Fiore de'i Liberi/Spear

Illustrations	Illustrations	Novati Translation by Michael Chidester Getty Translation by Colin Hatcher	Paris Translation by Kendra Brown and Rebecca Garber Morgan Translation by Michael Chidester	Morgan Transcription (1400s)  by Michael Chidester	Getty Transcription (1400s)  Open for editing	Pisani Dossi Transcription (1409)  by Francesco Novati	Paris Transcription (1420s)  by Kendra Brown and Rebecca Garber
	[No Image]	[1] The extended lance which is used in hand; The more it is extended, the less it deceives. Six Masters stand in guard with it, And with a step and a beat, they suddenly strike, Both from the right side and from the left (for certain): The beat is made to the side and not up; And the beat wants to be one arm's length on the lance, And whoever goes against it will make such a failure. I am a noble weapon, Lance by name: In the beginning of battle I am always used. And whoever watches me with my dashing pennant Should be frightened with great dread. And if in the beginning I make my due, Axe, sword, and dagger will I upset.	Here begins the art of the noble weapon called Lance; in the beginning of battle, on horse and on foot, is its use. And whoever watches it with its dashing pennant should be frightened with great dread. And it makes great thrusts which are dangerously strong, and with a single one it can give death. And if in the first blow it makes its due, then axe, sword, and dagger will all be upset.	[9r] Aqui comenza l'arte de nobele arma chiamada lanza principio de bataglia a cavallo, e a pe e sua usanza. E chi la guarda cum so bello penone e polito de grande paura doventa smarido. E la fa grande punte, e pericolose forte. E cum una sola po dar la morte. E si lo primo colpo el suo debito ella fara, Azza spada e daga de impazo tute le cavara.		[15b] La lança longa che se usa in mano Quanto e piu longa tanto ha men ingano Sie magistri cum lei in guardia si stano Cum passo e rebater subito lor ferir fano Tanti de parte drita che de'rivssa[!] per'certo Lo rebater se fa fora de'strada e non in erto E llo rebater vol esser un braço in la lança E chi contra fara tanto piu fara falança [29a-a] Io son la nobelle arma per nome lança Principio de bataia e sempre mia usança E chi me guarda cum mio penone ardito De grande paura deventa smarito E se alo principio el mio debito faço Azça spada e daga io cavo de impaço
		[2] I wait in this guard with my lance shortened: My method is to beat and to exchange thrusts. We are three masters using spear guards that are closely related to the sword guards. I am the first, which is the Full Iron Gate. I am positioned to quickly beat aside my opponent’s spear, and to do that I step crosswise off the line with my right foot, crossing his spear and beating it to the left. When you step and beat aside together, that combination is hard to beat.	This is commonly employed: changing, and withdrawing The spear which has been extended in opposition; now I delay all with a short javelin. We are three Masters in guard with our lances, and we conform to the grips of the sword. And I am the first, and I am set in the Full Iron Gate to beat the lance of the player quickly—that is, that I will step with my right foot out of the way to the side, and crossing his lance I will beat it to the left side such that the step and the beat are made in a single pass with the strike. This is a thing that cannot fail.	[9r-a] Nuii semo tri magistri in guardia cum nostre lanze e convegnemo piglare aquelle della spada. E io non son lo primo che in tuta porta di ferro son posto per rebatter la lanza dello zugadore tosto zoe. Che passaro cum lo pe drito ala traversa fora de strada. E atraversando la sua lanza rebatero in parte stancha. Si che llo passar e llo rebater se fa in uno passo cum lo ferire. Aquesta cosa che non se po falir.	[39r-a] ¶ Noi semo tre Magistri in guardia cum nostre Lanze, e convegnemo piglare quelle dela spada. E io son lo primo che in tutta porta di ferro son posto per rebatter La lanza del zugador tosto, zoe che passaro cum lo pe dritto ala traversa fora de strada, E traversando la sua lança rebattero in parte stancha. Si che'llo passar e'llo rebatter se fa in un passo cum lo ferire. Questa e chosa che non se po fallire.	[15b-a] In questa guardia io speto cum curta lança Rebater e scambiar de punta e mia usança	[6v-c] ¶ Consuetus mutare tamen, contraque referre Cuspide pertenta, breve nunc moror omnia telo.
