So that all the arms which exceed two arms in length are useless in tight places for if you have a staff and want to use it with both hands, and handled so that the shield should not annoy you, you cannot attack an enemy with it who is next to you. In addition to this, to combat in the ranks with the staff (as arms) is useless, except in the front rank where there is ample space to deploy the entire staff, which cannot be done in the inner ranks, because the nature of the battalions ((as I will tell you in their organization)) is to press its ranks continually closer together, as this is feared less, even though inconvenient, than for the ranks to spread further apart, where the danger is most apparent. And although some of the ancient writers also gave them, in addition to the aforementioned arms, a shaft in the hand in the manner of a spit, I do not know how a staff can be used by one who holds a shield, for in managing it with two hands it is impeded by the shield, and he cannot do anything worthwhile with one hand because of its heaviness. These were the important Roman arms, with which they conquered the world. They carried a spear, which they called Pilus, and which they hurled at the enemy at the start of a battle. For attacking, they had cinched on their left side a sword of an arm and a half length, and a dagger on the right side. These men fought outside the regular ranks, and apart from the heavy armor, which was a Casque that came up to the shoulders, they also carried a Cuirass which, with the skirt, came down to the knees, and their arms and legs were covered by shin-guards and bracelets they also carried a shield on the arm, two arms in length and one in width, which had an iron hoop on it to be able to sustain a blow, and another underneath, so that in rubbing on the ground, it should not be worn out. Under this name they included all those who operated with the sling, cross-bow, and darts: and the greater part of them carried a helmet (head covering) and a shield on the arm for their defense. The light armed they gave the name Veliti. The Romans divided their infantry into the heavily and lightly armed. I believe that it is necessary, once the men are found, to arm them and in wanting to do this, I believe it is necessary to examine what arms the ancients used, and from them select the best. 18909 The Art of War - Book 2 Henry Neville Niccolò Machiavelli