Page:The battle of the books - Guthkelch - 1908.djvu/97

 scythes, the weapons of death, part with lances and long knives, all steeped in poison; part shot bullets of a most malignant nature, and used white powder which infallibly killed without report. There, came several bodies of heavy-armed foot, all mercenaries, under the ensigns of, Davila, Polydore Vergil, Buchanan, Mariana, Camden, and others. The engineers were commanded by Regiomontanus and Wilkins. The rest were a confused multitude led by Scotus, Aquinas, and Bellarmine; of mighty bulk and stature, but without either arms, courage, or discipline. In the last place came infinite swarms of calones, a disorderly rout led by L'Estrange, rogues and ragamuffins that follow the camp for nothing but the plunder; all without coats to cover them.

The army of the Ancients was much fewer in number. Homer led the horse, and Pindar the light-horse: Euclid was chief engineer: Plato and Aristotle commanded the bowmen: Herodotus and Livy the foot: Hippocrates the dragoons. The allies, led by Vossius and Temple, brought up the rear.

All things violently tending to a decisive battle, Fame, who much frequented and had a large apartment