Machiavelli, Volume I eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 456 pages of information about Machiavelli, Volume I.

Machiavelli, Volume I eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 456 pages of information about Machiavelli, Volume I.
maie kepe them constante, and disposed to faight, and these thynges of me declared, bee necessarie in an armie, as the Heddes, the Ansignes, and the Drummes, is seen that wee have theim all in our armies, but none doeth his office.  First to mynde that the Peticapitaines doe thesame, for whiche thei are ordeined, it is necessarie (as I have said) that there bee a difference, betwene every one of them and their men, and that thei lodge together, doyng their duties, standyng in thorder with them:  for that thei placed in their places, bee a rule and a temperaunce, to maintaine the raies straight and steddie, and it is impossible that thei disorder, or disorderyng, dooe not reduce themselves quickly into their places.  But we now adaies, doe not use them to other purpose, then to give theim more wages, then to other menne, and to cause that thei dooe some particulare feate:  The very same happeneth of the Ansigne bearers, for that thei are kept rather to make a faire muster, then for any other warlike use:  but the antiquitie used theim for guides, and to bryng theim selves againe into order:  for that every man, so sone as the Ansigne stoode still, knewe the place, that he kept nere to his Ansigne, wherunto he retourned alwaies:  thei knewe also, how that the same movyng, or standyng, thei should staie, or move:  therfore it is necessarie in an armie, that there be many bodies, and every bande of menne to have his Ansigne, and his guide:  wherfore havyng this, it is mete that thei have stomackes inough, and by consequence life enough.  Then the menne ought to marche, accordyng to the Ansigne:  and the Ansigne to move, accordyng to the Drumme, the whiche Drumme well ordered, commaundeth to the armie, the whiche goyng with paces, that answereth the tyme of thesame, will come to kepe easilie thorders:  for whiche cause the antiquitie had Shalmes, Flutes, and soundes perfectly tymed:  For as moche as like as he that daunseth, proceadeth with the tyme of the Musick, and goyng with thesame doeth not erre, even so an armie obeiyng, in movyng it self to thesame sounde, doeth not disorder:  and therefore, thei varied the sounde, accordyng as thei would varie the mocion, and accordyng as thei would inflame, or quiete, or staie the mindes of men:  and like as the soundes were divers, so diversly thei named them:  the sounde Dorico, ingendered constancie, the sounde Frigio, furie:  whereby thei saie, that Alexander beyng at the Table, and one soundyng the sounde Frigio, it kendled so moche his minde, that he laied hande on his weapons.  All these maners should be necessarie to finde again:  and when this should bee difficulte, at least there would not be left behind those that teache the Souldiour to obeie, the whiche every man maie varie, and ordeine after his owne facion, so that with practise, he accustome the eares of his souldiours to knowe it:  But now adaies of this sounde, there is no other fruicte taken for the moste part, then to make a rumour.

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Machiavelli, Volume I from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.