Vadi: Longsword: Plays from Chapter 11 (Fol 12r)
Plays from Chapter 11
System: Interpreting Filippo Vadi
Section: Longsword
Source Text and Image
Note: there are no images associated with this play.
When you have arrived at the half sword,
Making a mandritto or roverso,
Be sure to grasp the sense
of what I say, because it is to the point.
When you feint keep a sharp eye out,
And make the feint short, with the cover,
And hold the sword up,
So your arms play above your head.
I cannot say in a few words,
Because the actions are of the half sword,
Where you go as you please.
When you parry, parry with a fendente.
Brush aside the sword, a little away from you, cautiously,
Pressing that of the companion,
You will make a good deal,
Parrying well whichever blows.
When you parry the roverso do so with
The right foot forwards, and parry as I have said.
Parrying the mandritto,
Put your left foot forwards instead.
You should also keep in mind,
When you strike a roverso fendente,
To keep a careful eye out,
So that a mandritto doesn’t come from underneath.
And if the companion strikes, and you all of a sudden
Parry, making then to the head
[f12v]
A blow with the false edge carefully,
And as he lifts it, strike a good roverso
From below, across his arms,
Redoubling then with a quick mandritto,
And note also this,
That you do not fail the principles of the Art.
If you strike a mandritto, then beware,
The roverso that he might strike.
Make it so that your sword also
Parries with a fendente, so that you are not hit.
And if it comes to you then to want
To enter underneath and grab his handle,
And then do your duty,
Hammering his moustache with your pommel,
Watching out that you do not get stuck.
Video
- Drill 1 from Chapter 11:
- Drill 2 from Chapter 11:
Notes
Key Resources
- Facsimile: The Spada Press facsimile of De Arte Gladiatoria Dimicandi
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Source: Biblioteca Nazionale di Roma, Fondo Vittorio Emanuele, Codice 1324 Translation: Dr. Guy Windsor
