Anonymous 15th Century Poem

Fechtlere
Anonymous 15th century poem
Author(s)	Unknown
Ascribed to	Martin Syber Hans Talhoffer
Date	mid 1400s (?)
Genre	Fencing manual
Language	Early New High German
Archetype(s)	Hypothetical
Manuscript(s)	MS Thott.290.2º (1459) MS M.I.29 (1491)
First Printed English Edition	Hull, 2008
Concordance by	Michael Chidester
Translations	Deutsch-Übersetzung Deutsch-Übersetzung

This anonymous poem, titled only Fechtlere ("Fencing Lore"), appears in fragmentary form in both Hans Talhoffer's personal fencing manual of 1459 and Hans von Speyer's 1491 anthology. It shares concepts and terminology with the writings of Martin Syber and follows his New Zettel ("New Epitome") in Speyer's work, but is absent from other presentations of his treatise. Its presence in Talhoffer's writings over thirty years earlier would also suggest that Syber is not the original author (or potentially that his career was much earlier than currently thought).

Treatise

The couplet in bold text appears out of sequence between the two versions. Its proper location cannot be determined from available information.

Poem 

	Complete Translation by Christian Trosclair	Copenhagen Version (1459) by Anonymous	Salzburg Version (1491) by Dierk Hagedorn
[1] [5] [10] [15] [20] [25] [30] [35] [40] [45]	Fencing Lore High-hew is for the thrust Low-hew breaks straight Middle-hew in the wide Now see what I mean Seek the foolish in the changing-hew Diligently observe the parrying Plunging-hew, therein you wind If you wish to find the face open So, from the parting-hew, Strike the short edge there Reverse the plunging-hew to him below Therein examine and learn Take ward in the Iron-point Rise with the point Sometimes [you] offer in the unicorn Your roses in the little wheel. Withdraw the hits gives [a] good sense Squint-hew with a hit The wing scratches the ears Wrath-point, the chest to pierce Shooting over to both sides The waker will stay Executing sweeps will go In the roses in the little wheel. Withdraw the hits gives [a] good sense Crooked-hew to the mouth If you have intwined him, do not rest In the war, so you apply grips Ox, plow: therein you do not flee Play with the carving point In the barrier-point have a heart Avert in the iron-gate. Perform a failing [upon] a buffalo, if you are agile Approaching before, following after is the custom Quickening, passing-over and the slice That is a general teaching Orient yourself thereupon Because if the wise perform, The Art proclaims glories. If you wish to enjoy the Art, Then learn the doubled hews Whoever follows straight hews, They permit their art little rejoicing Also [there] are the four guards That you shall always remember Do not fall strongly therein Lest he clash loudly, sounding over it. Whenever one wishes to bind-upon Then wind the short edge into it.	[1r] Zorn ort Der brust zu bort zu baiden siten vber schiessen Wecker wil stan tr[e]ib[e]n str{e}ichen wil gan In Der rosen Im rädlin zuck Die treffen gi[b]t gu[o]te sinn Krump how dem mu[e]l zu Im eyn flechten hab nit ru[o] Im krieg so machstu griffen ochß pflug Darinn du nit wyche[n] Mit dem Reiß ort schertz Im schra[n]ck ort hab ain hertz Im ysen [p]ort v[er]wend ain biffler tu[e] fälen biß[t] behend E komen nach reissen ist d[er] sitt Schnellen vber louffen und den schnit Daz ist ain gemaine lere Daran Dich kere Daz tun[d] die wysen Die kunst kunden brysen Wiltu Dich kunst fräwen So lern Die toplirten höwen wer nach gaut slechten höwen Der mag sich kunst wenig fröwen Auch so sind vier leger Die soltu mercken eben tu[e] Dar In nit starck vallen od[er] er laut darüber schallen wa[s] ma[n] [Dir] anbind[en] will [Dir] So wind die kurtz schnid für	[3r] Fechtlere Ober haülb ist für stich Vnter haulb schlecht bricht Mittel haulb in die weÿtte Nü lüg was dz bedüte Im wechsell haülb süch die geüche Noch der versatzüng spee Stürtz haülb dar in dü winde~ Wiltü Im dz antlütz ploß finden So aüß dem scheittler Schlag die kurtz schnid dar Im vnter stürtz haülb verkere Dar In sich vnd lere Im ÿssen ort nÿm war Mit dem ort vff far Bringst auch moll Ins einhorn dar Din rosen Im redlin Zück die treffen gen gute~ sin Schilt haulb mit trifft Flÿgell oren gift Wecker will ston Triben strichen wil gañ E komen noch reissen ist der sytt Schnellen vberlouff vnd die schnidtt Daß ist ein gemeÿne lere Dar an dich kere Daß thüntt wÿssen Dÿ künst kündent prÿssen

Additional Resources

• Hull, Jeffrey. "The Longsword Fight Lore of Mertin Siber." Masters of Medieval and Renaissance Martial Arts. Ed. Jeffrey Hull. Boulder, CO: Paladin Press, 2008. ISBN 978-1-58160-668-3