Gérard Thibault d'Anvers/Plates 23-33

Book 1 - Tableau / Plate XXIII - Detecting and Responding to Subtle Differences in Opponent's Response

Translation by Bruce G. Hearns	Transcription by Bruce G. Hearns
EXPLANATION OF THE ACTIONS IN THE TWENTY-THIRD PLATE	DECLARATION DES OPERATIONS DV TABLEAV VIGNT ET TROISIEME.
There is no other activity in the world where changes are as considerable as in ours, as frequently the slightest unnoticed difference can put us in very great danger. This is why, before now, we studied these many subtle differences, to be able to recognize them, developing different responses against the ennemy’s postures which appear, at first, so much the same that the differences appear negligible, yet which, nevertheless, subsequently follow such different paths and are so distinct in their consequences. This shall appear much clearer in the differences between the first postures of this and Plate XXII, which appear so small, with the sword raised so slightly higher in the preceeding plate than this one. Not noting this, our student would be in great peril, should he attack his opponent using the same actions as before. So we could see Zachary change his plans, presenting his sword as shown in Circle No 1 of this Plate, keeping the rest of his body exactly as in the preceeding one, except that he holds his hand higher to cover the bottom of his face, the point of his sword inclined slightly to the right side of his opponent as in Circle No 3, but in this case he one does not need to follow the instructions from the previous Plate to strike at his face from the outside of the opponent’s sword stepping forward to the letter L, because the raised guard prevents the blow. But he must, as is shown in this Plate, strike against this posture with a stab at the eyes, raising his arm, hand, and guard, stepping onto the Diameter at the letter G. By this means, he will be out of danger of being wounded. According to the instructions given below.	Il ny a exercice au monde ou les changements ſoyent plus conſiderables qu’au noſtre, car bien ſouvent le moindre non preveu, nous peut mettre en tresgrand danger: Voilà pourquoy cy devant nous nous ſommes eſtudié de vous les faire cognoiſtre, vous produiſant des diverſes aćtions, ſur des postures de l’Ennemi ſi ſemblables, qu’il ſembloit que la difference ne fuſt rien, neantmouns en la ſuite on pouvoit aſſez cognoiſtre, de qu’elle conſequence eſoitent leur diſtinćtion. cecy paroiſtra encore plus a clair en la differēce, qui eſt entre les premieres poſtures de ces deux Tableaus, qui eſt ſi petite en aparance, que l’eſpee un peu plus haulte au precedent XXII, qu’en ceſtuy-cy, en eſt la cauſe; toutesfois noſtre diſciple ſe mettroit en grand peril, s’il vouloit attaquant ſa partie, uſer de pareilles aćtions icy qu’en l’autre. Il ſe pourra donc faire que Zacharie changeant d’advis, preſentera ſon eſpee en la façon depeinte au Cercle N.1. de ce Tableau, tenant au reſte la meſme poſture que celle en laquelle il s’eſtoit preſenté au precedent, exepté qu’il tiendra la main plus haulte pour ſe couvrir le bas du viſage, ſon eſpee enclinant la pointe vers le coſté droit de ſa partie comme au Cercle N.3. en ce cas il ne ſera pas beſoing de ſuivre les Inſtrućtions du Tableau precedent, pour luy tirer au viſage par le dehors du bras oultre l’eſpee, marchant deſſus le Diamettre à la lettre L, a cauſe que le hochement de la garde empeſcheroit d’executer le coup; mais il faudra ainſi qu’il ſera monſtré en ce Tableau, luy tirer ſur ceſte poſture un coup de pointe aux yeux, eſevant le bras la main & la garde, marchant deſſus le Diametre a la lettre G; & par ce moyen l’on ſera hors de peril d’eſtre bleſſé; ſuivant les inſtrućtions cy deſſous contenues.
Circle No 1	Cercle N.1.
