Schools and Masters of Fence; From the Middle Ages to the Eighteenth Century (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1885 Excerpt: ... part menaced, but, on the contrary, be obliged--for the purpose of attacking--to carry his sword elsewhere. In so doing he must use more time and afford a better opportunity to the parry.... "But in assuming that position it is also necessary so to hold the sword that it'can resist the pressure of the adversary's. This rule holds good against all his postures and changes of guard, whether he also use a poniard, or any other defensive weapon, or only his sword. He who shall display most cleverness in thus maintaining himself in the proper ' contra guardia, ' shall have great advantage over his enemy.... "But it often occurs that while you form the ' contra postura, ' the adversary assumes another ' postura, ' and this often also out of measure, so that when you advance to strike him, he can at the same time that you move your foot assume the advantage over you by means of a new ' contra postura.' It is therefore necessary to be rich in expedients." Fabris defines the two measures much more closely than any of his predecessors: "misura larga," wide measure, that in which it is possible to strike the enemy by advancing one step; "misura stretta," close measure, that in which this can be done by merely extending the arm without moving the body. The adversaries assume their " contra posture " out of measure, and, by advancing cautiously on each other, come within "misura larga." They take care never to close to "misura stretta" without either delivering a thrust, or making a feint in order to stay the inevitable time hit. "In all attacks," says Fabris, "be careful not to throw the thrust with too much violence and not to over-reach,"--a precaution of even greater moment with the u...