Distance; and if your Adversary turns on the Outside, you must carry the
Right-foot to that Side, and the Left in Guard, as well to avoid his
Thrusts, as to lay hold on every favourable Opportunity, in case he
should persist in his _Demarche_.

You should never give Measure but to your Inferior: Giving Measure, is
when the Body and Feet advance too much, or in Disorder; or advancing
before you are well situated, although corrected in the _Demarche_, or
advancing when you are near enough, except you be much superior to the
Enemy.

The Measure should be given to oblige the Adversary to push; in order
to get an Opportunity of taking the Time, or of _risposting_.




CHAP. XII.

_Of_ Disengagements.


There is nothing more nice, or more necessary in Fencing, than
Disengagements; the nicest Motion, being the smoothest and finest, and
the most necessary, there being but few Thrusts where you ought not to
disengage, and to several more than once; and there is no better Means
of avoiding the Advantage that a strong Man has when he presses on your
Sword.

If we confine ourselves, strictly, to the Meaning of Disengagements, we