I enjoyed the following real-life account of classical fencing in
"The Life, Adventures, and Opinions of Col. George Hanger"
(1801) and thought others might also.
Colonel George Coleraine Hanger (1751-1824) was
accompanying a friend to Kensington Gardens where the latter
had arranged a secret rendezvous with a lady. They were to meet
in a small garden off the public path, which was bordered by a
high yew hedge. It was dark, about 9 PM. Hanger, armed with a
smallsword, took up a position as guard near the passage
through the hedge. A similarly armed gentleman whom he did
not recognize came along the path and stopped about 6 or 7
paces from him, as if he wanted to see what was behind him.
Hanger warned him off, but he strode 2 or 3 paces forward.
QUOTE:
On his advancing, I again said, "Sir, you cannot pass this way."
Upon which he immediately put his hand to his sword; nor did I
delay to draw mine, when I retired within the narrow passage of
the hedge, to make sure, if he was determined to force an entry,
that I should have the advantage of parrying any thrust from him,
when he could not prevent my acting against him. He
immediately advanced close to the hedge, with his sword half
through it; at the same time grumbling, inwardly, and absolutely
snorting and blowing with anger. I could have run him through
the body, with the greatest facility, in the disadvantageous
situation in which he was; but, instead of acting, I said, "For
God's sake, sir, do not advance! You cannot want anything of
me; it is impossible that I should be the person you are looking
for: but I swear, if you advance one step further, I will kill you!"
In those days I was in great habits of fencing, having a person to
attend me three times a week to perfect me in that science.
Being very strong in the arm and wrist, I was ever prepossessed
with an idea, that if I could, unobserved, change from the one
side of my adversary's blade to the other, and beat on it, I should
be certain of hitting the very best fencer. This was a favorite coup
of mine; and I now put it in practice with such velocity, force, and
success, that if it had not been for the hedge into which I drove
his sword, and in which it was for a moment entangled, I believe
sincerely that I should have forced the sword out of his hand. At
the instant I beat upon his blade, I made a gentle bott [sic] at
him, slightly opposing my sword to his body, and just pricked
him, at which he started back a couple of paces. I never
advanced, but kept my position within the hedge, knowing that,
from the advantage of it, I could do anything with him I chose;
and, had he advanced again, I was resolved not to attempt to run
him through the body, but to gather his blade, and attempt to
disarm him. Notwithstanding my having made him lightly feel the
point of my sword, he never spoke one word, but stood snorting
and puffing with rage. I then said, "Sir, for God's sake, go away! I
do not wish to hurt you: you must be conscious that I could have
run you through the body if I had been so disposed: let me,
therefore, entreat you to go away..."
At my solicitations and entreaties he put up his sword, and
walked back the same way he came. I watched him out of sight;
but, it may be well credited, I did not follow him. Judge, reader,
what pleasure I must have felt when he was gone! ...During the
conflict, which lasted a considerable time, I dare say above five
minutes, a thousand horrors and fears rushed into my mind and
unstrung my soul. As to the matter of a duel, had it been in
daylight, with a second, I should not have thought more than
others on such an occasion, having fought three duels before I
was twenty years old; since which time, I assure the reader, that I
have been as peaceably inclined as my neighbours, and in no
way whatever disposed to quarrels.
END QUOTE
--Paul
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