Liber III, Pars III — Quae sunt regiones illae, in quibus sunt meliores bellatores, et ex quibus artibus eligendi sunt homines bellicosi. Cap. II.

Liber III, Pars III — Quae sunt regiones illae, in quibus sunt meliores bellatores, et ex quibus artibus eligendi sunt homines bellicosi. Cap. II.

It seems that there are two necessary qualities for military action: the strength to fight and the wisdom regarding warfare. Therefore, if we want to know in which regions the best warriors are found, we must pay attention to these two points. In regions that are too close to the sun, warriors should not be chosen, because while they may have an abundance of blood that makes them fearless of wounds, they are also prone to fury and recklessness. Thus, they are not entirely useful for military operations, because counsel and wisdom in battle are not of little importance. This is what the philosopher states. In regions that are too close to the sun, warriors should not be chosen, for they lack the strength and courage needed for battle. Nations that are close to the sun dry out from excessive heat; they are indeed more intelligent, but they have only a little abundance of blood, and therefore they lack the endurance to fight and the confidence, because they naturally fear losing blood. Therefore, they are not ready for battle, nor for assaults. Again, in regions that are too far north and too distant from the sun, warriors should not be chosen: because even if they have an abundance of blood, so that they do not fear wounds, yet due to the abundance and rush of blood, they are almost frenzied and reckless. Therefore, they are not entirely useful for military actions, because both strategy and prudence in fighting are not of little importance. For we see by experience, and this is clearly what the philosopher wants. The philosopher states that nations too close to the sun abound in cleverness and skill, but they lack vigor and courage. However, nations that are far from the sun lack prudence, but they excel in courage. Therefore, if both courage and skill are necessary in warfare, warriors should be chosen from neither extreme; but from a middle region, neither entirely remote from the sun nor entirely close to it, so that they may share in both prudence and courage. However, it should be noted that such documents should be accepted as a general rule. For in all regions there are some industrious people and some courageous ones: however, those close to the sun generally lack courage, while those far away lack prudence. It's important to note that while both courage and wisdom are necessary in warfare, courage is more useful. Therefore, even if people who are very close to the sun and those who are very far from it are not entirely useful for military actions, those from the middle regions should be chosen for warfare, as they are further from the sun than those who are closer, so that they may share more in courage. Now we must see from which regions the best warriors come: it remains to see from which regions those who are to fight should be chosen. Therefore, we must enumerate the qualities required in warriors so that we can know what kind of people should be chosen for battle and from which skills those fighters should be selected. We should understand that since fighters must have bodies suited and accustomed to striking, they should not fear the shedding of blood, they should be courageous in attacking, and also strong enough to endure hardships: we can say that blacksmiths and carpenters are useful for military tasks because they have arms that are apt and accustomed to striking. Similarly, butchers are also useful: because they do not fear the shedding of blood, as they are accustomed to slaughtering animals and spilling blood. Hunters of wild boars should also be admitted to such tasks: because it does not take great courage to attack wild boars. Therefore, such people are courageous and strong for fighting. In fact, it's no less dangerous to fight alongside someone who's skilled than to battle against an enemy. For those who aren't afraid of the dangers posed by wild boars are a sign that they don't fear the battles with enemies. Moreover, hunters of deer should not be dismissed from military actions, as they are accustomed to great labors. Therefore, based on these skills, we should choose warriors for battle. However, barbers and cobblers, if we consider their specific craft, are useless for fighting. For a person who never wields a club or sword with a light hand is not accustomed to holding anything but a razor or needle. For what proportion is there between a needle and a spear, or between a razor and a club? Likewise, apothecaries, fowlers, and fishermen should not be chosen for such tasks, since they do not possess skills suited for military actions. It can happen that in any given craft there are some who are bold and daring, while others are timid and cowardly. But as for the type of craft, and how that craft makes a person suited for military work, we have said that some types of crafts are useful for military actions, while others are not.