Wide Play - Verse 30
Cover, strike arms, thrust chest from mid-sword cross
Translation
This technique completes the master's play from the crossing at mid-sword. First, make the cover that your master showed. Then immediately execute what he instructed: strike first at your opponent's arms to wound or deflect them, and then drive your point into his chest. The crossing at mid-sword creates the opportunity for this two-part action. Aarm strike, followed by a thrust.
Fiore's Words
I complete my master's play with skill and speed: First, I make his cover, just as he decreed. I strike the arms to wound them first, then drive my point into his chest, unrehearsed. From the crossing at mid-sword, I deceive and win, doing exactly what my master said within.
Combat Context
This technique applies when you have engaged your opponent's sword in a crossing at mid-sword (likely from a previous action or mutual engagement). The crossing position gives you the mechanical advantage to make a protective cover while simultaneously setting up a two-part counterattack. The arm strike disrupts your opponent's ability to defend or counter, and the immediate thrust exploits the opening created. This represents a scholar successfully applying the master's teaching in a practical scenario.
Training Notes
- ✦ The cover must be executed from a crossing engagement at mid-sword. practice, establishing this crossing first
- ✦ The arm strike serves a dual purpose: wounding/disrupting the opponent's structure and creating an opening for the thrust
- ✦ Speed of transition is critical; 'subito' emphasises that the thrust follows immediately after the arm strike without resetting
- ✦ The arm strike can be a cut or a percussive blow, depending on position; focus on disrupting the opponent's weapon control
- ✦ The final thrust to the chest is the killing action; the arm strike is preparatory and must not be treated as the primary technique
- ✦ Practice the complete sequence as one fluid action rather than three separate moves
- ✦ The crossing at mid-sword gives you leverage and control, maintaining pressure through the crossing during the cover
This is card FL30 from the Fiore dei Liberi Sword In Two Hands deck.
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[25v-b] ¶ Lo zogho del mio magistro io l'o complido, che io o fatta la sua coverta, e subito o fatto lo suo ditto, che io o'ferido prima gli brazzi, e poii gl'o posta la punta in petto.
Here you see me completing the play of my teacher. I have made his cover, and then immediately I do what he said to do, that is I strike first to my opponent’s arms, and then I continue with a thrust into his chest.
[13v-d] Lo zogho delo mio magistro io l'o compido, che i'o fatto la sua coverta. E subito, o fatto el suo ditto. Che i'o feridi prima gli brazi, e poii gle ho posta la punta in lo petto.
The play of my Master I have completed, in that I have made his cover and I have quickly executed his saying: I have struck first his arms, and then I have placed my point in his chest.
[19b-d] Per lo magistro che incrosa a'meça spada De quello che l'a dito de'quello te'faço derada
From the Master who crosses at mid-sword, I do that which he said well.
[14v-c] ¶ Te ferio velut ille prior tulit[6] ante magister. Qui cruce mucronem retinet /[7] quo fallere possit.
I strike a bargain with you just as that earlier master before said. He who holds back the sword in the cross[ing], he would be able to deceive.