76 MILITARY SCIENCES. 



nate, and feints, after cuts, double, and time cuts are applied at discretion 

 wherewith the instruction terminates. 



Fencing with the curved sabre must also be practised. To give the 

 mere command of this weapon, these exercises must be made, first upon 

 the fencing bench, as it is called, and afterwards upon horseback, as the 

 movements of the horse have great influence upon the cuts to be deli- 

 vered, since they change at every moment the position of the antago- 

 nists towards each other, and, therefore, the most effective cuts to be 

 chosen. The extension with curved blades is like that for straight, yet the 

 point, though at the height of the eye, lies over the shoulder of the antago- 

 nist, and each sees the other with the right eye over and through the angle 

 formed by the two blades. Short after cuts and fine cuts proper are 

 impracticable, because of the backward bent hilt, the curved point, and the 

 gripe without bar; but all other rules for cut-and-thrust are applicable. 

 The chief object of the cavalry soldier must be to gain, by turnings, 

 wheelings, vaultings, &c., the left side of his opponent, and never expose 

 his own. As soon as the man is properly practised in all that relates to the 

 use of the swprd on foot, he is permitted to make the cuts in the air on 

 horseback, and, that he may accustom himself to give his blows a definite 

 aim, a mark is set up for him, a head, for example {pi. 28, jig. 2 a), at 

 which, first riding sharply up and short parrying (Jig. 1), then riding past 

 in full career {fig- 2), he practises the cuts. Then follows the combat 

 between two men in the manner of counter-cut. The best plan here, is 

 first to give the pupils, in lessons, a proper succession of cuts and thrusts, 

 and make them deliver them at the word of command, before leaving them 

 to deliver the cuts at their own choice. Examples of this are : Jig. 4 a, 

 steep tierce at the flying antagonist, who (Jig. 4 b) turns backwards and 

 parries tierce ; Jig. (5 a, steep quarte at the approaching opponent, who 

 (Jig. 6 b) parries steep quarte ; Jig. 3 a, steep tierce at the same when he 

 is in the act of riding past you, whereby he parries steep tierce (Jig. 3 b) ; 

 Jig. 5 b, prime, while riding past the left side of the antagonist, who parries 

 prime (Jig. 5 a), leaning oyer to the left. In the combat between lance and 

 sabre, as the first is a thrust weapon, the rules of thrust fencing apply ; but 

 all the parades must be very strongly made and pushed forward, which can 

 be done with the less hesitation, as there is no after cut to fear. On the 

 side of the swordsman, however, the after cuts are very effective, as the 

 lancer, after his thrust is parried, can seldom come into position quick 

 enough to give a new thrust. Against the blow with the lance at the head, 

 a very strong prime parade is employed. Lastly, the contest between 

 cavalry and infantry is practised. 



The cavalry soldier must further be practised with the lance. The lance, 

 like the cut and thrust weapons, divides into the forte and the foible. The 

 whole forte and the lower part of the lance are called also the queue. In 

 the lance exercise, which must first be made on foot, the pupils are placed 

 with great intervals between them. At the stepping in, the lance is held 

 perpendicularly in the right hand, which lies, with the arm bent, at the 

 height of the shoulder, the butt resting near the right foot (Jig. 7). In the 

 652 



