Pol Hausbuch (MS 3227a)/13v - 17v

Draft Translation by Christian Trosclair	Transcription  by Dierk Hagedorn
Here it begins, Master Liechtenauer's Art of Fencing with the Sword on Foot and on Horse, Bare and in Harness. And before any incidents and confrontations, you shall note and know that there is just one art of the sword and it may have been invented and conceived many hundred years ago. And this is a foundation and core of all of the arts of fencing and Master Liechtenauer had internalized and applied it quite completely and correctly. Not that he invented and conceived it himself, as was written before, rather he had traveled through many lands. And through that sought the legitimate and truthful art for the sake that he would experience and know it. And this art is earnest, complete and legitimate; and everything proceeds from it the nearest and shortest, simple and direct. Just as if one would hew or stab someone and that person then bound a thread or cord to his point or edge of his sword and guided or pulled that very point point or edge to the opponent's opening. For he should hew or stab according to the nearest and shortest and most decisive of all. For one would prefer to deliver just that, because that same legitimate fencing will not have handsome and painstaking parries nor wide fencing-around. With those, people choose to procrastinate and delay themselves. As one finds according to many illegitimate masters, that say they have invented and conceived and possess for themselves from day to day some new art, better and greater. But I would like to see one that would conceive and perform just one application or one hew that does not come from Liechtenauer's art. Just that they will often mix-up and pervert an application. So with that, they give it a new name, each according to their head. Furthermore that they conceive wide fencing-around and parrying and often do two or three hews in place of a single hew. They will be praised by the uncomprehending just for the liveliness of it as they fiendishly arrange themselves with those beautiful parries and wide fencing-around and deliver wide and long hews slowly and sluggishly. With those they quite severely delay and hew-ahead of themselves and also with those give themselves firm openings because they have no measure in their fencing. And anyway, that is not called for in earnest fencing. In some cases, it could possibly be somewhat good in school fencing for exercise and enjoyment. But earnest fencing will proceed swift, straight and quite direct without any hesitation nor delay like a string or something like it determined the measure and trajectory. When one shall slash or stab whoever stands there before them, then truly no strike or stab backwards or to the side helps him, nor any wide fencing nor multiple hews. They that would like to end it with someone, they procrastinate and delay themselves so that they preclude the moment of truth. Rather, one must initiate their hew straight and directly to the person, to the head or to the body according to what is closest and surest. Just as he is able to attain it and judge it, swiftly and quickly and preferably with one strike. Because with four or six, he would give himself away with them. And that one comes effortlessly as opposed to all those because the fore-strike is a great advantage of this fencing as you will hear it hereafter in the text where Liechtenauer names just five hews with other plays that are sufficient for earnest fencing and teaches it according to the correct art, conducted straight and direct toward the closest and surest as it simply can approach and leaves all of the confusing work and new found hews foolishly considered by the illegitimate masters that nevertheless thoroughly depart from his art.	[13v] HIe hebt sich an meister lichtenawers kunst des fechtens mit deme swerte czu fusse vnd czu rosse / blos vnd yn harnüsche / Vnd vor allen dingen vnd sachen / saltu merken vnd wissen / das nür eyne kunst ist des swertes / vnd dy mag vor manchen hvndert Jaren seyn fvnden vnd irdocht / vnd dy ist eyn grunt vnd kern aller künsten des fechtens / Vnd dy hat meister lichtnawer gancz vertik vnd gerecht gehabt vnd gekunst / Nicht das her sy selber haben fvnden vnd irdocht / als vor ist geschreben / Sonder / her hat manche lant / durchfaren vnd gesucht / durch der selben rechtvertigen vnd warhaftigen kunst wille / das her dy io irvaren vnd wissen wolde / Vnd dy selbe kunst ist ernst gancz vnd rechtvertik / Vnd get of das aller neheste vnd kors körtzste / slecht vnd gerade czu / Recht zam wen eyner eynen hawen ader stechen welde / vnd das man im denne eynen vadem ader snure an seynen ort ader sneyde des swertes bünde / vnd leytet aber czöge den selben ort ader sneide off ienes blössen / [14r] den her hawen ader stechen selde / noch dem aller nehesten · kortzsten · vnd endlichsten / als man das nür dar bregen mochte / wen das selbe rechtvertige vechten / wil nicht hobisch vnd weislich paryren haben / vnd weit vmbefechten / mit deme sich lewte mochten lassen vnd vorzümen / Als man noch manche leychmeistere vindet dy do sprechen / das sy selber newe kunst vinden vnd irdenken vnd meynen das sich dy kunst des fechtens von tage czu tage besser vnd mere / Aber ich wölde gerne eynen sehn der do / möchte nür eyn gefechte / ader eynen haw / irdenken vnd tuen / der do nicht aus lichtnawers kunst gynge / Nür das sy ofte eyn gefechte vorwandeln vnd vorkeren wöllen / mit deme / das sy im newe namen geben / itzlicher noch seyme hawpte / Vnd das sy weit vmbefechten vnd paryrn irdenken / vnd oft vör eynen haw / czwene ader dreye tuen / nür durch wolstehens wille / do von sy von den unvorstendigen gelobt wollen werden / mit dem höbschen paryrn vnd weit vmbefechten / als sy sich veyntlich stellen / vnd weite vnd lange hewe dar brengen / lanksam vnd trege / mit deme sy sich gar sere vorhawen [14v] vnd zeümen / vnd sich auch do mite vaste blos geben / wen sy keyne mosse yn irem fechten nicht haben / vnd das gehört doch nicht czu ernstem fechten / zonder czu schulvechten durch vbunge vnd gebrawchunge wille mochte is wol eczwas gut seyn / Aber ernste vechten wil risch slecht vnd gar gerade dar gehen / an alles lassen vnd zümenüss / zam noch eyner snuren / ader zam itzlichs besunder gemessen vnd gewegen were / wen sal eyner eynen slaen ader stechen / der do vor im stet / zo hilft in io keyn slag ader stich / vor sich vn ader hindersich / ader neben sich / noch keynerley weitvechten / ader vil hewe / das mit eyme möchte enden / mit deme her sich zümet vnd last / das her dy schantcze vorsleft / Sonder her mus io / slecht vnd gleich czu hawen / czum manne / czu kop / ader czu leibe / noch dem aller nehesten / vnd schiresten als her in nür gehaben mag vnd irreichen / v/risch vnd snelle vnd liber mit eyme slage wen mit viern ader sechen mit deme her sich möchte lassen / vnd das iener leichte e queme denne her / wen der vorslag / eyn gros vorteil ist / of deme vechten / als du es als hernoch wirst horen yn dem texte / Do nennet lichtnawer / nür fümff hewe / mit andern stöcken / dy do nütcze seyn czu erstem vechten / vnd leret dy noch [15r] rechter kunst slecht vnd gerade dar brengen noch dem aller nehesten uvnd schiresten / als mag is nür dar komen / Vnd lest alles trummel werk / vnd new fvnden hewe vnderwegen / von den leichmeistere / Dy doch gruntlich aus syner kunst dar komen /
Also note this and know that one cannot speak and explain or write about fencing quite as simply and clearly as one can easily show and inform it with the hand. Therefore act on your judgement and consider the best of it and therein, exercise the bulk of that yourself in play which you think is of the best in earnest. Because practice is better than empty art, for practice is fully sufficient without art but art is not fully sufficient without practice.	¶ Auch merke das / vnd wisse das man nicht gar eygentlich vnd bedewtlich von dem fechten mag sagen vnd schreiben ader auslegen / als man is wol mag / is wol mag czeigen vnd weisen mit der hant / Dorvmbe tu of dyne synnen vnd betrachte is deste bas / Vnd ube dich dorynne deste mer yn schimpfe / zo gedenkestu ir deste bas in ernste / wen ubunge ist besser wenne kunst / denne übunge tag w tawg wol ane kunst aber kunst tawg nicht wol ane übunge /
Also know that a good fencer shall, ahead all confrontations, command and clasp his sword certainly and surely with both hands between the hilt and the pommel. Because like this, he holds the sword much surer than when he clasps it by the pommel with one hand and also strikes much harder and surer like this, because the pommel overthrows itself and swings itself in accordance with the strike, so that the strike arrives much harder than when he clasps the sword with the pommel, because like this, he restrains the strike with the pommel, such that he may not arrive so completely and so strongly, because the sword is just like a scale. For if a sword is large and heavy, so must the pommel also be accordingly heavy, just like a scale.	¶ Auch wisse das eyn guter fechter sal vör allen sachen syn swert gewisse vnd sicher füren vnd fassen / mit beiden henden / czwischen gehilcze vnd lac klos / wen alzo helt her das swert vil sicher / den das hers bey dem klosse vasset mit eyner hant / vnd slet auch vil harter vnd sürer / alzo / wen der klos öberwirft sich vnd swenkt sich noch dem slage das der slag vil harter / dar kumpt / den das her das swert mit dem klosse vasset / wen alzo / czöge her den slag / mit dem klosse weder / das her nicht zo voelkömlich vnd zo stark möchte dar komen / Wen das swert [15v] ist recht zam eyn woge / den ist eyn swert gros vnd swer / zo mus der klos auch dornoch swer syn / recht zam noch eyner wogen