Zachary sets himself on the Circumference, perpendicularly to his opponent, standing straight, holding his arm straight. Alexander comes to the encounter, throwing his sword out with a moderately extended arm beneath his opponent’s, and parallel to it.	Zacharie ſe met ſur la Circonference perpeniculairement droit, tenant le bras droit; ſe couvrant le viſage de ſa garde: Alexandre venant à l’encontre, jette d’un bras moderement eſtandu ſon eſpee deſſous de ſa partie en paralelle.
Zachary has set himself with his right foot on the Circumference at the letter X, his left at the letter Z, and holds his body erect, arm extended, and raising his guard up until he just covers his face, point slightly raised. Alexander works against this setting his left foot on the Circumference at the letter C, leaving his right foot a pace behind along the extended diameter, leaning his body on his left foot and extending his arm a moderate distance, setting his sword beneath his opponent’s as he stands at the First Instance, allowing his thumb to flow to the other side of the inside branch of his crossguard from where it was. In this way the exterior branch of his crossguard lowers as the two blades align on two parallel lines. He makes sure to set his foot lightly on the ground, so that he may promptly respond to any move against him, as it supports his weight.	Zacharie s’eſtant planté le pied droit ſur la Circonference à la lettre X, le gauche à la lettre Z, tenant le corps proportionné perpendiculairement, avec le bras eſtandu, hauſſant a garde juſques à ce qu’il s’en couvre le viſage, & la pointe de l’eſpee un peu eſlevée. Alexandre vient travailler alencontre, mettant le pied gauche ſur la Circonference à la lettre C, laiſſant le droit un pas en arriere, reſpondant a la ligne du Diametre, penchant le corps ſur le pied gauche, & eſtendant le bras moderement, il jette ſon eſpee ſoubs celle de ſa partie en Premiere Inſtance, faiſant couler le poulce a l’autre coſté de a branche interieure ſur laquelle il eſtoit; de maniere que la branche exterieure vient en bas, faiſant ainſi les deux lames deux lignes paralelles, prenant bien garde a planter le pied lentement à terre, afin d’eſtre prompt à travailler a l’encontre, & le ſouſtenir.
Circle No 2	Cercle N.2.
Because Zachary covers his face with his his guard, Alexander raises his sword, setting his 6th Span against the 5th Span of his opponent, with no pressure against it.	Pource que Zacharie ſe couvre le viſage de ſa garde, Alexandre eſeve ſon eſpee, la mettant le N.6 au N.5. de celle de ſa partie ſans faire aucun poids.
Because Zachary is covering his face with his guard, keeping his tip slightly raised, Alexander raises his sword, setting his 6th Span against the 5th Span of his opponent’s blade, but without any force against it. He only extends his arm and sword, as he raises his right foot, bringing it forward. As the figures show.	Pource que Zacharie ſe couvre la veüe de ſa garde, tenant ſa pointe un peu hauſſée. Alexandre eſleve ſon eſpee, a mettant le N.6 au N.5. de celle de ſa partie, ſans faire aucun poids a l’encontre, mais eſtandant ſeulement le bras & l’eſpee, il eſleve enſemble le pied droit, le portant en avant; comme les figures monſtrent.
Circle No 3	Cercle N.3.
Alexander, following on, sets his sword beneath and connects with his opponent, and slides the point of contact he raises his arm and guard, until the point is right before his opponent’s eyes.	Alexandre pourſuivant met ſon eſpee deſſoubs & joignant celle de ſa partie, & la graduant il eſleve le bras & la garde, juſques à ce que la pointe vienne devant les yeux d’iceluy.
Alexander follows on, setting his right foot down on his right hand side on the Oblique Diameter, toes on the letter I, raising his left to bring it behind his right. Then, having put the interior branch of his crossguard under and up to his opponent’s sword, he slides it up the blade while raising his arm, hand, and guard, until the point of his sword arrives in front of his opponent’s eyes, and the tip of his opponent’s blade passes beyond and above his head. As we can see by the figures.	Alexandre en pourſuivant, plante le pied droit eſlevé à ſa main droite deſſus le Diametre, avec la pointe d’iceluy à la lettre I, eſlevant le gauche pour le porter derriere le planté; puis ayant mis la branche interiure de ſa garde deſſous & joignant l’eſpee de ſa partie, en la graduant il eſlve le bras la main & la garde, juſqu’a à ce que la pointe de ſon eſpee vienne devant la veüe de ſon Contraire, & la pointe de ſa partie oultrepaſſe un peu ſa teſte au deſſus; comme cela ſe voit aux figures.
