IIIF Color HighRes
National Institute of Informatics - Digital Silk Road Project
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| IIIF Color HighRes |
| Marco Polo : vol.1 |
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Citation Information
THE DESCRIPTION OF THE WORLD, HOW THE BATTLE BEGAN
he put just as Ulau had done i0000 horsemen in each, and a good captain and good leader. And when Berca had done all this he commands his squadrons to ride
forward, and they do it well and wisely and go at[full]speed until they were near to the enemy by half a mile. And when they were come there they stop and stay there some time. And after this they set themselves toward them again, and Ulau z with his people went to meet them . And what shall I tell you about it ? When they were near by two crossbow-shots each of the sides stop and are drawn up. All the squadrons are stopped.' The plain indeed was there the fairest and broadest that z
one knew near or far and a place where a very great number of knights could fight. And certainly there was good need that the plain should be fair and large because
hardly ever did so many people as those were fight on one field. For you may know without any lie that they were quite 650000 horsemen; and moreover they were among the most powerful men in the world, both Ulau and Berca. Moreover I tell you that they were very near relations, these two kings, for both were of the L L
imperial line of Cinghis Can, but afterwards they are divided. TA
ONCE MORE ABOUT THE BATTLE OF ULAU AND OF BERCA. And when the two great kings with all their people had stayed so near as I have told you
[io8b] for a space then they only waited to begin the battle and much wished that they might hear the drums sound . And then it does not stay at all before on both sides the drums begin to sound. And as soon as they heard the drums TA sound they do not stay at all but all immediately let the one side run toward the other. They laid hands on the bows and cock their arrows on them and draw bow each toward the enemy. Now could one see the arrows fly both from one side and from the other so that in little time the air was so covered with them like z
rain that one cannot see the sky. Now could one see many men fall dead to the ground and many horses likewise. And you must believe this for it could not be
otherwise since so many arrows were shot at one time. And why should I make you a long story ? You may know quite truly that they do not stop shooting arrows as long as they have any in quiver, so that all the ground was covered with men dead and wounded to death. And when they have shot all the arrows they laid hands on the lances and the swords and on the clubs and run one upon another and give TA one another huge blows. They begin a battle so cruel and most evil that it was a pity to see. Now can one see hands and arms and heads cut off. Now can one see men and horses thrown dead to the ground, so many that one could not describe it in TA writing. For they died there so many that in an evil hour was [io8c] this battle
.2 24.
.225.
' sarestent & satirent toutes les escheres stint reste Z omits the last five words. B. reads . . escheres [la u elle]sunt reste
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