The Art of War - Khamkoo

etween one Battalion and the next, and that which exists between the
three or the two: there also remains that space which exists between the
companies and the extraordinary pikemen, which spaces are all made
large. There is added to this whatever other space the companies have
when they are in the lines without being changed, for, when they are
changed, the ranks are either compressed or enlarged. They become enlarged
when they are so very much afraid, that they put themselves in
flight: they become compressed when they become so afraid, that they
seek to save themselves, not by flight, but by defense; so that in this case,
they would compress themselves, and not spread out. There is added to
this, that the five ranks of pikemen who are in front, once they have started
the battle, have to retire among their companies in the rear (tail) of
the army to make place for the shield-bearers (swordsmen) who are able
to fight: and when they go into the tail of the army they can serve whoever
the captain should judge should employ them well, whereas in the
front, once the fight becomes mixed, they would be completely useless.
And therefore, the arranged spaces come to be very capacious for the remaining
forces. But even if these spaces should not suffice, the flanks on
the side consist of men and not walls, who, when they give way and
spread out, are able to create a space of such capacity, which should be
sufficient to receive them.
LUIGI
The ranks of the extraordinary pikemen, which you place on the flank
of the army when the first company retires into the second, do you want
them to remain firm, and become as two wings of the army or do you
also want them to retire with the company. Which, if they have to do
this, I do not see how they can, as they do not have companies behind
them with wide intervals which would receive them.
FABRIZIO
If the enemy does not fight them when he faces the companies to retire,
they are able to remain firm in their ranks, and inflict injury on the
enemy on the flank since the first companies had retired: but if they
should also fight them, as seems reasonable, being so powerful as to be
able to force the others to retire, they should cause them also to retire.
Which they are very well able to do, even though they have no one behind
who should receive them, for from the middle forward they are
able to double on the right, one file entering into the other in the manner
we discussed when we talked of the arrangement for doubling themselves.
It is true, that when doubling, they should want to retire behind,
other means must be found than that which I have shown you, since I
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