Circle No 4	Cercle N.4.
Alexander follows further, seeing that his opponent does not make any kind of strong parry, and having his hand and guard high, he traps his opponent with the interior branch of his crossguard, and slides up the blade, wounding him in the head.	Alexandre pourſuit plus oultre voyant que ſa partie ne faut aucun fort parement, & ayant le bras & la main en haut, enferme entre ſa branche interieur celle de ſa partie, & en la graduant, il le bleſſe à travers la teſte.
This Circle follows on from the one before. Because Zachary makes no effort to parry, Alexander continues his strike, spinning his (still raised) left foot around behind him, and setting his toes down just beyond the letter Q. Allowing his body to follow, he leans back on his foot, holds his hand and arm up high, and traps his opponent’s blade between his own and the interior branch of his crossguard. This he slides up the blade as he drives his point through his opponent’s head so hard that the guards smash together. As is shown by the figures.	Ce Cercle contient la pourſuite du precedent, pource que Zacharie ne fait aucun fort parement. Alexandre pourſuit ſon coup voltant le pied gauche (qui eſtoit eſlevé) par derriere, lequel il plante ſur les orteils un peu oultre la lettre Q, laiſſant ſuivre le corps, le panchant en arriere ſur le pied gauche ja planté, tenant le bras & la main en haut, il enferme entre ſa lame & branche interieure la lame de ſa partie, laquelle en graduant il le bleſſe par ce moyen à travers la teſte, de telle force que les gardes viennent a s’entrechoquer; comme il eſt repreſenté par les figures.
One should be aware that the actions of the preceeding Circles Nos 2, 3, 4, and the following one described below, must be, in practice, done in a continuous movement, with no breaks, just as they are described until the action is fully completed.	Il faut eſtre adverti, que les operations precedentes des Cercles N.2.3.4. & auſſi la pourſuite icy deſcrite, doivent en la pratique ſe ſuivre continuellement & ſans aucune intermiſſion, ainſ qu’elles ſont deſcriptes juſques à la pleine execution.
Circle No 5	Cercle N.5.
Because Zachary has enetered in with his right foot and struck at his opponent’s face with full force, Alexander will meet this blow at the beginning of the movement, wounding him in the face, then forcefully piercing further through the head.	Comme Zacharie entre du pied droit & tire d’une pleine force au viſage de ſa partie, Alexandre va rencontrer le coup au commencement du mouveent, le bleſſant au viſage; puis pourſuivant tout oultre le perce en rigueur à travers la teſte.
The action of this Circle begins in Circle No 1, as Alexander sets his left foot down, as is shown in the said Circle. Zachary, at the same time entering in with his right foot, gives a full-force strike to his opponent’s face. But, because they are at the First Instance, he needs an entire beat of time to execute his strike. Thus Alexander has time to come on guard as his opponent begins to move. He brings his right foot forward, raising himself onto his left foot and moves to meet the blow, such that the strong of his sword connects with the weak of his opponent. He then slides the point of contact up the blade, wounding him in the face, with such force that the guards smash together. He sets his right foot down on the Diameter at H and leans his body onto it, as he bends his knee in such a way as to cause his opponent to bend his arm and sword, thus piercing him forcefully with a thrust through the head. As the figures show.	Ce Cercle icy tire ſon commencemēt de l’operation du Cercle N.1. comme Alexandre va planter le pied gauche, en la maniere qu’il eſt repreſenté aux figures dudit Cercle, Zacharie en meſme temps entrant du pied droit, tire d’une pleine force au viſage de ſa partie: mais pource qu’ils ſont tous deux en Premiere Inſtance, il a beſoin d’un temps entier pour pouvoir executer ſon coup; à quoy Alexandre prenant garde au commencement de mouvement de ſa partie; porte en avant le pied droit, dreſſant le corps ſur le gauche, & va rencontrer le coup, de ſorte que le fort de ſon eſpee vient au foible de celle de ſa partie, laquele graduant, il le bleſſe au viſage, de telle force que ls gardes s’entrerencontrent, puis plantant le pied droit ſur le Diametre à la lettre H, il panche le corps deſſus ployant le genou; de maniere qu’il faut que le bras & l’eſpee de ſa partie cedent, le perçant ainſi en pleine rigueur d’une eſtocade à travers la teſte; comme les figures monſtrent.