Also know that when one fences with someone, so shall he fully take heed of his steps and be sure in them just as if he shall stand upright upon a scale, shifting backwards or forwards according to that as necessitates itself, connected and nimble, swiftly and quickly. And with good spirit and good consciousness or consideration shall your fencing proceed and without any fear as one will hear that hereafter.	¶ Auch wisse wen eyner mit eyme ficht / zo sol her syner schrete wol war nemen / vnd sicher in den seyn / wen her recht zam of eyner wogen stehen sal · hindersich · ader vorsich · czu treten / noch deme als sichs gepürt / gefüge vnd gerinklich / risch vnd snelle / vnd gar mit gutem mute / vnd guter gewissen ader vornunft / sal deyn fechten dar gehen / vnd an alle vorchte / als man das hernoch wirt hören /
You shall also have measure in your applications accordingly as it necessitates itself and shall not step too wide, so that you may better adjust yourself to another's steps, done backwards or forwards according to that as it will necessitate itself. Also often itself necessitating two short steps for one long and often necessitates itself that one must do a little pre run with short steps and often that one must do a good step or spring.	¶ Auch saltu mosse haben yn deyme gefechte dornoch als sichs gepürt / vnd salt nicht czu weit schreiten / das du dich deste bas eynes- / andern schretes irholen magest / hinderdich / ader vordich czu tuen / noch deme als sich wörde gepuren / vnd das / Auch gepüren sich oft czwene korcze schrete vor eynem langen / vnd oft gepürt sich das eyner eyn lewftcheyn mus tuen / mit korczen schreten / vnd oft das eyner eynen guten schret ader sprunk mus tuen /
And whatever one will readily conduct in play or in earnest, they shall make that foreign and confusing so that the opponent does not notice what this is meant to conduct against him. And as soon as the opponent then comes at him and also has the measure of the opponent so that he thinks he will have and reach in the opponent well, so shall he brazenly hurry to the opponent and drive swiftly and quickly to the head or to the body. He hits or mises and shall always win the fore-strike and allows the opponent to come with nothing as you will better hear hereafter in the common lore, etc.	¶ Vnd was eyner redlichs wil treiben czu schimpfe / ader czu ernste / das sal her eyme vor den ogen / fremde vnd vorworren machen / das iener nicht merkt was deser keyn im meynt czutreiben / [16r] Vnd als bald wenn her denne czu im kumpt vnd dy moße also czu im hat das in dünkt her welle in nu wol haben vnd irreichen / zo sal her kunlich czu im hurten vnd varen / snelle vnd risch / czu koppe ader czu leibe / her treffe ader vele / vnd sal io den vorslag gewynnen / vnd ienen mit nichte lassen czu(n?) dingen komen / als du bas hernoch wirst hören yn der gemeynen lere etc
One shall also always prefer to target the upper openings rather than the lower and one drives in over the hilt with hews or with stabs, bravely and quickly. Because one reaches the opponent much better and further over the hilt than under it. And one is also much surer of all fencing like this. For the upper contact one is much better than the lower one. But if it comes to be as such that one were nearer to the lower, then he must target that as this often occurs.	¶ Auch sal eyner allemal liber den öbern blößen remen / denne den vndern / vnde eyme ober deme gehilcze yn varen / mit hewen ader mit stichen / künlich vnd risch / wenn eyner irreicht eynen vil bas / vnd / verrer öber dem gehilcze · den dorvnder / vnd eyner ist auch alzo vil sicher alles fechtens / vnd der obern rure eyne / ist vil besser denne der vndern eyne / Is wer denne / das is alzo queme das eyner neher hette czu der vndern das her der remen müste / als das ofte kumpt
Also know that one shall always come to the right side of the opponent in his applications. Because he may better have the opponent in all confrontations of fencing or wrestling than immediately in front of. And whoever knows this part well and delivers well, they are not a bad fencer.	¶ Auch wisse / das eyner sal io eyme of dy rechte seiten komen / yn seyme gefechte / wen her eyme do yn allen sachen / des fechtens ader ringens / bas gehaben mag / denne gleich vorne czu / vnd wer dis stöcke wol weis / vnd wol dar brengt / der ist ist nicht eyn bözer fechter etc
Also know when one will earnestly fence, they contemplate a polished play, whichever he wishes that is complete and correct there and earnestly internalize that and keep it in his intent and spirit. Whatever he wishes upon someone just as if he would say: "This I mean to truly conduct" and so this shall and must go forward with the help of god, so it might fail him in nothing. He does what he should when he bravely hurries and charges there with the fore-strike, as one will often hear hereafter.	[16v] ¶ Auch wisse / wen eyner ernstlich wil fechten / der vasse im eyn vertik stöcke vör / wels her wil / das do gancz vnd gerecht sey / vnd neme im das ernstlich vnd stete in seynen syn vnd gemüte / wen her of eynen wil / Recht zam her sölde sprechen · das meyne ich io czutreiben / vnd das sal vnd mus vorgank haben mit der hölfe gotes zo mag is im mit nichte velen / her tut was her sal / wen her kunlich dar hort vnd rawscht / mit dem vorslage / als man das hernach oft wirt horen /
