Historical archive
Liechtenauer’s Zettel — the secret verses of the longsword
Rhymed couplets that German fencers memorised for two centuries, read in a 1459 manuscript: eight passages translated by us.
Zettel (Johannes Liechtenauer) · Date: Verses: 14th century · this copy: 1459
The story of the text
Almost nothing is known about Johannes Liechtenauer except that later masters called him the source of their art. He left his teaching as the Zettel, a “slip” of short rhymed couplets, deliberately obscure so that outsiders could not use them. Students learned them by heart and masters wrote long glosses to explain them.
The version read here is the one copied in 1459 for the fencing master Hans Talhoffer, now in the Royal Danish Library in Copenhagen (MS Thott 290 2º). Its spelling is south-west German and sometimes garbled, as copies often are. We give the lines exactly as transcribed, and explain where they differ from the better-known versions.
Source and rights
Original (1459): public domain. Transcription: Dieter Bachmann, published on Wiktenauer and marked by Wiktenauer as released into the public domain; we credit Wiktenauer and the transcriber. Other transcriptions and translations on Wiktenauer carry copyright or non-commercial licences and were NOT used. Translations: WABUKAN.
Passages: original and our translation
wer nach gaut slechten höwen / Der tarff sich kunst wenig fröwenWhoever goes after plain strikes can take little joy in the art.
Chasing the opponent’s blade with simple blows is the beginner’s mistake.
how nahnt waß du wilt / lauß kain wechsel an din schilt / zu dem koppf und zu dem libStrike close, at whatever you wish; let no changer reach your shield, at the head or at the body.
“Shield” here means your guard. A “changer” is an opponent who slips his blade around yours.
far nach zwayen dingen / sind aller kunst ain ursprung / din schwöch und din sterck / din arbait darby eben merckBefore and After, these two things, are the source of all the art; weak and strong: mark your work by them carefully.
“far nach” is this copy’s spelling of Vor and Nach, the initiative and the reply, key terms of the German school. Weak and strong are the parts of the blade.
wer also erschricket gern / der sol kain fechten nymer lernenWhoever frightens easily should never learn fencing.
der höw sind fünff […] / die lern recht und mercks fürwärThere are five strikes […]; learn them properly and mark them truly.
These are the five “master strikes” named on the next page.
Zorn how du krumo wer / how schihler mit schaitlerWrath strike, crooked, thwart; strike squinter with parter.
A mnemonic list: Zornhau, Krumphau, Zwerchhau, Schielhau, Scheitelhau. “Parter” is a vertical blow to the parting of the hair.
vier plöß wisse / der hab acht so schlechtu gewisseKnow the four openings; watch them, and you will strike surely.
The body is divided into four targets: upper and lower, left and right.
stand vest und biß nit laß / und erschrick ab kainem manStand firm and do not be slack, and be afraid of no man.
Related
Sources
- MS Thott 290 2º, fol. 2r — Wiktenauer (transcription D. Bachmann) — wiktenauer.com
- MS Thott 290 2º, fol. 2v — Wiktenauer — wiktenauer.com
- MS Thott 290 2º, fol. 3r — Wiktenauer — wiktenauer.com
- Johannes Liechtenauer — Wiktenauer — wiktenauer.com
- Johannes Liechtenauer — Wikipedia — en.wikipedia.org
- Hans Talhoffer — Wikipedia — en.wikipedia.org
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