		[3] Your lance is extended and mine is shortened: Attack and do not flee, so I may do you villainy.   I am positioned in the Middle Iron Gate. My method is to beat aside then counter-strike. Come against me as you will with short spear or staff, when I beat your weapon aside as I step I will never fail to strike you. When you are using a short spear or sword, all guards that are made with the point offline are sufficient for you to wait in when facing any long hand-held weapon. Guards that cover from the right are followed with a step and a thrust. Guards from the left side can also cover and beat aside, but these will wound with a strike, because they cannot effectively place a thrust.	Although my very own spear is shortened, nevertheless you will Go away pierced. And you would throw only if it pleased you before. Do not Flee from that place. Tearful rewards would flow to gloomy you. I have set myself in the Middle Iron Gate with shortened lance, and to beat and to strike is always my method. Come whoever wishes with extended lance or staff and I will beat with a step and I won't botch the strike. And all the guards that stay off to the side with shortened lance or shortened sword are sufficient to await any extended hand-held weapon; those of the right side cover, and with the cover step and thrust the point, while the guards of the left side cover or beat and then strike with blows, but cannot thrust very well with the point.	[9r-b] In meza porta di ferro io me ho posto cum curta lanza lo rebater e llo ferire, e sempre mia usanza. E vegna chi vole cum longa lanza, o stanga, che rebater cum passo lo ferire non mi mancha. Che tute le guardie che stano fora de strada, cum curta lanza, e curta spada, Sono soficienti a'spetar, ogni arma manuale longa. E aquelle della parte drita, covrano, e cum coverta passano, e meteno punta. E lle guardie de parte sinistra covrano, o rebateno, e di colpi fierano e non po metere acosi ben punta.	[39r-c] ¶ In meza porta di Ferro io me o posto cum la lanza Lo rebatter e Lo ferire e sempre mia usanza. E vegna chi vole cum meza lanza o stanga, che rebatter cum passo lo ferir non me mancha. che tutte le guardie che stano fora de strada, cum curta lanza e curta spada sono sufficienti a spettare ogni arma manuale longa. E quelle dela parte dritta covrano e cum coverta passa e metteno punta. E le guardie de parte sinistra covrano e rebatteno e di colpo fierano, e non po metter chossi ben punta.	[15b-b] La tua lança e longa e curta la mia Tra e non fuzir che te faro vilania	[7r-a] ¶ Sit brevior licet hasta michi, traiectus abibis Tu tamen. et iacias modo si libet ante. nec inde Effugito. lacrimosa manent te praemia mestum.
		[4] I will beat your [lance] with my lance as I step And then I will quickly encase it in your chest. I am the noble Right Side Window, always ready to beat aside and counter-strike, and a long spear hardly bothers me. Also if I was using a sword I would wait for the long spear in this same guard, which beats aside and obstructs all thrusts. I can also exchange thrusts, or beat them to the ground without difficulty. I would finish this play with the play shown next.	Now penetrating, my spear refutes your javelin, And in your chest I will rush forth a great wound. I am the noble Stance of the Casement Window on the right; I am always quick to beat and to strike, and of extended lances I care little. I would also await an extended lance with a sword by standing in this guard, which beats and retards every thrust. I could also make the exchange of thrusts, or beat them to the ground (which cannot fail). In the play hereafter I want to finish. [In the Paris, the Master's spear leaves his face uncovered, appearing to go behind his head.]	[9r-c] Io son in la nobele posta de fenestra dextra che in rebater, e ferir sempre io son presta. E de lanza longa me curo pocho. Ancora cum la spada e aspetaria la longa lanza siando in questa guarda che ogni punta rebate e si la intarda. E llo scambiar de punta io posso fare. E llo rebater a terra non se po falar. In lo zogo che n'e dredo volemo finire.	[39v-a] ¶ Io son la nobele posta di Finestra destra, che in rebatter e ferir sempre io son presta. e de lanza lunga me curo pocho. Anchora cum la spada io spetteria la longa lanza stando in questa guardia che ogni punta rebatte, e si la intarda. E llo scambiar de punta io posso fare. E llo rebatter a terra non se po fallare, In lo zogho che n'e dredo volemo finire.	[15b-c] Cum mia lança rebatero la tua in lo mio passar E in lo tuo peto te vegnero subito incassar	[7r-c] ¶ Hasta tuum telum mea nunc penetrando refellet. Inque tuum pectus prorumpam vulnere grandi.
