The right-handed recruit must be taught always to attempt Engaging in Tierce,[12] with his opponent’s blade in the outer line (sur les armes). The reason is simply that in the reverse position (dans les armes), the fore-arm, from the elbow to the wrist, is comparatively unguarded; whereas Tierce facilitates the defence of the “low lines” (i. e. those below the wrist). Tierce therefore has invariably the advantage with the sabre, as Carte carries off the palm with the small-sword, the foil, and the rapier.[13] But the right-handed man engaging in Tierce puts his left-handed opponent in Carte; and the latter, if a skilful sworder, will manœuvre, by withdrawing his blade, by coupés or degagements over the point, and by other feints, to regain the ground of vantage. The best treatment of this case is to make a time-cut in Seconde (“inner Moulinet,” or brisé à gauche) at the adversary’s knuckles, a movement which will presently be explained.
§ 5. The Guards or Parries.[14]
The ‘Infantry Sword Exercise’ proposes Seven Guards, a number which can hardly be reduced for practice on the drill-ground or in the schools: the Manuel contains the same number, including one for the Point. But of the seven no less than five are “Hanging Guards,” and Nos. 3 and 4 serve only to defend the inside and the outside of the advanced leg. This limb requires no assistance of the kind: an able swordsman never exposes his head and shoulders by cutting so low, and, if he does, the leg can be smartly withdrawn (parade retrograde, or en échappant), rendering the attack not only useless but dangerous to the assailant. Even in fencing, “low thrusts,” that is, at the body below the wrist, are never made, for fear of the “Time” being taken, until the upper line has been closed by a feint. In our Single-stick practice the first thought seems to be to attack the advanced leg—which may be well enough for Single-stick.
Lunge and Cut in Carte (Inside).
The following are the full number of guards or parries in which the edge must invariably be used: they are evidently dividable into two; (1) Head (with face) Guards, and (2) Body Guards:—
I. Prime (p. 38), so called because it is the “first” position of defence after drawing the blade, that which the unpractised man would naturally assume to defend his head. It is the 7th Guard of the ‘Infantry Sword Exercise.’ In practice the point is more inclined to the horizontal line than when the blade is unsheathed; the edge is carried somewhat inside or to the left; the arm is shortened and so raised that the eyes look under it, but the head remains upright. The recruit must be careful not to “bend the body;” not to “draw in the chest and neck;” and not to “bring the left shoulder a little forward.” The defect of Prime is its being a “Hanging guard,” rendering the riposte or reply difficult, and modern practice prefers “High Tierce.”
II. Seconde (4th Guard), so termed because following Prime: the arm is extended, the edge is carried to the outside or to the right; in practice the hilt is lowered, and the point, threatening the opponent’s loins, is depressed to the half of a right angle. This position must be learned for the sake of feinting: as a parade it is not much used, because it defends only the hip and leg, and a good swordsman will never expose himself to exceeding danger by making low cuts. Modern practice prefers “low Tierce.”
III. Tierce (2nd Guard) has been described (p. 39) under “Standing on Guard” and “Engaging Guards;” it defends the outer lines, arm, shoulder, and back.
IV. High Tierce is a head-guard: the hand is raised to above the shoulder to the maximum level of the swordsman’s right eye, and the blade is carried at an angle of 45° with the edge up and the point to the left.