The new swordsman's student
Comes off of the field
Her head filled with glory and awe
Returning to her books
She seeks out the masters
To pray heed to their words of old
E chi de nostre vertu hara bona parte
In arme havera honor chomo dise l'arte
Fiore bids us see to a good part of our virtue
In arming we'll have honor according to our artsMayormente in cosa que tan poco aprouecha
Para la conservacion de la honrra
For greatness is of such very little use
For the conservation of our honorSo take up your honor
When you take up your sword
And keep in the graces of your lord
Returning to her books
Filled with tempo and measure
With reason and nature and art
When honor's lacking there's dangers
And all occasions of quarrels
So she'll strengthen her sword and her heart
E chi de nostre vertu hara bona parte
In arme havera honor chomo dise l'arte
Fiore bids us see to a good part of our virtue
In arming we'll have honor according to our arts
Saviolo exhorts
And advises all sorts
Not to catch at every fly that passes by
For to do so will purchase
Endless trouble and danger
Only fight the just cause to satisfy
E chi de nostre vertu hara bona parte
In arme havera honor chomo dise l'arte
Fiore bids us see to a good part of our virtue
In arming we'll have honor according to our artsMayormente in cosa que tan poco aprouecha
Para la conservacion de la honrra
For greatness is of such very little use
For the conservation of our honorSo take up your honor
When you take up your sword
And keep in the graces of your lord
Notes: I, myself, am not (yet) a swordsman. But I have watched the swordsmen (and women!) around me with great respect, and have learned a few things from them along the way.
In the song "A Lover, Not a Fighter" words and music by Magdalene van den Velde, she sings:
We can beat him with Fiore, with Marozzo cut him down,
Even fighting just as Fabris showed, we'll make him look the clown.
With Agrippa, D'all Agocchie, Capo Ferro, masters all
Just put a sword into our hands and surely he will fall
In this song, I learned quite a bit about the eager student, wishing to defend his master from a braggart and oaf who has come to town. She cites some of the period swordsmasters: Fiore, Marozzo, Fabris, Agrippa, D'all Agocchie, and Capo Ferro.
So I looked into these authors, and others, to find quotes from period, in both original languages and translation. Drawing on direct quotes from the originals and the translations to follow, I composed this song. My intent was to set the scene for the new fighter, who has been inspired to find out what it takes to be a swordsman. In her studies, she finds it takes honor, above all else.
From Fiore Dei Liberi's "Flos Duellatorum" ("The Flower of Battle") written in Italian in 1410:
E chi de nostre uertu hara bona parte
In arme hauera honor chomo dise l'arte.
And who have a good part of our virtues
In arms he will have honour according to the art.
I found the following quote in Jeronimo de Carranza's "Of the Philosophy of Arms and of the true Skill and of the aggression and defense of Christianity" in Spanish in 1582:
Mayormente in cosa que tan poco aprouecha para la conservacion de la honrra
...poniendose por ella a grandes peligros
Greatness is of such little good use for the conservation of the honor
...It can put honor in great danger.
In Vincentio Saviolo's "His Practise, In Two Books, The First Intreating of the Use of the Rapier and Dagger, The Second of Honor and Honorable Quarrels (London, 1595), I found this (translated) note to the reader:
Now in this case I am to exhort and advise men of all sortes and condition, as well the skilfull as the unskilfull, not to bee in anie wise to suspitious, nor to catch (as they saie) at everie flie that passeth by, for in so dooing, they purchase to themselves endlesse trouble, and enter into actions full of danger and dishonour, but rather to shunne as much as they can all occasions of quarrell, and not to fight excepte (as hath bene sayde) upon a just cause and in a point of honor.
From Fillipo Vadi's "De Arte Gladiatoria Dimicandi" "Book on the Art of Fighting with Swords" 1482-1487, Chapter 3: Doctrine of the Sword, he writes:
Match your spirit while defending, and arms and feet with good measure, if you want to gain any honor.
He who wants to have honor in arms should have knowledge, fortitude and courage; if these he lacks he'd better renounce.
So from this Art comes all sorts of good, with arms cities are subdued and all the crowds restrained; and in itself has such dignity, that often it brings joy to the heArt, and always drives out cowardice. You should acquire treasure and honor and, above any other care, always maintain yourself in your lord's grace.
From Capo Ferro's "Great Representation of the Art and of the Use of Fencing," he writes:
There is nothing in the world to which Nature… with greater genius and more solicitudious regard, than for the conservation of one's self provides him… as the singular privilege of the hand… if he arms himself yet with the sword, noblest instrument of all, protects and defends himself against any willful assuault of inimical force….
The effective causes of this dicipline are four: Reason, nature, art, and practice. Reason, as orderer of nature. Nature, as potent virtue. Art, as regulator and moderator of nature. Practice, as minister of art.
And finally, from Castiglione:
Nor should he be too anxious for these engagements, save when his honour demands it; for, as well as the considerable danger that an uncertain outcome brings with it, whoever rushes into these things precipitately and without urgent cause deserves to be gravely censured, even if he is successful. However, when a man has committed himself so far that he cannot withdraw without reproach then both in the preliminaries and in the duel itself he should be very deliverate. He should always show readiness and courage; and he should not behave like those who are always quibbling and arguing over points of honour.
I hope you enjoy the song, drawn directly from these historic authors.
Please enjoy these tunes, and please obey copyright laws. These are put here as a courtesy to share with you, not for the opportunity to abuse hospitality. Thank you, everyone.