Nicoletto GigantiVenice, 1606Copyright Gary M. Chelak

This document is a work in progress, a sampling of chapters I have translated from Giganti’s 1606treatise. This translation has been arrived at by dissecting the treatise and utilizing a number of academicresources for not only the closest possible meaning of each word, but also to glean the spirit of themanuscript and it’s author. To that end, this version is not entirely a literal translation. Please feel free tocontact me with questions or comments via email at gchelak@primenet.com.

Time And MeasureKnowing how to set in guard or counterguard, how to throw a thrust, an imbroccata, a mandritto, or ariverscio; knowing how to turn the wrist, to carry the body well, and the good governs of the Sword doesnot mean you know how to defend & to strike: but knowing time & measure does. Whoever doesn'tknow, although he defends & although he strikes, he is not able to say he knows defence and offense;because in the parry as in the strike he may err & incur a thousand dangers. Having therefore dealt withthe guards and counterguards, you remain deal with the time & the measure in order to learn when oneis due to defend and strike. The measure therefore is understood when with the Sword is is able to reachthe enemy; & when is not is able to, you are understood be out of measure. The time is known in thisway: if the enemy is in guard you need to set out of measure, & go with his guard assuring yourself fromhis sword. Remember as he will take action: if he disengages, in the disengage he is struck, and this istime: if he changes from guard, while he changes it is time: if he turns, it is time: if he stringers in orderto come into measure, while going & before he arrives into measure it is time to strike him: if he throws,defend and strike in one time, also this it is time: if the enemy remains firm in guard in order to wait,proceed to stringer him, and smoothly into measure extend, whence he is uncovered it is time; becausein each motion of dagger, of sword, of foot, & of body, as changing guard, is time. The way that all thesethings are times is because they have diverse intervals within; & while the enemy will make one of thesemany moves, it is without doubt necessary that he remain struck; because while he moves, he isn't ableto strike. And this is necessary to know for the power to strike & defend: that which most distinctly I shallbe demonstrating, as you must become my figures.

Guards, Or Positions (Associated images follow the paragraph)

Many are the guards of single sword & many still the counterguards. In my first book I won't teach anyother than two sorts of guards & counterguards; of which any will serve for each lesson of the figures ofthis book. First then which I want you to remember, you must go to bind the enemy outside of measureassuring yourself from his sword with the placing of yours upon his, so that you cannot be struck if notwith two times, with one he will extract (disengage) the sword, & with the other he will strike you. In thismanner you arrange to counter all the guards, either high or low, according to how you perceive yourenemy settled. Regarding this, be always advised of the following: take heed not to give opportunity &

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occasion to the enemy, that you can strike only in one time; & this will become warned: that the point ofhis sword is not to the middle your body, to that purpose if he pushes his sword quickly & stronglyforward it is not possible for you to be struck. Therefor cover yourself from the enemy’s sword with yours,as you see in this figure, that the enemy sword is pointing outside of your body (outside your silhouette),& it is not possible for you to be struck if he does not disengage his sword. Accommodate yourself withstrong feet, a gathering with the body, with the sword arm extended & strong for defence & attack, as youare shown in the figure. If you perceive the enemy in a high or low guard & if you do not set yourselfcounter to his guard, you will not be assured from the enemy’s sword; you would be in danger even ifyour enemy has less knowledge & is less practiced than you. You could make the encounter & woundyourself twofold: either he could set defended, either in false obedience or by extracting the sword, orother things could happen. If you are assured from the enemy’s sword, as I have said concerning this, hewon't move or make any action of moving that you are not able to perceive & and easily defend. Theseillustrations that are herein will be two guards with the sword forward, & two counterguards covering thesword. One is made by going to bind the enemy from inside path & the other going from outside, as yousee in these figures & as I will be showing you in the following lessons.

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Gary Chelak