09-08-2013, 11:39 AM
Quote:Tring is also on the Icknield way, but seems to have the weakness that Tacitus says 'He (S) knew the enemy had no approach but in front'.Generally, a nice overview. However, this point seems to be based on a mistranslation, implying that the enemy had no alternative but to approach from the front. What Tacitus actually says is "satis cognito nihil hostium nisi in fronte", which I translate literally as "with sufficient knowledge that (there were) none of the enemy except in the front". This I interpret as describing the actual situation, with the enemy in front, whatever alternative positions might have been available, and that the enemy might have approached from a different direction, had it chosen to do so.
Michael King Macdona
And do as adversaries do in law, -
Strive mightily, but eat and drink as friends.
(The Taming of the Shrew: Act 1, Scene 2)
And do as adversaries do in law, -
Strive mightily, but eat and drink as friends.
(The Taming of the Shrew: Act 1, Scene 2)