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Difference between revisions of "Philibert de la Touche"

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(added Chapter VII)
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<p>for more than two times we remain in measure & in a state to be struck by the enemy if they are fast, whereas in the two others, the first time gets you out of measure; because in the second it gets your body away until the left foot, & in the first much farther. Third the retreat by jumping forces you in the second time to bend the knees, & to make an effort to propel yourself backward, & prevents you from parrying & even more riposting, because any violent action like a jump hardens the nerves, removes the freedom of movement & disorders oneself; whereas the natural retreat as well as the second, bein done without effort, & keeping your strengths always united & a foot on the ground lets you an entire easiness, either to parry while getting away, or to come back from the end of the first time to riposte if the enemy slips, or make any other mistake. Fourth, the fourth retreat leaves at the same place during the second time without getting you away, & hardly serves among shifting sands, & in a muddy & loamy terrain, while the first two continuously get you away & may help you in all manners of terrain, because we have our balance is more stable, & we always have a foot on the ground. But whatever the manner in which we retreat may be, we must always remember to keep the point of our Sword in front of us, & to always be properly in guard util we are out of measure for fear of being surprised, & to be able to parry & riposte without difficulty when necessary.</p>
 
<p>for more than two times we remain in measure & in a state to be struck by the enemy if they are fast, whereas in the two others, the first time gets you out of measure; because in the second it gets your body away until the left foot, & in the first much farther. Third the retreat by jumping forces you in the second time to bend the knees, & to make an effort to propel yourself backward, & prevents you from parrying & even more riposting, because any violent action like a jump hardens the nerves, removes the freedom of movement & disorders oneself; whereas the natural retreat as well as the second, bein done without effort, & keeping your strengths always united & a foot on the ground lets you an entire easiness, either to parry while getting away, or to come back from the end of the first time to riposte if the enemy slips, or make any other mistake. Fourth, the fourth retreat leaves at the same place during the second time without getting you away, & hardly serves among shifting sands, & in a muddy & loamy terrain, while the first two continuously get you away & may help you in all manners of terrain, because we have our balance is more stable, & we always have a foot on the ground. But whatever the manner in which we retreat may be, we must always remember to keep the point of our Sword in front of us, & to always be properly in guard util we are out of measure for fear of being surprised, & to be able to parry & riposte without difficulty when necessary.</p>
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| title = CHAPTER VII - Maximes & observations for the exercise of the Single Sword.
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{| class="master"
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|-
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! <p>Illustrations</p>
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! <p>{{rating|C|Transcription (from the BNF scans)}}<br/>by [[User:Wandrille Duchemin]]</p>
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! <p>{{rating|C|Translation (from the BNF scans)}}<br/>by [[User:Wandrille Duchemin]]</p>
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|[39]
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<p>CHAPITRE VII</p>
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<p>Maximes & observations pour l'exercice de l'Espée seule.</p>
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<p>COMME cet Art est le plus important & le plus dangereux de tous, j'ay crû que je de-
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vois mettre icy quelques observations, que si je ne me trompe ne seront pas inutiles pour
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la conduite de ceux qui sen voudront acquitter avec succés. La premiere & la plus considera-
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ble, est qu'il faut que le jugement agisse dans toutes les actions que l'on veut entreprendre
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quand on a l'Espée à la main, parce qu'il faut pour le moins autant combattre de la teste que
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de la main , & que tout ce que l'on ne fait pas avec dessein & avec raison ne reûssira jamais
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que par hazard. Il faut donc se receüillir en soy-mesme, se posseder parfaitement, ne s'étonner
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de rien, & avoir l'esprit present au dernier point à tout ce qui se passe, tant pour profiter de
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toutes les fautes de l'adversaire, & de tous les avantages que la fortune nous peut offrir, que
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pour nous servir de toutes les connoissances que nous peuvent avoir donné les actions prece-
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dentes. Par exemple, de l'étenduë de l'ennemy, de sa force, de ses parades, &c. Dautant que
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l'on pourra prendre ses mesures pour le reste du combat avec beaucoup plus de seureté : de cette
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premiere objection on peut tirer deux consequences fort importantes. La premiere est qu'il ne
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faut rien entreprendre avec emportement & à la haste, mais sagement & de sens rassis, parce</p>
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|[39]
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<p>CHAPTER VII</p>
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<p>Maximes & observations for the exercise of the Single Sword.</p>
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<p>AS this Art is the most important of all, I have presumed to put here some observations, which unless I am mistaken will not be useless to those who will follow them. The first & most important, is that one should use their judgment in all actions one wants to undertake with a Sword in hand, because one must fight at least as much with their head as with their hand, & that everything we do not do with intent & reason will only ever succeed by chance. One should therefore gather themselves, gain a perfect possession of oneself, be surprised by nothing, & be aware to the last degree of everything that happens, as much to take advantage of all the adversary's mistake, & all the advantages that fortune may offer, than to be able to use all the knowledge that the previous actions have taught us. For example, the reach of the enemy, their strength, their parry, etc. Moreover one may take their measure for the rest of the fight with much more safety; Out of this first objection we may deduce two very important consequences. The first is that one should never undertake anything impulsively & hastily, but instead wisely & with still senses, because</p>
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|[40]
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<p>que la precipitation nous empesche de bien raisonner, & qu'il ne faut se presser que dans l'exe-
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cution du coup qui ne sçauroit avoir trop de vitesse & de promptitude. De sorte qu'il ne faut
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pas imiter ceux qui poussent continuellement & sans aucun relâche, mais il faut essuyer leur
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fougue & patienter jusques à ce qu'ils vous donnent moyen de les frapper sans vous exposer,
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ce qui ne manquera pas d'arriver bien tost, estant impossible que parmy tant d'actions precipi-
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tées ils n'en fassent plusieurs en défsordre.</p>
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<p>La seconde consequence est qu'il ne faut rien negliger , particulierement quand l'ennemy
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vous donne moyen de le frapper , ny s'exposer mal à propos, mais qu'il faut avoir continuelle-
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ment bon pied & bon œil, prendre garde de bien prés au temps & à la mesure, & ne point
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pousser si l'ennemy ne vous en donne le temps, ne rien hazarder, si ce n'est dans une necessité,
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jamais ne mépriser l'adversaire, & supposer au contraire qu'il a autant ou plus de science, d'a-
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dresse, de vitesse & d'étenduë que vous, jusques à ce que vous ayez eu le moyen de vous en
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éclaircir & de le connoistre avec certitude , parce que la moindre faute & la moindre negli-
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gence peut estre mortelle, & qu'en ce mestier icy comme en celuy de la guerre, il n'est pas per-
