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(→‎Treatise: Pasting Translation Up to Chap 1)
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| [http://swordschool.uk/Desbordes%201610.pdf Text to copy]
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| '''DISCOURSE OF THE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF THE EXCELLENCE OF ARMS'''
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By Sieur Des-bordes.
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At NANCY, by ANDRE BLAISE, ordinary printer of His Highness, with Privilege.
 
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| MANET ALTA / MENTE REPOSTUM NOBILIS LOTHARINGUS / ANDREAS DESBORDES ANNO AETATIS XXVIII
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This book you can make wise of the body, of the spirit, of courage
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Made at Nancy by I.A. 1610
 
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| '''TO HIS HIGHNESS SIR'''
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My inclination, having taken me away from your regions, the place of my birth, [was] to make me capable in some way to the honour of your service. I made the choice of arms, to have more confidence to carry my life to that which Your Highness would look upon. Italy, which has given me the lessons [in arms], and the memory of my homeland obliged me to come offer the effects<ref>In other words, offer his knowledge and skills.</ref> . And now that the beneficence of your highness has drawn me from the exercise of arms and given me the means and leisure to put down the Theory, I have provided a few hours of my service with Your Person, for the employment
 
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| in this work, who has sympathy for this feat, familiar to anyone of your house. Finding that it will always serve you, whether to teach for your nobles and from the greatest of your subjects and the bravest, to the least of your people, the most necessary postures for the preservation of their persons, so that one cannot reproach me of ingratitude that I pay the benefits of Your HIGHNESS, not to leave to posterity another mark of my obedience, the honour of being your premier Valet de Chambre. Therefore, receive in the attendant discourse that I am so happy to be able to merit the quality of MONSIEUR, very humble, and very obedient, a subject and servant of your Highness.
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Des-bordes.
 
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| '''To Monsieur Baron D'Anserville, Sir'''
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If it is allowed for everyone to talk about his art, and no one to abuse it, will I have license to talk to you about the excellence of fencing, and that my discourse cannot approach the esteem of you in deeds? You are born with this advantage that your valour makes your life without enemies, and [with] your courtesy you have acquired many friends. I promise myself at least this favour that cannot hate anyone, you honour me with your gallantry; taking the cause of this issue against those who despise its value, it is an effect of leisure that your good nature obtained me, which I beg you not to disavow the quality [of the aforementioned gallantry].
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Your humble servant
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Des-bordes
 
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| '''TO THE READER'''
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I come to see you as a friend; do not receive me as unwelcome. Possibly, after you have paraded my reputation to your fancy, you say that I can be useful. Because I give you the same lessons that the most famous of Italy Have taught to many brave Cavaliers, French, Spanish, Italian, German, and others.
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I know very well that many wish illustrations were in the suite of the discourse, some to better notice the difference in the blows, in the variety of the postures; others merely to discuss the pleasantness of the paintings. I satisfy therefore to those that the postures may only represent one action, and that through the discourse one can know all sorts of guards. I give to others the journey to Flanders or Italy to satisfy their curiosity about the pleasantries<ref>As in the pictures</ref> that are displayed there, telling them that I only speak to those who want to learn.
 
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| '''TO HIS HIGHNESS'''
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<poem>To honour the immortal
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One provided, on their altar,
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That which the one judged the most worthy
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It gave the Peacock to Juno
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To Venus one devoted a pledge
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As something proper to their name.
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So great Prince, equal to the gods,
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DESBORDES presents to your eyes
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A book who worthy sacrifice
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Wants to speak to posterity
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That you are in truth
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That as Alexander is in esteem
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His valour, his courtesy,
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His great beneficence,
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His prudence, were his glory,
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But all that write of him,
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May recognize today
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In you, in effect in him, history.</poem>
 
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| '''To MONSIEUR DESBORDES on his book,'''
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<poem>Desbordes knows to show, here by writing,
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This that one owes the occupation to demonstrate by effect
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One who can teach you well in your postures
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Can be courageous, render Perfect Master,
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That an ignorant critic does not mention through boredom
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For I know that the effect may well save the life.</poem>
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P. Ditheau
 
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| '''Chap. 1. Discourse of Mr Desbordes touching the theory, practice, and the excellence of weapons.'''
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I want to show for the understanding of weapons (a subject that I have taken to task) that the practice and the use of fencing can save lives, analyse and scare our enemies, [and] triumph over those who assail us, provided that one has the time to defend oneself as is necessary. However, so as to reach the goal more quickly, I will not detain you to describe the praises that from day to day are recognized by the children of this art. However I wish to persuade
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| the Masters and the students to follow the precepts that I teach, and which I practice to the advantage of all those who receive the lessons. I laugh at the opinion of the vulgar who say without reason that, coming to blows, one does not have the judgement to put into practice the cut and the thrusts that one has learned in the Academies. At least, one cannot deny that it strengthens the arms, that it renders a man fitter by exercise, even that it does not carry other favours to life, and even when it happens that coming to blows he will deprive himself of his posture, the other in order not to observe the tempi, always take the risk of being injured. Besides, it is even discussed in high society that he who often makes this exercise will extend his bottes and advance the foot with more flexibility and ease than he who has
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no other art than the natural [and] no other handling than necessity makes him take. I have therefore concluded
 
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| that those who have contempt of fencing, and who want to be practiced in arms, are like ignorant goldsmiths, burning their gold instead of refining, very different to those who have the use and the science, who, far from burning it, give such a form as they please.
 
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Revision as of 16:26, 15 January 2022

André des Bordes
Born 1582
Nancy, Lorraine
Died 28 January 1625
Nancy, Lorraine (?)
Spouse(s) Marie Olivier
Occupation Fencing master
Patron Henri II, Duke of Lorraine
Genres Fencing manual
Language Middle French
Notable work(s) Discours de la théorie de la pratique et de l’excellence des armes (1610)
Manuscript(s) MS E.1939.65.435

André des Bordes (Abraham Racinot; 1582-1625) was a 17th century French fencing master. Nothing is known of this master's youth other than the fact that he studied swordsmanship in Italy for many years and achieved some degree of mastery. After returning to his native France, he soon befriended the future duke Henri, and was appointed fencing master to Duke Charles III of Lorraine in 1606. When Henri became duke in 1609, Bordes was named a gentleman, and in August of 1609 he was raised to nobility (with the usual fees waived). Earlier that year in June, he had married Marie Olivier, a woman from a distinguished family in Pont-à-Mousson.

In 1610, Bordes completed a treatise on fencing entitled Discours de la théorie de la pratique et de l’excellence des armes ("Discourse on Theory, Practice, and Excellence at Arms"); it was published in Nancy and dedicated to the Duke. Bordes' treatise seems to largely be an abbreviated French translation of Camillo Palladini's Italian treatise Discorso di Camillo Palladini Bolognese sopra l'arte della scherma come l'arte della scherma è necessaria à chi si diletta d'arme (De Walden Library 14/10).

After this, Bordes' wealth and prestige increased; in 1612 he was appointed captain, warden and tax collector of Boulay, and in 1615, captain and provost of Sierck. In 1617, he joined the duchy's Council of State and gained the title Squire. At some point, Bordes also seems to have served as a foreign ambassador for Lorraine. Events turned against Bordes after the death of Henri II in 1624. His political enemies contrived to have him imprisoned on charges of witchcraft in November of that year, and on 28 January 1625 Bordes confessed to the crime and was executed by strangulation and burned.

Treatise

Additional Resources

Transcription by Olivier Dupuis

Translation by Rob Runacres

References

  1. In other words, offer his knowledge and skills.
  2. As in the pictures