F.—And what is tactics?
S.—The art of drawing them across it.
F.—Fine! I read (in Joinville, I think) that during the Crusades the armament of a warship comprised two hundred serpents. These be strange weapons.
S.—What stuff a fool may talk! The great Rameses used to turn loose lions against his enemies, but no true soldier would employ serpents. Those snakes were used by sailors.
F.—A nice distinction, truly. Did you ever employ your blade in the splitting of hairs?
S.—I have split masses of them!
Fool—Speaking of the Crusades—at the siege of Acre, when a part of the wall had been thrown down by the Christians the Pisans rushed gallantly into the breach, but the greater part of their army being at dinner, they were bloodily repulsed. Was it not a shame that those feeders should not stir from their porridge to succor their allies?
Soldier—Pray why should a man neglect his business to oblige a friend?
F.—But they might have conquered, and the city would have been open to sacking and pillage.