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Sigmund ain Ringeck/Christian Trosclair 2022
Here begins the interpretation of the recital.
In this, the knightly art of the long sword lay written; which Johannes Liechtenauer, may God be merciful to him, who was known to be a high master of the art, had composed and created. he had allowed it to be written in veiled and misleading words, for the reason that the art should not become common. And Master Sigmund ein Ringeck, fencing master to the highborn prince and noble Lord Albrecht, Pfalzgraf of Rhein and Herzog of Bavaria had these very veiled and misleading words glossed and interpreted as lay written[1] here in this little book, so that any fencer that can otherwise fight can fully absorb and understand it.
The foreword of the recital.
| 1 | Young knight learn To have love for god, honor women |
| 2 | So that you expand your honor. Practice Knighthood and learn |
| 3 | Art that decorates you And in war exalts you with honor. |
| 4 | Use the good grips of wrestling, Lance, spear, sword, and messer |
| 5 | Like a man And render them useless in other's hands. |
| 6 | Attack suddenly and storm in, Keep rolling, engage or let pass. |
| 7 | Thus the intellectuals hate him, Yet this one sees glories. |
| 8 | Hold yourself to this: All art has a time and place.[2] |
This is the text of many good common lessons of the long sword
| 9 | If you wish to examine the art, Go left and right with cutting |
| 10 | And left with right That is, if you desire to fence strongly. |
Gloss. Note this is the first lesson of the long sword: In which you shall learn to make the cuts properly from both sides, that is, if you otherwise wish to fence strongly and correctly. Look at it like this: When you wish to cut from the right side, then see to it that your left foot stands forward. If you then make a descending cut from the right side, then support the cut with the right foot. If you do not do that, then the cut is spurious and incorrect, because your right foot remains behind. Therefore the cut is too short and can not posses its correct path downward to the correct other side in front of the left foot.
The same when you cut from the left side and [you] do not support the cut with the left foot. Thus the cut is also spurious. Therefore make sure from whichever side you cut, that you support the cut with the same sided foot, so that you can conduct all your plays with strength and all other cuts shall be hewn like this as well.
Again, the text about a lesson
| 11 | Whoever chases after cuts They permit themselves little opportunity for art. |
| 12 | Cut from close proximity whatever you wish No change gets past your shield |
| 13 | To the head, to the body Do not omit the stingers[3] |
| 14 | With the entire body Fence whatever you desire to conduct with strength.[4] |
Gloss. When you come to the opponent with the initiation of fencing, you should not watch nor await their cut as they conduct it against you. Because all fencers that look out and wait upon the opponent's cut and wish to do nothing else than parry, they allow themselves little opportunity from art because they often become struck with it.
Another. You shall note that everything that you wish to fence with, conduct that with the entire strength of the body and with that, cut in from close at the head and at the body, so they can not disengage in front of your point and with that cut, in the binding of the swords, you shall not omit the stingers to the nearest opening. That will be delineated hereafter in the five cuts and in other plays.
Again, a lesson.
| 15 | Hear what is bad. Do not fence lefty from above if you are a righty |
| 16 | And if you are lefty, In the right [you] are also severely hindered. |
Note the gloss. The lesson hits upon two people, one left and one right. The first cut, understand it like this: When you come to the opponent with the initiation of fencing, if you subsequently judge and decide to strike the opponent, then do not hew the first cut from the left side. Because it is weak and with it, cannot not hold fast when one binds strongly against it. Therefore cut [from] the right side, so you may work strongly with art. Whatever you wish.
The same is if you are lefty. Then do not cut from the right side as well, because the art is quite awkward [when] a lefty drives from the right side. It is also the same [of] a righty from the left side.
