Discourses on Fortifications

Concerning the scissors. Chap. VIII.

MANY would like that the way of fortifying called "scissors" original: "forbici", which has been used out of necessity—that is, where the site (and especially in the mountains) forces it—should still be used by choice in every other site. And these scissors are seen in the following plan, in which one must understand that the spaces A are covered by a vault as high from the level of the moat as the counterscarp of the same moat. In the walls B, they make more cannon ports on each floor of the squares that are inside, of which cannon ports some clear the curtain, and some are made in the faces of the scissors, and others do the same effect in the counterscarp of the moat. And so that this scissor be better understood, I have also made it in elevation, where one can understand that the cannon ports of the high squares, not having shoulders and being all straight and seen from across, the defenders could with difficulty perform their duty from those parts. And whenever one struck the parts C, one could cause such ruin that the lower squares would remain suffocated. But even if the aforementioned scissors have other imperfections, and especially those I demonstrated where I spoke of the flanks, nevertheless in mountains, or rather where the site compels it, they can and must be used according to my judgment. Because with this method, one who has judgment is accustomed to embrace that site which, if left alone, would give comfort to the enemy to do what he desired. But when no place remains for the enemy from which he could do great harm to the fortress, these scissors are laudable, just as they are to be blamed when used in a site that does not oblige one to make them. And by making bastions on them, as seen in the other following plan, one would cause that additional evil which, from the things said many times in these Discourses, can be considered by those who have judgment. This will seem difficult to those who persuade themselves that for enemies to conquer a place, it is necessary for them to assault it in the space between the flanks. And I will say nothing more about the aforementioned scissors, since he who, many years ago, said he was the inventor of such a way of fortifying, even confessed himself with his own writings that he had not seen any fortress or war until that time.

Concerning flat forms. Chap. IX.

Others like flat forms, which are usually made of several strengths, as can be seen in the following plans. But whether they are made by choice or otherwise, I would not use them, because nothing good comes from them other than defending the bastions from more places. And in exchange for this, the bastions turn out worse because three buildings come into one straight line, and the enclosure is made large, to the proportion of which little territory is embraced. For it is known that when a figure tends to the circular, even if it were of equal circuit with a square figure, it will nonetheless contain much more territory than the latter. And instead of increasing defenses, they diminish, both due to the angles of the bastions turning out poorer or less good, as [incomplete text].