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Fiore de'i Liberi/Sword vs. Spear

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Illustrations

Illustrations

Novati Translation Complete translation by Michael Chidester
Getty Translation Complete translation by Colin Hatcher

Paris Translation Draft translation by Kendra Brown and Rebecca Garber
Morgan Translation Complete translation by Michael Chidester

Morgan Transcription (1400s) [edit]
by Michael Chidester

Getty Transcription (1400s) [edit]
Open for editing

Pisani Dossi Transcription (1409) [edit]
by Francesco Novati

Paris Transcription (1420s) [edit]
by Kendra Brown and Rebecca Garber

MS Ludwig XV 13 31r-a.jpg
MS Ludwig XV 13 31r-b.jpg

[1] Here are three friends who seek to kill this Master, who is waiting for them with his two handed sword. The first intends to throw his sword at the Master like a spear. The second aims to strike him with a cut or a thrust. The third intends to throw two spears he has made ready, as you see drawn here.

[2] I wait in this guard—the Boar’s Tusk—for these three to attack, but I could also wait in other guards, for example, left side Guard of the Lady or left side Window Guard, and with any of these I would be able to defend just as well as I can with the Boar’s Tusk. Each of these guards uses the same method of defense. I wait unperturbed for them to come at me one after the other, and my defense will not fail against cuts, thrusts, nor any handheld weapon they throw at me. I advance my right front foot off the line and with my left I step obliquely, beating the incoming weapon aside towards my opponent’s left side. And in this way I make my defense, first by making cover and then quickly counter attacking.

Pisani-Dossi MS 16b-a.png
Pisani-Dossi MS 16b-b.png

[3] We are two Masters that await the throw
We have little care of lances, darts, and swords.
And the defense that we make with our swords
We could similarly [use to] defend ourselves with staffs
With the step and the beat that we make;
In the narrow, the edge and the point we use.
And even if it were Pulicano, who was a great thrower,
Against us he would not have honor.









I wait here in the Boar's Tusk for I know all cuts and thrusts, and I know how to turn away thrown lances, and swords, and darts, and I know how to recover from everything. And that which I do, the Stance of the Long Tail (Posta de Coda Longa) could also do: I step out of the way to the side, beating aside that which comes thrown toward me. When I have deflected the point I am doubtful of the advance of the weapon; so that the person doesn't strike me through another turn, it is best that I beat [his weapon] quickly.