In all fencing  Requisite is: the help of god of righteousness, A straight and healthy body,  A soundly manufactured sword, especially, Before, after, weak, strong  Within, with that word, hearken. Hews, stabs, cuts, pressing,  Position, defending, shoving, feeling, disengaging, Winding and hanging,  Backing, strikes, springs, grabbing, wrangling, Speed, audacity,  Prudence, astuteness and ingenuity Acumen, premeditation, ability  Measure, obscuration, Practice and good spirit,  Motion, flexibility, good steps. In these seven couplets  The fundamental principles And concerns  And the entire matter Of all of the art of fencing are labelled for you.  You shall consider this correctly As you will also actually  And in particular hereafter Hear or read  Each according to it's qualities. Fencer, take heed of it  So will these arts reveal to you the art, indeed, Of the entire sword  And many good lively attacks.	[17r] cCZu allem fechten · gehört dy hölfe gotes von rechte / Gera der leip vnd gesvnder / eyn gancz vertik swert pesundern / Vor · noch · swach sterke / yndes · das wort mete czu merken / Hewe stiche snete drücken / leger schütczen stöße fülen czücken / Winden vnd hengen / rücken striche sprönge greiffen rangen / Rischeit vnd kunheit / vorsichtikeit list vnd klugheit / Masse vörborgenheit / vernunft vorbetrachtunge fetikeit / Vbunge vnd guter mut / motus gelenkheit schrete gut / In den seben versen da / sint dir fundament principia / Vnd pertinencia / benumet vnd dy gancze materia / Aller kunst des fechten / das saltu betrachten rechte / Als du auch eigentlich / hernocher vnd sönderlich / wirst horen ader lesen / itzlichs noch seynem wezen / Fechter des nym war / zo wirt dir bekunst bekant dy kunst gar / Of dem ganczen swerte / vnd manch gut weidelich geverte /
Motion, that beautiful word,  Is the heart and crown of fencing The entire matter  Of fencing with all concerns And the sound components  Of the fundamentals, the movements Are named with names  And will be revealed better hereafter However then one simply fights,  So are they well directed And stay in motion  And not pause when he Begins to fence with  So he drives-in with correctness Continually and decisively  Bravely one after the other Stay in a rush  Without intervals, immediate. So that the opponent cannot come  To strikes therefore takes this advantage And harming the opponent.  Because he cannot be unstruck From this coming.  Just do this according to the advice And according to the learning  That is written now For I say to you truthfully,  The opponent does not defend themselves without danger. If you understand  He cannot come to blows with anything.	[17v] mMOtus · das worte schone / ist des fechtens eyn hort vnd krone / der gancze materiaz / des fechtens / mit aller pertinencia / Vnd der artikeln gar / des fundamentes / dy var / Mit namen sint genant / vnd werden dir hernoch bas bekant / Wy denne eyner nur ficht / zo sey her mit den wol bericht / Vnd sey stetz in motu / vnd nicht veyer wen her nu / An hebt czu fechten / zo treibe her mit rechte / Vmmer in vnd endlich / eyns noch dem andern künlich / In eyme rawsche stete / an vnderlos imediate / Das iener nicht kome / czu slage des nympt deser fromen / Vnd iener schaden / wen her nicht ungeslagen / Von desem komen mag / tut nur deser noch dem rat / Vnd noch der leren / dy itczunt ist geschreben / So sag ich vorwar / sich schützt iener nicht ane var / Hastu vornomen / czu slage mag her mit nichte komen /
Here note that constant motion secures him in the beginning, middle and end of all fencing according to this art and lore. As such that one completes the beginning, middle and ending in one rush without pause and without the hindrance of his counter-fencer and does not allow the opponent to come to strikes with anything. Of this, the two words come: before, after. That is, the fore-strike and after-strike. Immediately and at one time as if left without any middle	¶ Hie merke · das · frequens motus · beslewst in im / begynnüs / mittel · vnd ende / alles fechtens / noch deser kunst vnd lere / alzo das eyner yn eyme rawsche / anhebunge / mittel / vnde endunge / an vnderlos vnd an hindernis synes wedervechters volbrenge / vnd ienen mit nichte lasse czu slage komen / wenn of das gent dy czwey wörter · vor · noch · das ist / vorslag vnd nochslag / inmediate & / in vna hora / quasi vnum post reliquum sine aliquo medio /