Circle No 6	Cercle N.6.
As Zachary sees his opponent’s blade coming in front of his eyes, as in Circle No 3, he lifts his arm and sword up with all his strength. Alexander percieves this, and seeing the swords thus raised high, leaves them in contact together.	Comme Zacharie voyant venir la lame de ſa partie devant ſes yeux comme au Cercle N.3. hauſſe le bras & l’eſpee de toute ſa force, Alexandre s’en appercevant laiſſe icy ſon intention, & voyant les eſpees ainſi haultes, il les laiſſe accouplées.
This derives from Circle No 2, with Alexander again proceeding to Circle No 3, but this time Zachary sees the strike coming in front of his eyes, and raises his arm and sword upwards with all this strength as Alexander is falling onto his step and his left foot is raised to spin around behind him, as he does in Circle Nos 3 & 4. Here Alexander abandons this course, and sets his left foot down at the letter G, just behind his right foot, which he raises, letting his body fall forwards and as his opponent’s arm and sword are raised so high up, he steps to the Centre, leaving the swords joined to continue with the actions in Circle No 7.	Ceſtuy-cy reſourd de l’operation du Cercle N.2. Alexandre pourſuivant derechef celle du Cercle N.3. en ce temps que Zacharie voyant venir devant ſes yeux la lame de ſa partie, hauſſe le bras & l’eſpee de toute ſa force comme le corps d’Alexandre eſt en ſa cheute, & que ſon pied gauche eſt eſlevé pour le volter en arriere, comme il eſt porté aux Cercle N.3. & 4. icy Alexandre laiſſant ceſte intention met le pied gauche eſlevé a la lettre G. derriere le pied droit planté, lequel il eſt eſleve tresbuchant du corps, & pource que le bras & l’eſpee de ſa partie ſon ſi haulte, il plantera le pied droit eſlevé ſur le Centre, laiſſant les eſpees accouplees pour pourſuivre les operations du Cercle 7.
Circle No 7	Cercle N.7.
Alexander continues to move his body forward under his opponent’s blade, and follows his momentum, giving a reverse-cut to the thick of his opponent’s right calf.	Alexandre pourſuivant s’avance le corps ſoubs la lame de ſa partie, & mettant le corps en ſa courſe le bleſſe d’un revers au gras de la jambe droite.
Alexander again steps forward with his left foot onto the line R-S, moving his body forwards, leaning under his opponent’s blade, then, raising his right foot and, as he begins to spin it around behind himself, he makes a reverse-cut to the thick of his opponent’s right calf. As we can see from the figures.	Alexandre marchant derechef en avant du pied gauche ſur la ligne R,S, s’avance le corps, le penchant deſſoubs la lame de ſa partie, puis eſlevant le pied droit, il le volte derriere, & mettant le corps en ſa courſe, il frappe en meſme temps d’un revers au gras de la jambe droite de ſon Contraire; comme on peut voir aux figures.
Circle No 8	Cercle N.8.
Alexander continuing further, sets his right foot behind his opponent’s back, then, raising his left foot and straightening his body, he takes his sword in two hands, and stepping forward with his left foot, wounds him through the back.	Alexandre pourſuivant plus oultre plante le pied droit derriere le corps de ſa partie, puis levant le gauche & dreſſant le corps, il ſaiſiſt ſon eſpee en deux mains, & avançant le pied gauche & panchant le corps, il le bleſſe à travers le dos.