		[5] This is the strike of these three previous Masters, And in this way their lance should end in your face or chest.   The three guards shown above (Full iron Gate, Middle Iron Gate and the overhead Right Side Window) should all finish with this strike, which is used to end the play and demonstrate their skill. Here I show the finishing strike for each of them. [In the Getty, the Master is missing his crown.]	This particular thing lies in ruins by means of the three preceding masters; it concerns striking back, And the method is to cross the man through the chest with the javelin, Or sooner the face and the visage with sad blood. The three guards which came before should finish in this play—that is, the Full Iron Gate and the Middle Iron Gate and the Stance of the Casement Window, high on the right. In this play they finish the plays of their art. And I strike this man in the face on their behalf… [In the Morgan, the Master is missing his crown.]	[9r-d] In questo zogo finisseno li tre guardie che denanci son zoe, tuta porta di ferro, e porta di ferro la mezana, e posta di fenestra dextra la soprana in questo zogo elle finisseno li zoghi e la lore[!] arte. Como io fiero a costui in lo volto per lor parte. Aquesto e lo contrario deli tri magistri dela lanza che finisseno in questo zogo, e'l modo voglo dire. Quando gli magistrii credeno la mia lanza fora de lor persona cazare io do volta ala mia lanza, e ferischo cum lo pedale. che a E acosi o bon Ferro in lo pedale ch'ala punta, gli zoghi de quisti magistri pocho me monta.	[39v-c] ¶ In questo zogho finiseno le tre guardie che denanzi sono, zoe, tutta porta di ferro, e porta di ferro La mezana, e porta[!] de fenestra La soprana destra. In questo zogho elle finisseno li zoghi e la'lor arte. Come io fiero chostuii per lor parte.	[15b-d] De questi tri magistri denançi aquesto e lor ferir E per tal modo lor lança in volto o peto deve finir	[7v-a] ¶ Hoc tribus ante iacet proprium referire magistris. Et modus est transire hominem per pectora telo / Seu faciem vultumque prius cum sanguine tristi.
		[6] This is the counter to the three spear masters shown above, who all finish their play with the strike shown above. Let me explain how to do it: When the Master believes he has driven my spear off-line, I rotate my spear and will strike him with the butt end, which is steel-capped, like the point. Thus, the plays of these masters pose little threat to me.	So that you would not harm me more, I stir up counters in opposition, And I wedge into you, resisting, with beaten spikes. …This is the counter to the three Masters of the lance that would finish in this play and in the way that was said. When the Masters believe my lance to be away from harming their persons, I give a turn to my lance and strike with its butt, since it has as good iron in the butt as in the point. The plays of these Masters bother me little.		[39v-d] ¶ Questo e lo contrario delli tre Magistri dela lanza che finisseno in lo zogho che m'e denanzi, El modo voglo dire. Quando gli magistri credeno la mia lanza fora de lor persona caçare, io do volta ala mia lanza o ferisco cum lo pedale, e chossi o ben ferro in lo pedale che ala punta, Gli zoghi di questi magistri pocho mi monta.		[7v-d] ¶ Ne michi plus noceas / contraria + misceo contra. Teque reluctantem pulsatis dentibus arcto.
		[7] We are three Masters who play on the left side: Come one by one whoever wishes and we will waste him. And for the fourth Master that finishes our plays in the art, We have given him his fair share of the Crown. This guard can suffice for me against any lance, I cover myself both above and below by beating and stepping; I do it with the butt low and with the other end high, And I could make a cover and a strike without trouble. We are three left side guards, and I am the first, in the Boar’s Tusk. The left side guards do the same as the right side guards. We step offline advancing our lead foot, and then we strike with our thrusts on the left side. Both right side and left side guards beat aside then thrust, because other attacks with the spear are not as effective.	We are three guards of the left side and I am the first, in the Boar's Tusk. Those guards that are on the right side do the same as we do on the left side: we step out of the way, first advancing the foot which is behind (as was said, out of the way), and with our thrusts on the right side we make a bargain. And to finish the beat, both the right side and the left converge in a thrust so that other offenses with the lance cannot follow.	[9v-a] Nuii semo tre guardie di parte riversa, e io son la prima in dente de zenghiar. Aquelle guardie che sone de parte drita fanno, aquello che fazemo della riversa. Nuii passamo fora de strada innanci acresendo lo pe ch'e denanci como ditto, Fora de strada. E de nostre punte de parte riversa fazemo derada. E tute de parte dritta, e riversa convegnemo in punta rebatendo finir, Che altra offesa cum la lanza non ne po seguir.	[40r-a] ¶ Noii semo tre guardie di parte riversa, e io son la prima in dente di zengiaro. Quelle che sono da parte dritta fano quello che fazemo dela riversa. Noii passamo fora de strada inanzi acressando lo pe ch'e denançi come ditto fora de strada. E de nostre punte de parte riversa fazemo derada. E tutte de parte dritta e riversa convegnemo in punta rebatendo finire, che altra offesa cum la lanza non de po seguire.	[16a-a] Noii semo tri magistri che de parte riverssa çugaremo A uno a'uno vegna chi volle che noii lo guastaremo Lo quarto magistro che finisse nostri zoghi in l'arte De corona ghi avemo ben data la sua parte Questa guardia contra ogni lanca me po bastar De'sopra e de'soto me covro cum rebater e passar Cum lo pedalle de soto e cum l'auanço de'sopra faço Coverta e ferir posso far sença nessum impaço.
