The duel with swords is, as may be inferred from what we have
described, not very dangerous, and thus it proves itself, since from
the great number of duels which annually occur, so few serious
consequences follow. There are now students, who, during their career,
have fought from thirty to forty, and even sixty times, and yet have
come out of them all with a few slight wounds in the face. Yet tragical
consequences are by no means wanting. Noses and eyes are sometimes
lost, and even fatal terminations are now and then put to them.[18] The
wounded are nursed with great care by their companions; and those who
distinguish themselves with their weapons, speedily mount to the head
of their Chores. It is said that two brothers were such strong and
perfect swordsmen, that they disabled a whole Chore, with whom they
came into contention for further exercise of their weapons for the
whole half-year. The duels with the crooked sabre, are the most
frequently attended by unhappy results.
The duel is distinctly prohibited by the laws. The enactments of the
academical senate concerning it are as follows:--
1. If any one is slain in a duel, or is deadly wounded therein, or so
wounded that he finds himself in danger of his life; or that a lasting
disadvantage, through mutilation or internal injury, is occasioned him;
or if the duel has been with pistols, with the fleuret, or with the
crooked sabre; and even when the duel with pistols, with fleuret, or
with the crooked sabre, has not been completed, but only intended, the
affair can no longer be regarded as a mere violation of discipline, but
to be penalty treated, a trial constituted against the actors, and all
the aiders and abettors, before the university magistrate, and all the
minutes and evidence to be handed over for the decision of the civil
courts of justice.
2. Shall the duel with sword or crooked sabre have been followed by
none of the aforestated consequences, without making any further
distinction between the relative position of challenger and challenged,
both parties shall, under ordinary circumstances, suffer a punishment
of from four weeks incarceration to the enforcement of the _consilium
abeundi_. On account of more serious circumstances, in especial, on
account of a wilful seeking after contention, of gross insult, of
rejection to offers of reconciliation, neglect of the summons of a
surgeon, or of fighting the duel under unusually dangerous regulations,
shall, according to the circumstances of the case, punishment of a
higher kind be inflicted on one or both parties, as may appear right,
even to the extent of the sharp relegation.
In milder circumstances, and towards that party who shall have made
sufficient offers of reconciliation, or who has been injured or
insulted in a gross degree, the lighter penalty of imprisonment from
eight days to four weeks may be inflicted.
A duel is held to be perpetrated from the moment of its commencement.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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