to render themselves more necessary, and afterwards, because having no states, and subsisting only by their industry, they could undertake nothing with a small body of infantry, nor could they support one more considerable. They found therefore that cavalry was more profitable, a small number of which enabled them to live with honour. They did not deem more than two thousand foot soldiers necessary in an army of twenty thousand men. In addition to this, that they might render their trade less painful, and above all less perilous, they mutually agreed not to kill each other in their skirmishes,[1], but content themselves with making prisoners, whom they sent back again without ransom. They never made an assault by night, and the besieged on their part equally abstained during the night from making a sortie; they never encamped but in the spring, nor did they even make intrenchments in their camp. So whimsical a discipline, invented to escape fear and danger, reduced Italy to a state of slavery, and lost her the high consideration she had till then enjoyed.
- ↑ Vide Introduction, page 70.