		[8] I know how to ward any lance with this guard: Strike, for I want to harm you with mine in your chest. I am waiting for you in the Guard of the True Cross. You have clearly approached too close to me. I will pass backwards with my leading right foot, beating your spear offline to my right. My thrust will not fail me. Yours however will fail you.	I wait in the Stance of the True Cross, for you are too close for my play. I return backward the right foot which is in front, and I will beat your lance out of the way toward the right-hand side. My thrust will not fail: yours will be the failure.	[9v-b] Io in posta de vera croxe, io aspeto, tu m'e tropo apresso zoga netto. Lo pe deritto che m'e denanci in dredo lo tornero. E la tua lanza rebatero fora de strada, in verso man dritta. La mia punta non falira la tua sera falita	[40r-b] ¶ In posta di vera crose io aspetto. tu m'e troppo apresso, zoga netto. Lo pe dritto che m'e denanzi in dredo Lo tornero, E lla tua lanza rebattero fora de strada, Inverso la man dritta, La mia punta non fallita, La tua sara fallita.	[16a-b] Cum questa guardia d'ogni lança mi so reparare Tra, che la mia in lo tuo peto te voio caçare.
		[9] I will finish you without fail in my turn, Because I am the Master of all exchanges. I am positioned in the Left Side Window Guard. If I do not strike you with a thrust you will be lucky. I will step offline to the left with my left foot, with my point held high and my arms low. Then I will thrust into your face and you will have no defense. The play that follows is the finish used by all three Masters. If you try it once, you won’t wish to try it again.	I appear in the Stance of the Casement Window on the Left; if I don't strike you with the point, you will have a good deal. I will hold the point high and I will carry my arms low, and I will step out of the way to the left-hand side with the foot that is behind. Then I will thrust the point in your face without any possible defense. We three Masters can all make the play which is after me; once you try it, you will not want to taste any more.	[9v-c] In posta fenestra sinistra io son aparechiado se non ti fiero cum punta tu naii[!] I bon mercato. La punta tegnero erta, e lli brazi bassi portero cum lo pe ch'e dredo cum quello io passaro fora de strada a man riversa. La punta ti metero in lo volto senza nesuna defesa. El zogo che m'e dredo noii tre magistri aquello possemo noi fare una volta lo provi non lo voraii piu provare.	[40r-c] ¶ In posta de fenestra sinistra io son aparechiado, Se non ti fiero cum punta tu naii[!] bon merchado. La punta tegniro erta e li brazzi bassi portero cum lo pe ch'e dredo cum quello io passaro fora de strada a'man riversa, La punta ti mettero in lo volto senza nissuna deffesa. El zogho che m'e dredo, noii tre Magistri quello possemo fare. Se una volta lo provi, non lo voraii piu provare.	[16a-c] Io ti firiro sença fallo in lo mio voltar Pero che son magistro de tuto lo scambiar.
		[10] The art of the lance makes its end here. armor and without, this is its greatest defense. Here we end the plays of the spear that are made from the left side against threats and attacks. These three guards shown above are carefully chosen to easily defeat the long or the short spear, since they are effective in offense or defense. The counter to this thrust is easily done: when your thrust is beaten offline, you turn the butt of your spear and strike with that. And with that I have now shown you enough of the plays of the spear. [In the Getty, the Master is missing his crown.]	The play of the lance finishes here and I make it from the left side; I am besotted with their plays. These three guards which were previously make me think that they will not fail against lance extended or shortened, for they are guards of great protection (in that in one jaunt they make both defense and offense). And the counter to this thrust can be done well. When the thrust is broken with that strike, the butt should be turned [forward]. This may be enough of the play of the lance. [In the Morgan, the Master is missing his crown.]	[9v-d] Lo zogo dela lanza aqui finisse che io lo fazo della parte riversa de lor zoghi me impazo. Aqueste tre guardie che sono denanci fano pensir, de lanza longa, o curta, de non la falir, che le sono guardie de si grande difesa, che in uno vargo le fanno defesa e ofesa. E llo contrario de questa punta, aquello bene si po fare. Quando cum quello ferir la punta se rompe lo pedale se de voltar. Dello zogo dela lanza bene po aquesto bastare.	[40r-d] ¶ Lo zogho dela lanza qui finisse che io lo fazo dela parte riversa de'lor zoghi mi impazo. Queste tre guardie che sono denanzi fano pensier de lanza longa, o curta de non la fallir, che elle sono guardia de grande deffesa che in uno vargo elle fano offesa e deffesa. E llo contrario di questa punta ben si po fare, quando la punta se rompe lo pedal se de voltare, e cum quello ferir dello zogo dela lanza ben po questo bastare.	[16a-d] L'arte dela lança aqui fa sua finisone In arme e sença aquesta e soprana sua deffensione