第 11 节
作者:九十八度      更新:2021-02-20 16:02      字数:3687
  and thigh…pieces;'8' which latter may at the same time serve as cuisses for
  the mounted man。 Beyond all else; the horse's belly; being the most vital
  and defenceless part; should be protected。 It is possible to protect it with
  the saddle…cloth。 The saddle itself should be of such sort and so stitched as
  to give the rider a firm seat; and yet not gall the horse's back。
  '8' Cf。 〃Cyrop。〃 VI。 iv。 1; VII。 i。 2。
  As regards the limbs in general; both horse and rider may be looked
  upon   as   fully   armed。   The   only   parts   remaining   are   the   shins   and   feet;
  which of course protrude beyond the cuisses; but these also may be armed
  by the addition of gaiters made of leather like that used for making sandals。
  And     thus   you   will   have   at  once    defensive    armour     for  the   shins   and
  stockings for the feet。
  The   above;   with     the   blessing   of  heaven;   will   serve    for   armour    of
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  defence。 To come to weapons of offence; we recommend the sabre rather
  than   the  straight   sword;'9'   since   from  the   vantage…ground   of   the   horse's
  position the curved blade will descend with greater force than the ordinary
  weapon。
  '9'    The   {makhaira}       (or  {kopis});     Persian    fashion;    rather   than   the
  {xephos}。 〃Cyrop。〃 I。 ii。 13。
  Again;   in   place   of   the   long   reed   spear;   which   is   apt   to   be   weak   and
  awkward to carry; we would substitute two darts of cornel…wood;'10' the
  one of which the skilful horseman can let fly; and still ply the one reserved
  in all directions; forwards; backwards;'11' and obliquely; add to that; these
  smaller      weapons      are  not   only    stronger    than    the  spear    but   far  more
  manageable。
  '10'   For   these   reforms;   the   result   of   the   author's Asiatic   experiences
  perhaps; cf。 〃Hell。〃 III。 iv。 14; 〃Anab。〃 I。 viii。 3; 〃Cyrop。〃 I。                   ii。 9。
  '11' Reading {eis toupisthen} after Leoncl。
  As   regards   range   of   discharge   in   shooting   we   are   in   favour   of   the
  longest possible; as giving more time to rally'12' and transfer the second
  javelin to the right hand。 And here we will state shortly the most effective
  method of hurling the javelin。 The horseman should throw forward his left
  side; while drawing back his right; then rising bodily from the thighs; he
  should   let   fly   the   missile   with   the   point   slightly   upwards。   The   dart   so
  discharged will carry with the greatest force and to the farthest distance;
  we   may add; too; with  the truest aim; if at   the moment of discharge   the
  lance be directed steadily on the object aimed at。'13'
  '12' Al。 〃to turn right…about。〃
  '13'     〃If  the   lance   is  steadily    eyeing     the  mark     at  the   instant   of
  discharge。〃
  This     treatise;   consisting      of   notes    and    suggestions;      lessons    and
  exercises   suited   to   a   private   individual;   must   come   to   a   conclusion;   the
  theory and practice of the matter suited to a cavalry commander will be
  found developed in the companion treatise。'14'
  '14' In reference to 〃The Cavalry General〃; or 〃Hipparch。〃
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