Pagina 215 di 788

Even so act generals, when they ordain a battle for the

morrow-the soldiers throughout the camp clean their arms and eat,

or sleep on cloaks or saddles, free from care, but the generals

consult within the quiet tent.

Dinner was interrupted, the day passed in the shoeing of horses,

the feeding of dogs, the gathering and cleaning of arms; at

supper hardly any one came to the table. Even the faction of

Bobtail ceased to be agitated by its long and weighty quarrel

with the party of Falcon; the Notary and the Assessor went arm in

arm to look for lead. The rest, wearied with toil, went early to

sleep, in order to rise in good season.