DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.13851#0483
OF the military AFFAIRS of greece,
457
whence there was a good prospect, to watch the motions of their ene-
mi( s (1).
How often the guards were relieved, doth not appear ; as neither whe-
ther it was done at set ind constant times, or, according to the com-
mander's pleasure ; (puXaxjj. indeed., which signifies a watch, is frequently
taken for the fourth part of the night, answering to the Roman vigilice, as
appears from several places of the New Testament, as well as other au-
thors. But it seems to have this signification rather from the Roman
than Grecian watches, those being changed four times every night, that
is, every third hour, computing the night from six to six, of rather from
sun to sun), for the time between the two suns was divided into twelve
equal parts, which were not always* the same, like our hours, but great-
er or less, according to the season of the year ; and are therefore, by as-
tronomers, termed unequal and planetary hours.
CHAP. IX.
of their battles, the general's harangues, the sacrifices, music,
signals, ensigns, the word, and way of ending wars by single
combat, &c
Before they joined battle, the soldiers always refreshed themselves
with victuals, eating and drinking plentifully : which custom, with its
reasons, we have largely accounted for in Ulysses's elegant oration to
Achilles (2), where he advises the young general by no means to lead out
his army fasting. We are told so by Livy, that the Romans thought this
a preparative absolutely necessary, and never omitted it before engage-
ments (3)
This done, the commanders marshalled the army in order to an en-
gagement, in which art the Grecians were far inferior to the Romans ;
for drawing up their whole army, as it were, into one front, they trusted
the success of the day to single force: whereas, the Romans, ranging
their hastali, principes and triurii, in distinct bodies behind one another.,
were able, after the defeat of their first body, twice to renew the battle,
and could not be entirely routed till they had lost three several victories,
Yet something not unlike this we find practised as long since as the Tra-
jan war, where old Nestor is said to have placed a body of horse in the
front; behind these the most infirm of the foot; and, last of all, such of
them as surpassed the rest in strength and valour (4). Where, though
some interpret to tt^wtov, and to ottkv, of the right and left wings, and
others several other ways, yet the most natural and genuine sense of the
poet seems to be, that they were drawn up behind one another (5),
At this time the general made an oration to his soldiers, wherein, with
all the motives suitable on such occasions, he exhorted them to exert tbeir
utmost force and vigour against the enemy : and so wonderful was the
success that attended these performances, that many times, when affairs
(l)Xenophon. • (2) Iliad, v v 155. (3) Lib, ii.
4) Iliad. 5', v. 29?= (5)Plutarchus lib. dc Homero
457
whence there was a good prospect, to watch the motions of their ene-
mi( s (1).
How often the guards were relieved, doth not appear ; as neither whe-
ther it was done at set ind constant times, or, according to the com-
mander's pleasure ; (puXaxjj. indeed., which signifies a watch, is frequently
taken for the fourth part of the night, answering to the Roman vigilice, as
appears from several places of the New Testament, as well as other au-
thors. But it seems to have this signification rather from the Roman
than Grecian watches, those being changed four times every night, that
is, every third hour, computing the night from six to six, of rather from
sun to sun), for the time between the two suns was divided into twelve
equal parts, which were not always* the same, like our hours, but great-
er or less, according to the season of the year ; and are therefore, by as-
tronomers, termed unequal and planetary hours.
CHAP. IX.
of their battles, the general's harangues, the sacrifices, music,
signals, ensigns, the word, and way of ending wars by single
combat, &c
Before they joined battle, the soldiers always refreshed themselves
with victuals, eating and drinking plentifully : which custom, with its
reasons, we have largely accounted for in Ulysses's elegant oration to
Achilles (2), where he advises the young general by no means to lead out
his army fasting. We are told so by Livy, that the Romans thought this
a preparative absolutely necessary, and never omitted it before engage-
ments (3)
This done, the commanders marshalled the army in order to an en-
gagement, in which art the Grecians were far inferior to the Romans ;
for drawing up their whole army, as it were, into one front, they trusted
the success of the day to single force: whereas, the Romans, ranging
their hastali, principes and triurii, in distinct bodies behind one another.,
were able, after the defeat of their first body, twice to renew the battle,
and could not be entirely routed till they had lost three several victories,
Yet something not unlike this we find practised as long since as the Tra-
jan war, where old Nestor is said to have placed a body of horse in the
front; behind these the most infirm of the foot; and, last of all, such of
them as surpassed the rest in strength and valour (4). Where, though
some interpret to tt^wtov, and to ottkv, of the right and left wings, and
others several other ways, yet the most natural and genuine sense of the
poet seems to be, that they were drawn up behind one another (5),
At this time the general made an oration to his soldiers, wherein, with
all the motives suitable on such occasions, he exhorted them to exert tbeir
utmost force and vigour against the enemy : and so wonderful was the
success that attended these performances, that many times, when affairs
(l)Xenophon. • (2) Iliad, v v 155. (3) Lib, ii.
4) Iliad. 5', v. 29?= (5)Plutarchus lib. dc Homero