_Of the Parade of Quart._
To parry, signifies, in our Art, to cover when the Adversary pushes,
that Part which he endeavors to offend; which is done it either by the
Opposition of the Sword or of the Left Hand; but as I am now speaking
of the Sword only, I must observe; that in order to parry well with it,
you are to take notice of the Manner and Swiftness of your Adversary: By
the Manner, is meant whether in _Quart_ or _Tierce_; with his Fort to
your Feeble, or with his Feeble to your Fort; and you are to observe the
Swiftness of his Thrust, that you may regulate your Parade accordingly.
[Illustration: 3rd. Plate. Parade of Quart.]
[Illustration: Parade of Quart opposing with the hand.]
When a Thrust is made with the Fort to your Feeble, which is the best
way; you must, by raising and turning the Hand a little in _Quart_,
raise the Point, which brings it nearer to you, and hinders the
Adversary from gaining your Feeble, which being raised up is too far
from him, and makes it easy for you to seize his Feeble. (Refer to the
3d. Plate.)
If the Thrust be made on the Fort or Middle of your Sword, you need only
turn the Hand a little in _Quart_.
If after the Adversary has pushed _Quart_, he pushes _Seconde_; you must
parry with the Fort, bringing it nearer to you, and for the greater
Safety, or to avoid other Thrusts, or the taking Time on your return,
you must oppose with the left hand, which hinders him from hitting you
as he meets your Thrust, and from parrying it, for want of having his
Sword at Liberty. (Refer to the 7th Plate.)
The same Opposition may be made on a Lunge in _Quart_, and to be more
safe in returning Thrust or Thrusts, you must close the Measure in
parrying, which confounds the Enemy, who finds himself too near to have
the Use of his Sword: Your Sword, in parrying, must carry it's Point
lower and more inward than in the other Parades.
If the Adversary makes a Thrust, with shortning or drawing back his
Arm, or leaving his Body open; you must defend with the Left Hand, and
lunge strait on him, unless you had rather parry with the Sword, making
use of the Opposition of the Hand, and closing the Measure, as I just
now observed.
You may also parry in disengaging,[2] drawing back the Body to the Left,
in order to give the Hand Time and Facility to make the Parade.
There are several other Parades, of which I shall treat in their proper
Places, confining myself now to the most essential.
[Illustration: 4th. Plate. A Lunge in Tierce.]
[Illustration: Tierce Parryed.]