Part 5 (1/2)

This should be continued until both are weary.

Both swordsmen should learn to do it more rapidly every time they practice. Next time of going through it, front rank and rear rank change places, as they must do in all the practices.

THIRD PRACTICE.

Word of Command. Front Rank. Rear Rank.

Guard Hanging guard Hanging guard Leg Cut four Cut seven Inside guard Inside guard Inside guard Leg Cut six [at leg] Cut six [at neck]

Outside guard Outside guard Outside guard Leg Cut five [at leg] Cut five [at neck]

Guard Hanging guard Hanging guard Slope Swords Slope swords Slope swords

In this and the other practices the cuts must be delivered in the third position, and the guards in the first. In the third and fourth practices the cuts must be given lightly, as many of them are not intended to be guarded, but merely to show the powers of the sword in various positions.

FOURTH PRACTICE.

Word of Command. Front Rank. Rear Rank.

Guard Hanging guard Hanging guard Head Seventh cut Seventh guard Head Seventh guard Cut seven Leg Fourth cut Seventh guard Leg Seventh guard Fourth cut Head Seventh cut Seventh guard Head Seventh guard Seventh cut Guard Hanging guard Hanging guard Slope swords Slope swords Slope swords

In this and the preceding exercise, the power of s.h.i.+fting the leg is shown. If two swordsmen attack each other, and No. 1 strikes at the leg of No. 2, it will be better for No. 2 not to oppose the cut by the third or fourth guard, but to draw back the leg smartly, and cut six or seven at the adversary's head or neck.

In loose play, as it is called, _i. e._, when two parties engage with swords without following any word of command, but strike and guard as they can, both players stand in the second position, because they can either advance or retreat as they choose, and can longe out to the third position for a thrust or a cut, or spring up to the first position for a guard with equal ease.

It is often a kind of trap, to put the right leg more forward than usual, in order to induce the adversary to make a cut at it. When he does so, the leg is drawn back, the stroke pa.s.ses harmless, and the deceived striker gets the stick of his opponent on his head or shoulders.

We now come to a very complicated exercise, called the

FIFTH PRACTICE.

Word of Command. Front Rank. Rear Rank.

Draw swords Draw swords Draw swords Inside guard Inside guard Inside guard Outside guard Outside guard Outside guard Guard Hanging guard Hanging guard Head Seventh cut Seventh guard Head Seventh guard Seventh cut Arm Second cut [at arm] Second guard Head Seventh guard Seventh cut Head Seventh cut Seventh guard Arm Second guard Second cut [at arm]

Head Seventh cut Seventh guard Head Seventh guard Seventh cut Right side Sixth cut Sixth guard Head Seventh guard Seventh cut Head Seventh cut Seventh guard Right side Sixth guard Sixth cut Guard Hanging guard Hanging guard

This practice is capital exercise, and looks very imposing. All these practices ought to be so familiar that the words of command are not needed, the only word required being First, Second, or Third practices, as the case may be.

I can remember once, that two of my pupils had attained such a mastery of their weapons that we used often to go through the practice with real swords. On one occasion, we were acting a charade, and my eldest pupil and myself were enacting the part of two distinguished foreigners (country unknown) who were to get up a fight. So we began by a little quarrel, and finally drew our swords and set hard to work at the fifth practice, which we could do with extreme rapidity, and without the use of words of command. The spectators were horrified, and the ladies greatly alarmed; for there seems to be no particular order in that practice, and an inexperienced eye would certainly fancy that the combatants were in earnest.

FORT AND FEEBLE.

The half of the sword-blade next the hilt is called the ”fort,” because it is the strongest place on which the cut of an adversary can be received. Always parry and guard with the fort of your sword, as, if you try to guard a cut with the ”feeble,” which is the remaining half of the blade, your guard will be forced, and the cut take effect.

DRAWING CUT.

The drawing cut is made best with a curved sword, and is executed by placing the edge of the sword on the object, and drawing it over it until it is severed. A good large mangel-wurzel is capital practice.