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mis le plus souvent de pecher deux fois.</p>
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<p>Deuxiémement, il faut observer que toutes les actions de l'Espée doivent estre faites avec
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grande douceur & grande liberté, & sans aucun effort, parce que l'effort roidit les nerfs, oste
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la vitesse & la justesse, & donne un temps de mesme que si l'on faisoit une action. Par exemple,
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si l'ennemy appuye & presse vostre Espée de la sienne , on peut prendre le temps & le frapper
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en dégageant; de mesme que s'il avoit écarté son Espée du costé où il pousse la vostre, il faut
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pourtant que toutes les actions du corps & tous les mouvemens de l'Espée soient animez , par-
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ticuliere-</p>
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|[40]
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<p>precipitation prevents us to reason properly, & that one should hasten ourselves only in the execution of the blow which may not have too much speed & promptitude. Following that we should not imitate those that push constantly & without respite, but we should weather their impetuosity & wait until they give you the mean of striking them without exposing yourself, which early enough will not fail to happen, as it is impossible that among so many rushed actions they will not make several in disorder.</p>
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<p>The second consequence is that nothing should be neglected, in particular when the enemy gives you the means to strike them, nor to spuriously expose oneself, but that we should constantly have good foot & good eye<ref> N.T. : "bon pied & bon oeil" : a saying meaning "to be alert, and in the fullness of one's capabilities''</ref>, to take great care of the time & the measure, & to never push if the adversary does not give you the time, to never gamble anything, unless in a necessity, to never disregard the adversary, & instead suppose that they have as much or more science, dexterity, speed & reach than yourself, until you have had the means to clarify & learn these points with certitude, because any mistake & any negligence may be fatal, & in this trade as in that of war, it is often not allowed to sin twice. </p>
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<p>Second, one must observe that all the actions of the Sword must be performed with a great smoothness & great liberty, & without any strain, because the strain stiffens the nerves, removes speed & precision & gives a time as if we made an action. For example, if the enemy pushes & presses on your Sword with theirs, we may take the time & strike them by disengaging; In the same manner as if they had simply moved their Sword to the side where they push yours. This being said all actions of the body & all the movement of the Sword should be lively, particularly</p>
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|[41]
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<p>ticulierement en battant l'Espée, en parant, & en poussant une, estocade, & que le mouvement
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du reste du corps accompagne celuy du poignet & de l'Espée ; mais il ne faut pas que cela aille
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jusques à l'excés, afin qu'il n'y ait point d'effort , comme j'ay dit. Il faut encore remarquer que
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toutes les actions de l'Espée doivent estre animées par un mouvement du poignet en dedans ou
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en dehors , dautant que si l'Espée demeuroit dans la mesmme scituation où elle estoit, l'action
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seroit geinée & contrainte , & auroit beaucoup moins de grace & de vitesse.</p>
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<p>Troisiémement, il ne faut point crier ny affecter de frapper du pied , parce que cela lasse
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échauffe & étourdit, outre que c'est une mauvaise habitude qui peut nuire à la santé , parti-
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culierement à des hommes delicats, lesquels il faut ménager & fortifier peu à peu, quoy qu'il
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faille s'animer autant que l'on peut sans faire de grimace, les yeux & le visage , parce que cela
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peut vous animer & vous tenir en action , & faire quelque impression sur l'esprit de l'ennemy.
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<p>Quatriémement, comme il n'y a rien que l'on ne puisse oublier avec le temps , & qu'il ne sert
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de rien d'avoir esté adroit si l'on ne l'est actuellement, il faut du moins pendant que l'on est
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jeune jusques à ce que l'on s'en soit formé une parfaite habitude, se remettre de temps en temps
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en exercice, ou en haleine , comme l'on dit.</p>
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<p>Cinquiémement, il faut se servir de toutes les ruses que l'on peut pour étonner , tromper ou-
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mettre en désordre l'ennemy ; car tout est permis quand il a l'Espée à la main, pourveu qu'il n'y
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ait ny supercherie ny trahison. L'on peut employer toutes les adresses que l'esprit & la parole
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nous peuvent fournir , & se servir de tous les avantages que nous peut donner le lieu , le terrain
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& le temps. Par exemple, on peut essayer de pousser l'ennemy vers un fossé , ou en quelque en-
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droit où il soit geiné , & n'ait pas la liberté du mouvement, ou se retirer soy-mesme en lieu où-</p>
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|[41]
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<p>when beating the Sword, parrying, & pushing a thrust, & that the movement of the body accompanies that of the wrist & the Sword; but that should not be done with excess, such that there is no strain, as I have said. We should also note that all the actions of the Sword must be animated by a movement of the wrist toward the inside or the outside, because if the Sword stayed in the same situation, the action would be strained & constrained, & would have much less grace & speed.</p>
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<p>Third, one should not shout nor affect to stomp with the foot, because this annoys, irritates & disturbs, not only because this is a bad habit which may hurts your health, in particular among delicate men, which should be spared & fortified by small increments, although one should be as lively as possible without making a grimace, with the eyes & the face, because this may animate & keep you in action, & make some impression on the enemy's mind.</p>
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<p>Fourth, that there is nothing that we cannot forget with time, & that having been skillful is useless if we are not skillful right now, we should, at least while we are young and until we have formed a perfect habit of it, put ourselves back in exercise from time to time, or "en haleine", so to say.</p>
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<p>Fifth, we must use all the ruses which we can to surprise, trump or disorganize the enemy; because everything is allowed when we have the Sword in hand, as long as there is no fraud or treason. We may employ all the techniques that the spirit & the Speech may give us, & use all the advantages that may be given to us by the place, the terrain, & the weather. For example, we may try to push our adversary toward a ditch, or wherever they would be inconvenienced, & have not liberty of movement, or to move oneself to places where </p>
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|-
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|[42]
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<p>l'on ne puisse estre attaqué que par devant, si l'on a affaire à plusieurs personnes à la fois, ou
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attirer l'ennemy en reculant, ou autrement dans quelque bourbier ou terre mouyante, selon
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qu'on le jugera à propos, ou luy mettre le soleil, ou la pluye, ou le vent au visage ; mais il
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faut prendre garde en mesme temps de ne point tomber dans ces inconveniens, & de ne pas
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laisser prendre les mesmes avantages à l'ennemy.</p>
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|[42]
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<p>we can only be attacked from the front, if we have to contend with several persons at the same time, or pull the enemy by retreating, or some other mean, to some quagmire or shifting ground, as we see fit, or put the sun, or the rain, or the wind to their face; but we should at the same time take care not to fall in these inconveniences, & let the enemy take the same advantages.</p>
  
