Book 10
9
THERE are military terms which are applied to an army drawn up in a certain manner: the front, reserves, wedge, ring, mass, shears, saw, wings, towers. The globus was a detached body of troops, qui a sua acie separatus incursat. The forfex or forceps was arranged in the form of a letter V, to take in the enemy's wedge (cuneues) and attack it on both sides (Veget. iii. 19). The serra was a constant advance and retreat, corresponding to the motion of a saw (Paul. -Fest. p. 467, Linds.). The turris was probably a kind of square formation for attack. These and some other terms you may find in the books of those who have written about military affairs. However, they are taken from the things themselves to which the names are strictly applied, and in drawing up an army the forms of the objects designated by each of these words is represented.
10
The reason why the ancient Greeks and Romans wore a ring on the next to the little finger of the left hand.
