Transcription and translation of the Libr. pict. A 83

The Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin published the scans of the fencing book Libr. pict. A 83. This books contains drawings and only four pages with text. The book was produced in the beginning of the 16th century the exact date and the author is currently unknown to me.

I transcribed and translated the four pages with text and added the text back to the image.

In the text below I marked the major differences in the transcription of Dierk Hagedorn in brackets “( alternative )”.

1r

Zwo huet

Stuck
Schwing Zum stich

——-

Aussen {binden} und In
wendig durch den
Arm gestochen und
dan auff gestanden

1v

das fassen mit dem schwert
Losen an die kelen die huft

Stuck zum ochsen (ersten) damit
gestochen durch den arm

——-

freyer straych

zwen pruch
spitz und knopf
an den hals

2r

stossen schlahen und
reyssen

———-

Dortschlag (Donerschlag) under
durch geschossen fur
das visir pruch
die linck hant
an seyn gehultz
und mitt dem
knopf durch
gewunden

2v

In das gehult[z]
prich uber win[t]
mitt der kling
und her[u]nder reist (hinder reit)
—–

zucken schwert
uber hals

Translation

1r

Two guards

Piece
Swing  To the thrust

——-

{binding} Outside and in{-}
side through the
arm thrusted and
than standing up

1v

To grab with the sword
releasing at the hollow of the knee  the hip

A piece against the ox (first) with it
thrust through the arm

——–

free strike

two breakings
point and pommel
to the neck

2r

push hit and
tear

———-

deathstrike (thunderstrike) under
thrust through for
the visor break
the left hand
at his hilt
and with the
pommel through
winded

2v

In the hilt
break wind over
with the blade
and tear downwards

—–

twitching sword
over neck

.

Note: Thanks to Dierk Hagedorn this is now a proofread, corrected version. If you have any recommendations, corrections, or annotations that will improve the content on this page, please help me by commenting.

Remarks: the translation of “Zucken” to “twitching” is not exactly matching. It is a small backward or forward movement with the blade. There is no perfect translation to that word. On one hand it means “withdrawing” the blade a bit, on the other hand it means to threaten with the weapon. 

Transcription Rules

The transcription is created to make the text readable. So the abbreviations and errors are resolved and marked:

[ ] Square Brackets: resolved abbreviation.
{ } Curved Brackets: added missing or corrected words or letters
( ) Normal Brackets: alternative transcriptions or translations

See the Glossary of translated terms for more information.

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