Page:A record of European armour and arms through seven centuries (Volume 4).djvu/305

 malcus, which may possibly be derived from malchus. In France the short curved sword was known as the base. As in the case of all curved weapons of the Orient, there was little actual fence employed in their use. But towards the close of the XVIth and the commencement of the XVIIth centuries it may be noted that in the case of the curved Düsack, a weapon of Hungarian or Bohemian origin, adopted by the middle classes in Germany, the parries were similar to those practised with the back-sword. That is to say, they included countering blows across the adversary's line of attack with the purpose either of breaking his guard and of striking him at one and the same time, or of throwing his weapon out of line so as to open the way for a second attack. A print by Yost Amman (1539-91) preserved in the Dresden Copperplate Cabinet, A 113, and said to represent persons of the middle classes (Fig. 1342), shows the practice of the Düsack. Many very beautiful and historical swords of the XVIth century, having curved blades, exist to-day. Of these certainly one of the finest is that magnificent example in the Vienna Armoury, complete with its scabbard (Fig. 1343)—a perfect achievement of Renaissance splendour. The quillons of this weapon curve simply upwards and downwards; while the pommel has that uneven outline tending to an excrescence on the side of the knuckle-*guard, as though ready to receive it. Recessed in the panels are fantastic figures; the quillons issue from monsters' heads. The blade is very slightly curved and back-edged, decorated its entire length with duplicated strapwork introducing armorial trophies, which are also seen, though in a grander form, upon the ricasso. The finest chiselling, and the richest gold plating and damascening are employed upon the ornamentation of this splendid weapon. Although we are quite unable to name any particular armourer as the artificer of this sword, we regard it as North Italian work of about 1560-70. The late Monsieur de Beaumont, in his Fleur des belles Épées, claims that there is no specimen equal to it for the magnificence of its execution and grand simplicity; but in our opinion, the very similar sword in the Musée d'Artillerie (J 112) is quite as superb, if it does not actually excel it in dignified splendour (Fig. 1344). This sword was at one time in the collection of the Vicomte de Courval, and though it is hardly in such a fine state of preservation as the Vienna example, it has the advantage of possessing a grip of steel chiselled in harmony with the hilt. Marvellous also is the undercutting of the strapwork that embellishes both pommel and quillons. The blade is the counterpart of that of the Vienna sword, strongly back-edged and very slightly curved. As we have previously stated, had