 
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Revision as of 17:39, 5 June 2023

Philibert de la Touche
Born 17th century
Nevers
Occupation
Nationality French
Genres
Language
Notable work(s) Les Vrais Principes de l'Espée Seule (1670)
Manuscript(s)
Translations


Treatise

  1. ↑ "de le prendre au pied levé", which also means to surprise someone on the spot.
  2. ↑ TN : "Bottes secrettes", which literally translates as “secret boots” but designates a special and secret maneuver.
  3. ↑ NT: grand & petit pas d'Asne, respectively, large & small Donkey's step ; this technical term is left untranslated.
  4. ↑ N.T. here Philibert abruptly switches from first, second, third, fourth guard to prime, seconde, tierce, quarte.
  5. ↑ N.T.: dégagement
  6. ↑ N.T.: battement
  7. ↑ N.T.: here, this is distinct from "taking the time" as it specifically refers to striking someone attempting to take the time that was given.
  8. ↑ N.T.: "prendre au pied levé" in modern french this expression means: to take someone by surprise or in an inopportune moment.
  9. ↑ N.T.: "coup fourré", here refers to the case where both opponents hit and get hit at the same time.
  10. ↑ This is a reference to "Le Maître d'Arme Libéral", a treatise from 1653 by Charles Besnard.
  11. ↑ N.T. : Estocade de pied ferme - this is the thrust accompanied by a classical lunge, where the back foot stays put.
  12. ↑ N.T. : Estocade de passe - thrust accompanied by a lunge where the front foot stays put and the back one projects forward
  13. ↑ N.T. : that is, at the beginning of the measure gaining or breaking action.
  14. ↑ serait plutot precision ici?
  15. ↑ N.T. : the original text mistakenly uses "speed" instead of "precision" here
  16. ↑ N.T. : "bon pied & bon oeil" : a saying meaning "to be alert, and in the fullness of one's capabilities
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