The man who should master these three would be the pattern of the
perfect fencer.
"Well, what of fencing judgment? Why in the world should you be afraid
of it, as though it were the hundred-headed hydra that guards the
sacred portals? What is it but that part of the understanding that we
all bring to bear on the conduct of everyday life? Nothing in human
affairs however trivial or however great can be done without it.
"Fencing judgment implies more especially distrust, cunning, a wise
caution, the power of interpreting the dumb language of the sword,
the faculty of drawing correct inferences. These faculties are in the
first instance directly stimulated by the master's lessons, and natural
intelligence, acting without any conscious effort on your part,
combined with experience, will make the good seed grow. Do not concern
yourself about it. Over-anxiety always has a most disturbing effect on
the mind.
"The other night when I spoke of the alphabet of fencing, I had a
special object in view. There is a language of the sword, by which
questions are asked and answered. As soon as you have learnt the words
you can speak and understand it. To admit that it is necessary to
make a separate study of every possible phrase implies that a simple
and straightforward method of instruction, which I hold to be of the
highest importance, is unattainable.