Virtues of the Swordsman?

[Guest]

Reading the Charron test-cutting thread in its full length (thus far), has spurred me to this question: what are the most important physicalmental attributes a swordsman should possess? What are the "virutes" of the swordsman, and which are more important? I can tell you what I think, based on what translations I've read, and my meager expirences, but I'd like to hear other opinions on the matter.


In order of importance:

1: Courage: "...But if you are fearful, then you should not learn to fence, because a despondent heart is always defeated, regardless of all skill." - Ringeck And: "Brandish manfully the sword, for it's a cross and a royal weapon, match it with a gallant heart." -Vadi

2: Skill or "cunning": "But every learned and clever man surpasses other men bigger and stronger, as was correctly said: intelligence surpasses strength..." - Vadi

3: Speed: this could possibly be considered part of overall skill, but celerity is important. wasn't there a master who said, "He who stops moving is dead, he who keeps moving is still alive," or something along those lines?

4: Strength: there are any number references that extol the merits of strength in most manuals.

I can't really think any more.

Thoughts?

B.

[Guest]

Humbleness: in rapier age keeping the mouth closed at the rgight time meant not get involved in a duel which could turn into a series of brawls.

Ability to select the right weapon: one has to understand which is the right sword for himself, a small man without much strenght should stay away from heavy blades (he will cut better with light ones), a slow man can get little benefit from small swords and rapiers.

Being smart: many swordsmen were ambushed, killed with tricks etc..., Mc Bane was shot (but not killed) in a small sword duel. The prize fighting community rejected weapons that were too deadly and eventually adopted the stick (not take unnecessary risk)

[John_Clements]

Yes, those are the attributes we see repeatedly in knightly literature throughout the era. Tasso in 1575 for instance repeats the same characteristics over and over of "courage, valor, strength and might."

[Guest]

I would include "audacity", which I think is a little different from courage. I believe Fiore mentions the importance of audacity in the prologue to Flos Duellatorum.