Anonymous 15th Century Poem

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 appears in fragmentary form in two 15th century manuscripts: Hans Talhoffer's personal manuscript of 1459 and Hans von Speyer's 1491 compilation. It shares concepts and terminology with the writings of Martin Syber and follows his New Zettel ("New Record") in Speyer's work, but is absent from other presentations of his work. 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).

It is worth mentioning that the justification for considering the two poems to be parts of the same greater work is not as strong as we might wish. Out of 30 lines in the Copenhagen version and 27 in the Salzburg, only ten are common to both poems. This is a much smaller degree of overlap than we generally see in different renditions of the same work, though it is still substantial enough to reasonably conclude that the two are related in some way.

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)  Transcribed by Dieter Bachmann	Salzburg Version (1491)  Transcribed by Dierk Hagedorn
1 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 Descending cut is for thrust Rising cut breaks simply Lateral cut in the wide Now ponder what this means In the switch cut, seek the gauche, Snipe for a displacement Plunge cut, therein you rotate If you wish to find the face uncovered Then from the part cut, Strike down their short edge Invert the plunge cut when down below Therein seek and learn In the Iron-point, take watch. Rise up with your point. You deliver one more time into the unicorn Your roses in the little wheel. Suddenly retract the hits to give good opportunities Shield cut clashes together The wing accosts the ears Wrath-point, the chest to pierce Shooting over to both sides The waker will stay Driving strokes will go Into the roses in the little wheel Suddenly retract the hits to give good opportunities 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 soften 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 first, [then] pursuing is the snare Bouncing, overrunning and the slice That is a general teaching Orient yourself thereupon This enables you to know, What this art claims to prize. 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 forwards.	[1r] Zorn ort der brust zu bort zu baiden siten uber schiessen wecker wil stan triben strichen wil gan In der rosen im rädlin zuck die treffen git guote sinn krump how dem muol zu Im eyn flechten hab nit ruo Im krieg so machstu griffen ochß pflug darinn du nit wyche Mit dem reiß ort schertz Im schrack ort hab am hertz Im ysen ort verwend am biffler tuo fälen biß behend E komen nach reissen ist der sitt Schnellen uber louffen und den schnit Daz ist ain gemaine lere Daran dich kere Daz tund die wysen Die kunst kunden brysen Wiltu dich kunst fräwen So lern die toplirten höwe wer nach gaut slechten höwen Der mag sich kunst wenig fröwen Auch so sind vier leger Die soltu mercken eben tuo darin nit starck vallen oder er laut darüber schallen wa man dir anbind wil So wind die kurtzen schnid für	[3r] 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

Copyright and License Summary

For further information, including transcription and translation notes, see the discussion page.

Work	Author(s)	Source	License
Translation	Christian Trosclair	Wiktenauer
Copenhagen Version	Dieter Bachmann	Index:Talhoffer Fechtbuch (MS Thott.290.2º)
Salzburg Version	Dierk Hagedorn	Index:Codex Speyer (MS M.I.29)

Additional Resources

The following is a list of publications containing scans, transcriptions, and translations relevant to this article, as well as published peer-reviewed research.

• Alte Armature und Ringkunst: The Royal Danish Library Ms. Thott 290 2º (2020). Trans. by Rebecca L. R. Garber. Ed. by Michael Chidester; Dieter Bachmann. Somerville, MA: HEMA Bookshelf. ISBN 978-1-953683-04-5.
• Fabian, Martin (2024). Fechtbuch Fabian. Self-published. ISBN 978-80-570-6163-2.
• Hull, Jeffrey (2008). "The Longsword Fight Lore of Mertin Siber." Masters of Medieval and Renaissance Martial Arts: 223-238. Ed. by John Clements. Boulder, CO: Paladin Press. ISBN 978-1-58160-668-3.