Alexander continuing the previous action in Circle No 7, takes a step with his raised foot outside the Circle, behind his opponent’s back, then, again raising his left foot and straightening his body, he takes his sword in two hands, and stepping forward with his left foot, leans his body forward to wounds his opponent through the back. As the figures show.	Alexandre pourſuivant l’operation precedente du Cercle N.7. plante le pied volté un pas hors du Cercle derriere le corps de ſa partie, puis levant derechef le gauche & dreſſant le corps il ſaiſiſt ſon eſpee en deux mains, puis en avançant du gauche, en panchant le corps il bleſſe ſon Contraire au travers du dos; commes les figures monſtrent.
Circle No 9	Cercle N.9.
As Alexander’s body off balance, and leaning backwards as in Circle No 4, Zachary parries his blow off to the right with a Strong force, here Alexander puts his right side into the angle of the swords and, bending over, sets his right foot from above the diameter down, and gives a reverse cut on the right leg.	Comme le corps d’Alexandre eſt hors de ſon poids & qu’il ſe penche en arriere comme il eſt contenu au Cercle N.4. Zacharie luy pare ſon coup à droite avec Poids Fort, icy Alexandre met le coſté droit en l’angle de l’eſpee de ſa partie, s’enclinant plus bas, & plantant le pied droit eſlevé deſſus le Diametre, il le bleſſe d’un revers à la jambe droite.
This action follows from Circle No 3, where Alexander has spun his left foot behind, and as his out of balance and leaning backwards, as he carries on into Circle No 4, Zachary parries his strike to his right hand side, raising his sword up with a Strong degree of force. At this, Alexander, here, sets his raised left foot (which was about to go behind him) down at the letter L, then following and entering in, he leans his body (right side forwards) into the angle of the sword, and leaning lower and taking his right foot from above the diameter to the Circumference between the letters W and X, he strikes the right leg with a reverse cut. As the figures demonstrate.	Ce Cercle procede de l’operation du Cercle N.3. ou Alexandre ayant volté le pied gauche derriere, comme le corps eſt hors ſon poids & ſe penche en arriere, ainſi qu’il eſt porté au Cercle N.4. Zacharie luy va parer le coup à ſa main droite, hauſſant ſon eſpee uſant de Poids Fort; ſur quoy Alexandre va en ce Cercle, mettre le pied gauche eſlevé (qui eſtoit preſt d’eſtre volté par derriere) à la lettre L, puis pourſuivant & entrant du droit, il penche le corps (le coſté droit devant) en l’angle de l’eſpee de ſa partie, & s’enclinant plus bas & plantant le pied droit eſlevé deſſus le Diametre ſur la Circonference entre les lettres W & X, il frappe en ce meſme temps d’un revers ſon Contraire à la jambe droite; comme il eſt demonſtré par les figures.
Circle No 10	Cercle N.10.
Alexander again continues, moves his sword from below to above, over his head. He wounds his opponent in the back of the head	Alexandre pouſuivant derechef, portant ſon eſpee de bas en haut la faiſant paſſer par deſſus ſa teſte; bleſſe ſa partie au derriere de la teſte.
This proceeds from the preceeding Circle, Alexander follows on promptly by spinning around on his right foot, setting his left foot down outside the Circle, then as he draws his right foot along, he straightens up, and brings his sword from below up, around and over his head, he strikes his opponent in the back of the head as he sets his right foot down behind his opponent. As shown by the figures.	Cecy eſt la pourſuite du precedent, Alexandre ſuivant promptement volte le pied gauche derriere le planté hors du Cercle, puis ſuivant du droit il dreſſe le corps, & en portant l’eſpee d’embas, & la faiſant paſſer par une Circonference par deſſus ſa teſte, il frappe derechef un coup au derriere de la teſte de ſa partie, plantāt le pied droit encore un pas derriere le corps de ſa partie; comme il appert aux figures.
