The General History - v. 4 Author:Polybius Volume: v. 4 General Books publication date: 2009 Original publication date: 1773 Notes: This is a black and white OCR reprint of the original. It has no illustrations and there may be typos or missing text. When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select from more than ... more »a million books for free. Excerpt: EXTRACT the THIRD, The fentlments of Philopaemen concerning the brightness and neatnefs of arms. The character of this General. He gains a complete viSfory againft Machanidas the tyrant of Sparta, in the battle of Mantinea. UPON this occaiion It was faid by Philopcemen : " that the bright- nefs of-arms very much contributed to ftrike an enemy with terror; and that great advantage alfo arofe in aclion, from having the feveral parts of the armour well fitted to the body. That it was much to be wifhed, that men would transfer that attention to their armour, which they now beftowed upon their common drefs; and become as negligent in the care of their drefs, as they had hitherto been in that of their arms. That fuch a change would both be ferviceable. to their private fortunes, and be attended likewife with manifeft advantage with refpeft to the public fafety. Jf a man therefore, continued he, be preparing. himfelf for any military exercife, or for" an expedition in the field, when he puts on his boots, let him be more careful in obfcrving whether they are bright and well fitted to his legs, than in examining his fhoes or fandals. When he takes his b. uckler, his breaftplate, or his helmet let him 'defire to fee more fplendour, and more coftly ornaments, in thefe parts of his armour, than in his coat or mantle. For when men preferred mere mew and oftentation to things of real ufe, it was eafy to foresee, what would be their con- duel in the time of danger. In a word, he faid, he wimed that they would be per- fuaded, that an affe« less