FENCING, is the manner of attacking en adversary with the sword, and de fending the person from his thrusts. It js necessary in acquiring this difficult art to use foils, or small thin swords, which being blunted at the points, and bending readily, prevents accidental wounds. The gladiators, who were compelled to sacri fice their lives for the amusement of the `Romans, received instructions in the use of the sword, in order to lengthen the di version of their cruel masters, who were fearful that sudden rage might otherwise prompt an abrign termination of the com bat. Kennet says, " Before the combat ants fell to it in earnest, they tried their skill against one another with more harm less weapons, as the rules, and the spears without heads, the blunted swords, the foils, and such like." To this Cicero ad mirably alludes, " If in the mortal com bats of the gladiators, where the victory is decided by arms, before they actually engage, there are several flourish es given, more for a shew of art than a design of hurting ; how much more proper wonlil this look in the contention of an orator." Fencing was indispensable to almost all ranks of people, long after armies had ceased to use swords in the field of battle, through the absurd fashion of wearing side-arms ; when men of turbulent dispo sitions might have immediate recourse to weapons, it became necessary for the peaceable citizen to learn the best mode of defence, that he might not perish for an offence which would end at present in altercation. During the long period this
suppossed ornament of the person was worn, numerous masters brought the art of using it to great perfection : but the French appear to have excelled every other nation in fencing, which may be at tributed in a great measure to the physi cal properties of their bodies. Their teachers and their imitators have, there fore, been loud in its praises, asserting that the art should be taught in every po lite academy, that the figure may be formed into complete grace by the active movements of the limbs and body in every possible position.
The professors divide fencing into two parts, which they distinguish from each other, by terming the first simple, and the second compound ; the first they perform instantaneously and actively on the same line, either on the offensive or defensive. The principle on which they act, in this instance, is to push or make passes in any direction, to strike the least guarded part of the adversary, at the same time endeavouring to parry his thrusts.
Compound fencing consists of every description of feint appeals, entangling of foils, slashing, half thrusts, &c. contrived to distract the attention of the enemy, and thus suddenly and unexpectedly to reach that spot, which he skilfully de fends in simple fencing ; but the utmost care must be used to push at the proper moment when parrying.