"Fencing," I began, when we had all reassembled as usual, "is such
an inexhaustible topic, that I could not, if I would, pretend to go
minutely into all its practical details. No one gifted with a modicum
of sense, a little determination, and a dash of enterprise, can fail
to strike out a line for himself. I am obliged, as you see, to content
myself with a general view. For we cannot consider the assault, and
especially an assault in which the combatants use their heads as well
as their hands, without assuming that our young friend has gained some
science, and has become an educated fencer.
"I have already spoken of parries and ripostes, and you have seen that
the lesson teaches how these should be employed. You know what use may
be made of the sense of touch, the power of feeling the blade, and of
the electric influence of the eye. It remains to say a few words on the
subject of attacks.
"It is more dangerous to attack than to parry. Instead of waiting
you let yourself go. And the great difficulty is to know how to let
yourself go far enough without going too far.
"Remember that discretion is the better part of valour; but do not
confound discretion with timidity. I have already said that you ought
to be able and willing, and more than that, that you ought to make it
your object to encounter every sort of style, even those styles which
are hardly worthy or--to be quite candid--are quite unworthy of the
name. As a matter of fact there are such styles, and therefore it is
just as well not to allow their exponents to become conceited, or to
imagine that by any chance they can possibly be effective.
"It is important for the prestige of fencing, that those who have no
knowledge of their weapon, or at most a mere smattering, should not be
allowed to suppose that they can depend upon mere energy and a blind
rush to defend themselves against a man who has been trained to the
skilful handling of the sword. Confidence, that mainest mainstay of
defence, ought not to be possible for the ignorant fencer; it ought to
be the peculiar privilege of the trained and scientific expert.