Quote:
XX. Locus exigit, ut, quo armorum genere uel instruendi uel muniendi sint tirones, referre temptemus. Sed in hac parte antiqua penitus consuetudo deleta est; nam licet exemplo Gothorum et Alanorum Hunnorumque equitum arma profecerint, pedites constat esse nudatos. Ab urbe enim condita usque ad tempus diui Gratiani et catafractis et galeis muniebatur pedestris exercitus. Sed cum campestris exercitatio interueniente neglegentia desidiaque cessaret, grauia uideri arma coeperunt, quae raro milites induebant; itaque ab imperatore postulant primo catafractas, deinde cassides sedere refundere. Sic detectis pectoribus et capitibus congressi contra Gothos milites nostri multitudine sagittariorum saepe deleti sunt; nec post tot clades, quae usque ad tantarum urbium excidia peruenerunt, cuiquam curae fuit uel catafractas uel galeas pedestribus reddere. Ita fit, ut non de pugna sed de fuga cogitent qui in acie nudi exponuntur ad uulnera. Quid enim pedes sagittarius sine catafracta, sine galea, qui cum arcu scutum tenere non potest, faciat? Quid ipsi draconarii atque signiferi, qui sinistra manu hastas gubernant, in proelio facient, quorum et capita nuda constant et pectora? Sed grauis pediti lorica uidetur et galea fortasse raro meditanti, fortasse arma raro tractanti; ceterum cotidianus usus non laborat, etiam si onerosa gestauerit. Sed illi, qui laborem in portandis ueteribus munimentis armorum ferre non possunt, detectis corporibus et uulnera sustinere coguntur et mortes et, quod est grauius, aut capi aut certe fuga rempublicam prodere. Sic dum exercitium laboremque declinant, cum maximo dedecore trucidantur ut pecudes. Unde enim apud antiquos murus dicebatur pedestris exercitus, nisi quod pilatae legiones praeter scuta etiam catafractis galeisque fulgebant? usque eo, ut sagittarii sinistra brachia manicis munirentur, pedites autem scutati praeter catafractas et galeas etiam ferreas ocreas in dextris cruribus cogerentur accipere. Sic erant muniti illi, qui in prima acie pugnantes principes, in secunda hastati, in tertia triarii uocabantur. Sed triarii genibus positis solebant intra scuta subsidere, ne stantes uulnerarentur uenientibus telis et, cum necessitas postulasset, tamquam requieti uehementius inuaderent hostes, a quibus constat saepe factam esse uictoriam, cum hastati illi et qui priores steterant interissent. Erant tamen apud ueteres inter pedites qui dicebantur leuis armaturae, funditores et ferentarii, qui praecipue in cornibus locabantur et a quibus pugnandi sumebatur exordium; sed hi et uelocissimi et exercitatissimi legebantur; nec erant admodum multi, qui cedentes, si proelii necessitas conpulisset, inter principia legionum recipi solebant, ita ut acies inmota consisteret. Usque ad praesentem prope aetatem consuetudo permansit, ut omnes milites pilleis, quos Pannonicos uocabant, ex pellibus uterentur; quod propterea seruabatur, ne grauis galea uideretur in proelio homini, qui gestabat aliquid semper in capite. Missilibus autem quibus utebatur pedestris exercitus, pila uocabantur, ferro subtili trigono praefixa unciarum nouem siue pedali, quod in scuto fixum non possit abscidi et loricam scienter ac fortiter directum facile perrumpit, cuius generis apud nos iam rara sunt tela. Barbari autem scutati pedites his praecipue utuntur, quas bebras uocant, et binas etiam ac ternas in proeliis portant. Sciendum praeterea, cum missilibus agitur, sinistros pedes in ante milites habere debere; ita enim uibrandis spiculis uehementior ictus est. Sed cum ad pila, ut apellant, uenitur et manu ad manum gladiis pugnatur, tunc dextros pedes in ante milites habere debent, ut et latera eorum subducantur ab hostibus, ne possint uulnus accipere et proximior dextra sit, quae plagam possit inferre. Instruendos igitur ac protegendos omni antiquo armorum genere constat esse tirones. Necesse est enim, ut dimicandi acriorem sumat audaciam qui munito capite uel pectore non timet uulnus.
20.Circumstances dictate that we attempt to recount the types of weapons with which recruits were either armed or protected. But the ancient customs have been completely abandoned, for, although the example of the Goths, Alans, and Huns has been advantageous for cavalry weapons, infantry continued to be undefended. For, from the foundation of the City to the time of the late Gratianus, infantry were equipped with both cuirasses and helmets. But when field training was ended through negligence and laxity, the equipment - which the soldiers seldom put on - began to be seen as heavy. Therefore they first requested the emperor to stop issuing cuirasses, then helmets. So, fighting with unprotected bodies and heads against the Goths, our soldiers were often destroyed by large numbers of archers. And evenafter so many disasters, when destruction came to many cities, none of these troubles led to the restoration of either cuirasses or helmets. So it is, those who are unprotected in battle, exposed to wounds, do not think of fighting, but of flight. For what should the infantry archer do, without cuirass or helmet, unable to hold a shield at the same time as a bow? What should draconarii and signiferi do in battle, wielding spears with the left hand, both head and body remaining exposed? But a cuirass and helmet seem heavy to an infantryman, perhaps seldom training with, or handling, arms. Yet daily use is not irksome, even if weighed down. But those who could not bear the effort of carrying ancient defensive arms, could, with uncovered bodies, sustain both wounds and fatalities and, more importantly, be captured or certainly betray the state by flight. Thus, for as long as they avoid training and exertion, they are cut to pieces like beasts with the greatest dishonour. For why is the infantry army called a wall by the ancients, if not because javelin-armed legions, behind their shields, veritably gleamed with cuirasses and helmets? Even archers were equipped with armlets on the left arm; shield-bearing infantry, however, in addition to cuirasses and helmets, resorted to iron greaves on the right shin. The combatants in the first line called 'principes' (in the second 'hastati', in the third 'triarii') were equipped in this way. But the triarii were accustomed to settle down behind their shields in the kneeling position, in case they were wounded by incoming missiles when standing and, when necessary, as if refreshed attacked the enemy more forcefully, from which it is well known to be a polished victory, when the hastati had crumbled, the triarii stood firm. However amongst the ancients there were infantrymen called levis armaturae - slingers and light missile-armed troops - who were specifically placed on the flanks and with whom it is traditional the combat begins. But the fastest and most practised of these were selected (and there were many not up to the mark) who, if necessary, were used to passing between the front ranks of the legion, so that the battle line remained steady. It remained the custom until nearer the present time that all soldiers were associated with the 'Pannonian' pilleus of skins. For it was kept so that a helmet would not seem heavy to a man, who would always be wearing something on his head. However, the infantry army was associated with the missiles called pila, with a fine triangular iron point of nine inches or a foot at the end, which when stuck in a shield, could not be pulled out, and aimed expertly and strongly could easily pierce a cuirass; weapons of this type are now rare with us. However, barbarian shielded infantry are particularly associated with 'bebrae', and they carry two and even three into battle. Furthermore, with regard to missiles, soldiers must have the left foot forward, for quivering weapons thrown in this way are more powerful. But when it comes 'to the pila', as they say, and fighting is hand-to-hand with swords, then soldiers must have the right foot forward, so that both their flanks are protected from the enemy, so that they are not wounded, and so the right hand should be nearer and able to deliver a blow. It therefore still holds that recruits should be taught about and protected by all kinds of ancient weaponry. For it is essential that, with an armoured head or breast, he should be more keenly courageous in combat, and not fear being wounded.
