Dlouhý meč
At first learn and know that fencing art of Liechtenauer depends completely on the five words Vor Nach Schwach Stark Indes which form the basis the core and the foundation of all fencing. And no matter how able a fencer is, without knowing the foundation he will often be shamed/defeated in his art. And these same words have been explained already by stating that these only are about staying in constant motion and not hesitating or pausing so that the adversary does not come to strikes, and also that it is about Vorschlag and Nachschlag as hit has been written often before.
And this is based upon a principle that is called Prinicipium et finis begin and ending. If a serious and good fencer has to fence with an opponent as to defeat him with his art, and wishes to remain unhit, he cannot do that without begin and ending. If he now wishes to begin correctly, he should gain the Vorschlag and not his opponent. Because one that strikes his opponent is safer and is protected easier because the opponent has to watch out for the attacks.
If he now gains and executes the Vorschlag, may it hit or miss, so he should do instantly without pause in the same rush the Nachschlag, be it the second, third or fourth or fifth strike, be it strike or thrust so that he stays in constant motion, doing one after the other without pausing so that the opponent may not come to strike. Liechtenauer says: I tell you truthfully, no man defends without danger, if you have understood it he will not come to strikes. So just do as it is often written before and stay in constant motion.
The word Indes relates to the words Vor and Nach; if someone does the Vorschlag and it is parried, Indes or while he is defending the Nachschlag should be done. It also relates to the words Schwach und Stark[394] which mean the feeling at the sword, gauging whether the opponent is either strong or weak at the bind and then working according to the often-written teaching.
