_The Parades of_ Seconde.
_Seconde_ may be parried three Ways. First, according to the ancient
Manner I just described, which is done by a Semi-circle on the Inside,
with the Hand in _Tierce_, the Point low, almost on a Line with the
Wrist; but the Greatness of the Motion does not only render it
difficult to parry the Thrust but still harder to parry the Feint of the
Thrust and come up again; besides the _Rispost_ is dangerous; because it
requires a long Time to raise the Point, which is almost as low as the
Ground, to the Body; in which Time, the Adversary has not only an
Opportunity of parrying the Thrust, but also of hitting you whilst you
are bringing up your Point.
Secondly, _Seconde_ may be parryed by making a Half-circle on the
Outside, the Wrist in _Quart_, as high as the Shoulder, the Arm
extended, and the Point very low. _See the 7th_ Plate. It is less
dangerous, and more easy for the _Rispost_ than the former, which must
be made as soon as you have parryed, by pushing strait in _Quart_ which
the Adversary having pushed under, can hardly avoid, but by yeilding,
and battering the Sword. _See the 7th_ Plate.
To this Manner of parrying _Seconde_, there is but one Opposite, which
is done by _feinting_ below, and as the Adversary is going to cross your
Sword, in order to parry, you must disengage by a little Circle, with
the Hand in _Seconde_, which preventing the Enemy's Sword, gives an
Opportunity of hitting him above, if the Wrist is lower than I have
observed, or in _Flanconnade_, if the Wrist is high. A Man that parrys
below, in order to avoid this _Feint_, must redouble his Circle to meet
the Blade. This Parade is best in recovering, after having pushed, not
only to avoid the strait or low _Rispost_, but also any Feint or Thrust.
The third and best Parade, is made with your Fort to the Middle of the
Adversary's Sword, the Wrist turned in _Quart_, but a little lower: The
_Rispost_ of this Parade is very good, when you know how to bind the
Sword upon the _Rispost_; and it cannot be parryed without returning to
the Parade that I have here, before, described and which, I believe, is
peculiar to myself.
This Parade is by so much the more adventageous, as the _Rispost_ is
easy the Sword being near the Adversary's Body, which makes it, more
difficult for him to avoid you; besides, by this Parade, you are in
better Condition to parry, not only a Thrust below, but also any other
Thrusts and Feints, the Sword being near the Situation of Guard.