_Of cutting over the Point of the_ Sword.
In order to cut over the Point, within from without, the Wrist must be
turned towards _Tierce_, which gives it a swifter Motion. When your
Point is over your Adversary's, you must turn the Wrist in _Quart_,
pushing with your Fort to his Feeble: Though this is a regular Way of
cutting, what is most essential to perfect the Thrust is wanting, that
is to say, the Motion that should precede it, which is commonly a
Half-thrust or Feint, by which, two Advantages are gained: First you
discompose your Adversary, and secondly, your Thrust is swifter, being
by so much the more vigorous, as the Motion previous thereto is so. At
the Time you make a Half-thrust or Feint, you must make a little Beat
with the Foot, bearing back the Body to break your Adversary's Measure.
The Cut from the Inside to the Outside, has commonly more Success than
that from the Outside to the Inside, the Adversary going more readily to
his Parade on this Side than on the other. The Manner of cutting on the
Outside, is by placing your Sword within, making a little Motion or
strait Feint, the Wrist in _Quart_, the Fort of the Sword before you, in
order to be covered, and your Point very near the Adversary's Sword; you
must beat a little with the Foot, bending the Body back a little, and as
the Adversary is going to parry with the Feeble, you must pass your
Point quickly over his, pushing in _Tierce_, with your Fort to his
Feeble.
Though all Thrusts have the same following Ones; the Cut has them more
easy; it's Motion from above to below, disposing it better than the
Disengagements, if the Thrust be from the Outside to the Inside, and
that the Adversary parrys with his Fort to your Feeble: Besides the
Recovery in Guard, which is common after all Thrusts, you must, upon a
Parade with the Fort, if it be without stirring the Foot, or in
advancing, join: And if the Adversary makes this Parade in retiring, he
gives you an Opportunity of cutting in _Quart_ under the Wrist, and on
his parrying with the Feeble, you must return in _Seconde_, bringing
forward the Left-foot a little, in order to procure a Reprise or second
Lunge.
These two Reprises are to be made before you are acquainted with your
Adversary's Manner of parrying; but when you have discovered it, if it
be with his Fort, you must cut over and under the Wrist in _Quart_, and
if with his Feeble, return in _Tierce_, that is to say, make an entire
Circle. These Cuts are to be made in one or two Motions; in the first
you are not to stop, but in the other, you make a short Interval by a
little Beat with the Foot.
The Thrusts following the Cut from the Inside to the Outside, before you
know your Adversary's Parade, are made thus: If 'tis with the Fort, you
must return with a Cut in _Seconde_, under the Sword, advancing the
Left-foot a little; If he parrys with the Feeble, you must return by
disengaging to _Quart_ within, advancing the Left-foot, as before: Some
People return a Cut in _Tierce_, in _Quart_, by another Cut over the
Point, of _Quart_ in _Tierce_, and so on the contrary Side.
When you foresee the Parade, you may at once cut from the Inside to the
Outside, and under in _Seconde_; or return within, according as the
Parade is made with the Fort or Feeble. You may also make these
Redoubles by a little Interval over the Sword, beating with the Foot.
There are other Redoubles which are made by drawing back the Body
without stirring the Feet.
See the Chapter of Reprises.
The Cut may be made not only after a Half-thrust, or strait Feint, as I
have said, but also after an Engagement, Lunge, or Pass, and in
Risposting, which is the best and most used; because that is to be done
only in recovering to Guard, or by bringing one Foot behind the other,
or springing back; To the first you must Rispost with the Foot firm, and
to the other by closing the Measure.