Arms and Armour in Antiquity and the Middle Ages: Also a Descriptive Notice of Modern Weapons

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D. Appleton & Company, 1870 - 296 pages
 

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Page 289 - And he made in Jerusalem engines, invented by cunning men, to be on the towers and upon the bulwarks, to shoot arrows and great stones withal.
Page 135 - It is doubtful whether, at so great a distance, an arrow could have struck its mark with sufficient force to penetrate a knight's surcoat and hauberk of mail ; but it would kill his horse, which was not yet provided with defensive armour, and this was the very circumstance which caused that change in tactics which has been...
Page 33 - Where, Pandarus, are now thy winged shafts, ' Thy bow, and well-known skill, wherein with thee ' Can no man here contend ? Nor Lycia boasts ' Through all her wide-spread plains a truer aim. ' Then raise to Jove thy hands, and with thy shaft ' Strike down this chief, whoe'er he be, that thus ' Is making fearful havoc in our host ! '
Page 28 - Who gathered in the vineyard's bounteous store. There maids and youths, in joyous spirits bright, In woven baskets bore the luscious fruit. A boy, amid them, from a clear-toned harp Drew lovely music ; well his liquid voice The strings accompanied ; they all with dance And song harmonious joined, and joyous shouts, As the gay bevy lightly tripped along.
Page 286 - nothing proves more surely the mutual confidence which held together the government and the people, than the fact that all classes were armed. In war, in those days, the archers of England were the best infantry in the world ; but, then, their famous long-bow acquired its reputation in no slight degree from the fact that, in peace, archery was the favourite national pastime of the English yeomanry.
Page 26 - Appealed, asserting to have paid the whole; While one denied that he had aught received. Both were desirous that before the Judge The issue should be tried; with noisy shouts Their several partisans encouraged each. The heralds stilled the tumult of the crowd; On polished chairs, in solemn circle, sat The reverend Elders; in their hands they held The loud-voiced heralds...
Page 26 - Sole star that never bathes in th' ocean wave. : And two fair populous towns were sculptur'd there; In one were marriage, pomp and revelry, And brides, in gay procession, through the streets With blazing torches from their chambers borne, While frequent rose the hymeneal song. : Youths...
Page 29 - In a fair glade, with fold, and tents, and pens. There, too, the skilful artist's hand had wrought With curious workmanship a mazy dance, Like that which Daedalus in Cnossus erst At fair-haired Ariadne's bidding framed.
Page 27 - Of all the wealth within the city stored An equal half, as ransom, to divide. The terms rejecting, the defenders manned A secret ambush ; on the walls they placed Women and children mustered for defence, And men by age enfeebled ; forth they went, By Mars and Pallas led ; these, wrought in gold, In golden arms arrayed, above the crowd For beauty and stature, as befitting Gods. Conspicuous shone ; of lesser height the rest. But when the destined ambuscade was reached, Beside the river, where the shepherds...
Page 21 - Nor missed his aim ; full in the midst he struck Pelides' shield ; but, glancing from the shield, The weapon glided off. Hector was grieved, That thus his spear had bootless left his hand. He stood aghast ; no second spear was nigh : And loudly on Deiphobus he called A spear to bring ; but he was far away." Then other, and they bitter, words fall from the lips of the Trojan prince : — " Thus as he spoke, his sharp-edged sword he drew, Ponderous and vast, suspended at his side ; Collected for the...

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