Sentence:  [W]e behold two men with lion-look, with alert attitude, side foremost, right foot advanced; flourishing and thrusting, stoccado and passado, in <WSD>tierce</WSD> and quart; intent to skewer one another. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  The third defensive position, with the sword hand held at waist height, and the tip of the sword at head height.