Chapter 13
Of the Withdrawal
Meyer:
What
the dear reader heard only up until now, on knowing how to engage your opponent
with the strikes, moving also through the middle where you will want to come
further in the handwork without damage, is meanwhile however not enough without
the third, which will be making a good withdrawal. Thus I will give you proper
and clear direction in Withdrawing in the following chapter.
If,
as has been said, one has started, and in nearly half the efforts is rebuffed in
every action, thus indeed making all the same all a bad end, thus come back to
the before and do it well, not to execute and downfall, and observe how daily,
that now with this you shall not be opposed in fencing, that afterwards you will
go on grasping this and have safety after hitting, with honor’s first test at
last, which one would then overcome, thus I with this will show and clarify how
the withdrawal shall be done.
This
then will be heeded in particular, that after every attack always know the three
wisdoms of withdrawing, either at first before your opponent, or at the last
after him, or even at the same time with him. If you would withdraw before him
then exert yourself, that you drive out before you with the most wary moves,
that he must shoot to drive high, just as he would then see what you would
employ in front, strike through at the same time as the withdrawing stroke, and
drive on away as you will then first be wary.
If
you would withdraw after him, mark that this will be seen as two different
concepts, firstly when you wait for your Opponent's withdrawal, thus when he
strikes away, that you cunningly follow after his withdrawal above his blade.
The second is when you stall with faking, as if you would withdraw before him,
however handle your strike artfully indeed and guardingly behind, thereby when
he rushes against you, you strike a false strike to him and decline, so that you
cover your weapon against him and can strike to an opening. However, when you
want to withdraw at the same time as him, then place yourself that you can cover
his blade by stepping out and away from the strike, and when he strikes away on
his right, you will be on his left, where however he strikes from his left, you
step out at his right, and at the same time as him, strike in.
While
you will bring all this with you, in this section you will be instructed on his
point, such that enough can and will be retained.
