports always to have ridden sideways
through the streets of Paris like a woman。 He says also； elsewhere； that
the Gascons had terrible horses； that would wheel in their full speed；
which the French； Picards； Flemings； and Brabanters looked upon as a
miracle； 〃having never seen the like before；〃 which are his very words。
Caesar； speaking of the Suabians： 〃 in the charges they make on
horseback；〃 says he； 〃they often throw themselves off to fight on foot；
having taught their horses not to stir in the meantime from the place；
to which they presently run again upon occasion； and according to their
custom； nothing is so unmanly and so base as to use saddles or pads； and
they despise such as make use of those conveniences： insomuch that； being
but a very few in number； they fear not to attack a great many。〃 That
which I have formerly wondered at； to see a horse made to perform all his
airs with a switch only and the reins upon his neck； was common with the
Massilians； who rid their horses without saddle or bridle：
〃Et gens； quae nudo residens Massylia dorso；
Ora levi flectit； fraenorum nescia； virga。〃
＇〃The Massylians； mounted on the bare backs of their horses；
bridleless； guide them by a mere switch。〃Lucan； iv。 682。＇
〃Et Numidae infraeni cingunt。〃
＇〃The Numidians guiding their horses without bridles。〃
AEneid； iv。 41。＇
〃Equi sine fraenis； deformis ipse cursus；
rigida cervice et extento capite currentium。〃
＇〃The career of a horse without a bridle is ungraceful； the neck
extended stiff； and the nose thrust out。〃Livy； xxxv。 II。＇
King Alfonso； ＇Alfonso XI。； king of Leon and Castile； died 1350。＇
he who first instituted the Order of the Band or Scarf in Spain； amongst
other rules of the order； gave them this； that they should never ride
mule or mulet； upon penalty of a mark of silver； this I had lately out of
Guevara's Letters。 Whoever gave these the title of Golden Epistles had
another kind of opinion of them than I have。 The Courtier says； that
till his time it was a disgrace to a gentleman to ride on one of these
creatures： but the Abyssinians； on the contrary； the nearer they are to
the person of Prester John； love to be mounted upon large mules； for the
greatest dignity and grandeur。
Xenophon tells us； that the Assyrians were fain to keep their horses
fettered in the stable； they were so fierce and vicious； and that it
required so much time to loose and harness them； that to avoid any
disorder this tedious preparation might bring upon them in case of
surprise； they never sat down in their camp till it was first well
fortified with ditches and ramparts。 His Cyrus； who was so great a
master in all manner of horse service； kept his horses to their due work；
and never suffered them to have anything to eat till first they had
earned it by the sweat of some kind of exercise。 The Scythians when in
the field and in scarcity of provisions used to let their horses blood；
which they drank； and sustained themselves by that diet：
〃Venit et epoto Sarmata pastus equo。〃
＇〃The Scythian comes； who feeds on horse…flesh〃
Martial； De Spectaculis Libey； Epigr。 iii。 4。＇
Those of Crete； being besieged by Metellus； were in so great necessity
for drink that they were fain to quench their thirst with their horses
urine。＇Val。 Max。； vii。 6； ext。 1。＇
To shew how much cheaper the Turkish armies support themselves than our
European forces； 'tis said that besides the soldiers drink nothing but
water and eat nothing but rice and salt flesh pulverised （of which every
one may easily carry about with him a month's provision）； they know how
to feed upon the blood of their horses as well as
