he could knock you down,

或直接击倒你
and so you should imagine that

所以你们可以想象
there's at least one chance to give a guy shot with the shield,

在对垒时至少有一次机会能使用盾牌打击对方
and after that you could just be using it

而在那之后
as something to press the other fellow back

你可以用盾牌压制敌人
and you would meanwhile be whacking away with

同时用武器刺杀敌人
this in the most simple picture that

这就是重装步兵作战时
you can have of how the hoplite would have conducted himself.

一个比较标准的情景
The other weapon was a short sword that he kept at his side,

另外一把武器是别在腰间的一柄短剑
which presumably he would not use so long as he had a spear,

当有矛在手时可能就不会用到它
which was a better weapon.

因为矛的杀伤力要比它强
But if that broke,

但是如果矛断了