Every parade has its return, which should be made with vivacity and decision. A thrust can be returned when the adversary thrusts, or when, baffled in his attack, he is recovering to his guard. In the first case, no lunge is necessary, the return being made from the wrist: this return requires great skill and quickness, since the adversary should receive the thrust before, by finishing his own, he has touched your body.
Ordinary Returns.—After carte parry, return in carte; after tierce, return in tierce; after parrying high carte, return seconde; after parrying seconde, return in quinte; after parade in prime, return seconde or low carte.
Feints, of which there are many varieties, consist in threatening an attack on one side of the sword, and then executing it on the other. The best parade against a feint is that of the half-circle, which will be sure to find the adversary's point.
Advance and Retreat are motions of attack or withdrawal, performed by advancing the right, or withdrawing the left foot suddenly about 18 in., and instantly following it with the other foot. As the adversary advances, you must retreat, unless prepared to receive him at the sword-poiut.
Salnte.—The salute is a courteous opening of the fencing, and consists in gracefully taking off the hat, while, with the foils, your adversary and yourself measure your respective distances.
Appels or beats with the right foot, beats on the adversary's blade, and glissades or glidings of one sword along the other, are motions intended to confuse the enemy, and give openings for thrusts.
Voltes, demi-voltes, and disarming, were maneuvers formerly taught with care, but they are now quite discarded in the academies of England and France, as useless and undesirable.
In Spain and Italy, considerable differences of practice from that in France and England prevail. The left hand is used as an auxiliary in parrying, and in Italy is aided by a dagger, or sometimes a cloak. Tbe Spaniard, though trusting to his sword and left hand only, has his blade 5 ft. long, with sharp edges; his guard is nearly straight, and one of his favorite attacks is by a cut (not thrust) at the head.
In an article limited in length as this must necessarily be, it is impossible to give more than the merest outline of the various motions; but, of course, in actual practice, there are endless variations of the different modes of attack and defense, which will be severally adopted according to the skill and option of the fencer. There is no finer indoor exercise than F., as the muscles in every limb are developed and strengthened by it. The great requirements for success are a steady eye and hand, a quick purpose as quickly executed, and perhaps, above all, perfect equanimity of temper.