418 Qualities of recruits 



the common countryfolk are more fit (than townsfolk) to bear arms, 

 reared as they are in toil under the open sky, able to stand the heat of 

 the sun and caring not for the shade, with no experience of baths or 

 knowledge of luxuries, straightforward and frugal, with limbs hardened 

 to endure any kind of toil; for the wearing of armour, digging of 

 trenches, and carrying their kit, are continuations of rustic habit.' It 

 is true that sometimes town-bred recruits have to be levied, but they 

 need long and careful training to fit them for active service. True, the 

 Romans of old went out to war from the city. But luxury was unknown 

 in those days: the farmer of today was the warrior of tomorrow, by 

 change of weapons. Cincinnatus went straight from the plough to 

 be dictator. A little after, speaking 1 of the standard of height, he 

 tells us that it has always been usual to have a standard tested by 

 actual measurement, below which no recruit was passed for service in 

 certain crack units. But there were then 2 larger numbers to draw from, 

 and more men followed the combatant service, for the civil service 3 had 

 not as yet carried off the pick of those in military age. Therefore, if 

 circumstances require it, strength rather than height should be the 

 first consideration. I am loth to infer much 4 from this passage, the 

 period referred to in 'then' being undefined. What it does shew is that 

 in the writer's own time a considerable number of men of military age 

 (Romans being meant) were attracted by the civil career of the new 

 imperial service, which in all its grades was technically styled 5 a militia. 

 Nor does it appear certain that in preferring the rustic recruit to the 

 urban Vegetius implies the existence of a plentiful supply of the former 

 among the subjects of the empire. His words rather suggest to me the 

 opposite conclusion, which is in agreement with the evidence from other 

 sources. 



Turning to the veterinary work (ars mulomedicinae) we come upon 

 a chapter devoted 6 to the management of horses. It is well to keep a 

 free space near the stable for the beasts to get exercise by rolling, for 

 they need exercise. 'And for this end it is very helpful to have them 

 mounted 7 often and ridden gently. Unskilful riders spoil both their 



1 rei milit I 5, senos pedes vel certe quinos et denas uncias [has not ad fallen out before 

 senos~{\. In a law of 367, cod Th vn 13 3 in quinque pedibus et septem unciis. 



2 tune. When? From I 28 it might be inferred that he looks back to the first Punic war. 

 But I do not think so. 



3 necdum enim civilis pars florentiorem abduxerat iuventutem. So I 7 civilia sectantur 

 qfficia. 



4 The assertion that Martius calor has not subsided (I 28), accepted by Seeck I 413* 

 seems to me rhetorical bravado. Much more likely is the view (ib 414) that the improved 

 standard of recruits in the fifth century was due to prevalence of barbarians. 



5 Seeck II 88 foil. Hence army service was called militia armata. 



6 mulomedl 56 11-13. 



7 si saepius et cum moderatione animalia sedeantur. For sederi cf 35 sub honesto sessore, 

 Spart Hadr 22 6, cod Th ix 30 3. 



