The Art of War - Khamkoo

assembled into your two Battalions would have to borrow their formation
and organization. Having given an example of these things, it is an
easy matter to initiate it: for if the army is increased either by two Battalions,
or by as many men as are contained in them, nothing else has to
be done than to double the arrangements, and where ten companies are
placed on the left side, twenty are now placed, either by increasing or extending
the ranks, according as the place or the enemy should command
you.
LUIGI
Truly, (my) Lord, I have so imagined this army, that I see it now, and
have a desire to see it facing us, and not for anything in the world would
I desire you to become Fabius Maximus, having thoughts of holding the
enemy at bay and delaying the engagement, for I would say worse of
you, than the Roman people said of him.
FABRIZIO
Do not be apprehensive. Do you not hear the artillery? Ours has
already fired, but harmed the enemy little; and the extraordinary Veliti
come forth from their places together with the light cavalry, and spread
out, and with as much fury and the loudest shouts of which they are capable,
assault the enemy, whose artillery has fired one time, and has
passed over the heads of our infantry without doing them an injury. And
as it is not able to fire a second time, our Veliti and cavalry have already
seized it, and to defend it, the enemy has moved forward, so that neither
that of friend or enemy can perform its office. You see with what virtu
our men fight, and with what discipline they have become accustomed
because of the training they have had, and from the confidence they have
in the Army, which you see with their stride, and with the men-at-arms
alongside, in marching order, going to rekindle the battle with the adversary.
Your see our artillery, which to make place for them, and to
leave the space free, has retired to the place from which the Veliti went
forth. You see the Captain who encourages them and points out to them
certain victory. You see the Veliti and light cavalry have spread out and
returned to the flanks of the Army, in order to see if they can cause any
injury to the enemy from the flanks. Look, the armies are facing each other:
watch with what virtu they have withstood the onrush of the enemy,
and with what silence, and how the Captain commands the men-at-arms
that they should resist and not attack, and do not detach themselves
from the ranks of the infantry. You see how our light cavalry are gone to
attack a band of enemy gunners who wanted to attach by the flank, and
how the enemy cavalry have succored them, so that, caught between the
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