Gratillonius teaches Salomon:
(i) "'Most of a soldier's life goes in waiting...'"
-Poul and Karen Anderson, The Dog And The Wolf, Chapter XXI, section 2, p. 411;
(ii) do not rush forward with the skirmishers;
(iii) watch and learn for the sake of those you will lead;
(iv) do not underestimate the enemy leadership;
(v) when the enemy get into arrow range, raise your shield across your face but look over it;
(vi) control your mount, remain calm, watch close and think about what you see;
(vii) do not attack until you hear the trumpet;
(viii) "'God be with you.'" (p. 417)
I will have to read about the course and outcome of the battle tomorrow.
3 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
Eminently sound and sensible advice that any battle hardened veteran would give! And most certainly what a Roman veteran would say. Am I right thinking the Andersons mentioned Roman military writers like Sextus Julius Frontinus in THE KING OF YS? I've read Frontinus' STRATAGEMS and Flavius Vegetius Renatus' DE RE MILITARI. Much of what Vegetius wrote about in his treatise remains sound and useful to this day.
Sean
Sean,
I do not remember such references but there is so much in there...
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
Very true, what you said about THE KING OF YS. I THINK I have a vague recollection of Frontinus being mentioned. But I'm probably wrong!
Sean
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