Circle No 11	Cercle N.11.
Zachary percieves the thrust coming at his face in Circle No 3, parries deliberately to his right. Alexander seeing this leaves off his attempt to thrust, covers his own face by slightly raising his arm, and turning the interior branch of his crossguard upwards, allowing his point to lower and keeping his sword in contact with his opponent’s.	Zacharie remarquant l’eſtocade qui luy vient au viſage contenue au Cercle N.3. il la pare à ſa droite lentement, Alexandre s’en appercevant laiſſe icy la pourſuite de l’eſtocade qu’il vouloit executer, ſe courvant le viſage avec le bras un peu eſlevé, & la branche interieure tourné en haut, lauſſant baiſſer ſa pointe & laiſſant ſon eſp accouplece à celle de ſa partie.
This Circle derives from what we learned in Circle No 3, where Alexander intended to continue with his step into Circle No 4, setting his raised left foot down behind himself, ready to throw his weight out of balance on his right foot. Here Zachary percieving the thrust coming at his face, parries it with slowly to his right, with a moderate degree of force. Alexander feels this, and leaves off his intended thrust, and sets the toes of his left foot down at the letter L, turns his foot, and moving his right side forward. As he raises his right arm and turns the interior branch of his crossguard upwards to protect his face, bending his wrist to allow the tip of his sword to lower slightly, while keeping in contact with his opponent’s sword. As the figures demonstrate.	Ce Cercle icy tient ſa ſource de l’enſeignement du Cercle N.3. Alexandre voulant pourſuivre l’operation du Cercle N.4. comme il va pour planter le pied gauche eſlevé le voltant en arriere, & qu’il eſt preſt de faire tresbucher le corps hors du poids de la ſtation où il eſtoit ſur le pied droit, en ceſte operation Zacharie remarquant l’eſtocade qui luy vient au viſage, la pare à la main droite lentement de force moderée. Alexandre s’appercevant par le sentiment, laiſſe la pourſuite de l’eſtocade qu’il penſoit executer, & plantant le pied gauche eſlevé ſur les orteils à la lettre L, tournant le pied, & portant le coſté droit en avant avec le bras un peu eſlevé, il tourne la branche interieure de ſa garde en haut s’en couvrant le viſage, laiſſant baiſſer à l’aide du poignet l’eſpee & ſa pointe, la tenant accouplee avec celle de ſa partie; comme il eſt demonſtré aux figures.
Circle No 12	Cercle N.12.
Alexander quits his opponent’s sword, and brings his down and up high, leaning his upper body to the right.	Alexandre abandonnant la lame de ſa partie, porte la ſienne de bas en haut, penchant un peu le haut du corps à droit.
This is the next action from the last, Alexander moves his body towards his opponent, lifting his right foot. At the same time he drops his sword down to the right, around behind, and up above him, as he leans his upper body to the right. As the figure shows.	Cecy eſt la pourſuite de la precedente operation, Alexandre eſlevant le pied droit & portant le corps vers ſa partie, en meſme temps il abandonne la lame d’iceluy, portant à l’aide du poignet la ſienne de bas en haut en Circonference à coſté droit, faiſant pencher un peu à droit le hault du corps; comme ſa figure monſtre.
Circle No 13	Cercle N.13.
Alexander continues on, leans his body, and strikes his opponent to the right side of the head.	Alexandre pourſuivant ayant panché le corps, bleſſe ſa partie au coſté droit de la teſte.
This is the final execution of the preceeding two instructions. Alexander continues on, leans his body, and strikes to the inside on the right side of his opponent’s head, as he sets his right foot down at the letter W. As can be seen in the figure.	Cecy eſt l’execution des deux precedents enſeignemens, Alexandre en pourſuivant penche le corps, & frappe en dedans au coſté droit de la teſte de ſa partie, plantant le pied droit eſlevé a la lettre W; comme on peut voir en la figure.
