Prologue

Up to this point I have offered general principles suitable for exercises, along with a section on the appraisal of complexions, and on the principle of transferring the secrets of one exercise to the improvement and knowledge of others. In this second part I will offer a more concise compilation dealing individually with each weapon along with many other exercises. However, if anyone wants to study this book, he will need at least some foundation in the matters I have discussed more broadly elsewhere, since otherwise it will be quite difficult to understand it, since here everything is in brief.

Chapter 1: A lesson or manner for governing ourselves

If we want to excel, it is not sufficient merely to exercise the body without the help of art; hence we should study those things that relate to strengthening or training our bodies. We must first attend to ourselves, after which we can think about helping or harming others. Therefore if we are to do exercises in a proper or unimpeded fashion, our bodies must be unimpeded when they are working.

Yet as regards training our bodies for the work, I differ from both ancients and moderns. When some people try to achieve an action, they apply themselves with stiff efforts, <c4r> skewing and contorting their entire body. But I maintain that we should fight upright, with lightness and without stiffness. To apply a great force calls for balance, with lightness and fluidity in our feet and hands, otherwise we compromise our powers and agility, without which we can do little. Men who are strong in action always have supple bodies in proportion to their size, able to flex without stiffness. Someone who droops his body, splays his lower legs, and contorts his limbs can be described as monstrous – this is certainly an obvious error, for no man having a normal body can be strong the way these men position themselves in physical exercises. Therefore we should move smoothly and fluidly, gathering our strength in our chest; and neither foot should stray far from the other, so that we can easily move around wherever we wish. Our body should also stay centered over our feet, never leaning.