Be advised that, however the description of Circles No 11, 12, & 13 may appear to be distinct, they must nonetheless be done as a single fluid sequence, without a break between them.	On ſera averti que combien que en la deſcription des Cercles N.11. 12. & 13. les operations ſemblent ſuivre diſtinćtment, neantmoins elle doivent eſtre executees continuelement l’une apres l’autre ſans intermiſſion.
Circle No 14	Cercle N.14.
Alexander sees that his blade which was set in front of his opponent’s eyes (as in Circle No 3) has been parried, he once again turns it in front of his eyes.	Alexandre s’apercevant que ſa lame preſentee aux yeux de ſa partie (comme il eſt porté au Cercle N.3. eſt paree par iceluy, il la tourne derechef devant ſa veuë. yes, the closing parenthesis is missing
This Circle also begins from the actions in Circle No 3. Alexander percieves that Zachary parries his blade to the outside, sets his raised foot down by the letter I, and spins on it, bringing his left foot behind the right, bending his elbow so that the exterior branch of his crossguard comes up, to turn his point again in front of his opponent’s eyes, and, having set his left foot in the middle of the line N-S, he leans his upper body over it. As the figures show.	Ce Cercle tire auſſi ſon origine de la fin des operations du Cercle N.3. Alexandre s’aperçevant que Zacharie pare ſa lame en dehors, plante ſon pied eſlevé pres de la lettre I, & voltant le gauche derriere le planté, tourne ſa pointe d’une courbe devant les yeux de ſa partie, en ſorte que la branche exterieure de ſa garde vient en haut, & ayant planté le gauche au milieu de la ligne N.S; il penche le hault du corps un peu ſur iceluy; comme les figures monſtrent.
Circle No 15	Cercle N.15.
Alexander continues, his sword parried, he takes it from beneath his opponent’s blade above it, and, leaning his body and right side into the open angle, he wounds his opponent with a backwards cut to the head.	Alexandre pourſuit, portant lors du parement de ſa partie ſa lame de deſſoubs en deſſus celle de ſon Contraire, & panchant le corps & le coſté droit en l’angle ouvert, il le bleſſe d’un revers ſur la teſte.
Alexander continues from the preceeding action, he raises his right foot and steps forward, leaning his body onto it, his right side forward and into the open angle of his opponent’s sword. As he does this, he draws his sword away from the parry, and, with a twist of his wrist, brings it in a circle from underneath his opponent’s blade up and around to strike a backhand cut at the right side of his opponent’s head as he sets his right foot at the letter W. As we can see from the figure.	Alexandre pourſuivant la precedente operation, eſleve en ſuite le pied droit, marchant d’iceluy en avant, portant (au parement de ſa partie) ſa lame en Circumference [sic] à l’aide du poignet de deſſoubs en dessus celle ce ſon Contraire, & faiſant pencher le corps avec le coſté droit, en l’angle que l’eſpee de ſa partie à ouvert en parant, il le frappe d’un revers ſur la teſte, plantant le pied eſlevé a la lettre W; comme il ſe peut voir aux figures.
If one carefully contemplates these instructions, one will not not be misled or decieved by the similarity in postures adopted by one’s adversary, for, paying attention to the subtle changes in his actions (which he never does unless he hopes to gain an advantage), it will be easy, not only to detect them, but to take away his hopes and leave him dismayed, when he sees how his plans are thwarted, as we have seen in this Plate.	Ces Inſtructions bien a plein conſiderees, empeſcheront qu’on ne ſe meſprene, ou ſoit deçeu par la ſimilitude des poſtures de l’Adverſaire, car prenant bien garde ou c’eſt que ſon changement tend (lequel il ne fait jamais ſans eſperance d’avantage) il ſera aiſé non ſeulement de le ſoubtenir, mais meſme de luy oſter l’eſperance qu’il en aura conçeue, qui ne luy tournera qu’en dommage voyant ſon deſſein rompu, comme cela peu voir es operations repreſentees en ce Tableau.