Straight Third against a fallen Third
Plate
Translation
This other of Third in a straight line against a fallen Third came about because, both being in Third on the outside, the striker went to find the enemy blade while standing at wide measure. The other took that time and turned a mandritto to wound him over the head. But the first, with a small withdrawal of the body and by letting the enemy blade pass empty, lowering his point only a little when that blade had passed, immediately went to wound with that same Third. It reached the body at the very instant the other blade reached below, so that the wounded man could neither raise the sword to parry, nor retire, nor save himself, because his motion was not yet finished when he was wounded.
From this one knows, and may draw the rule, that it is always better, when it can be done, to let cutting blows pass without parrying them, so that a man may not place himself in that servitude and danger of being deceived while parrying, nor need he tire himself so much.
Analysis
- At wide measure (misura larga), you go to find the blade.
- He takes that time and cuts mandritto at your head.
- You make a slight retreat of the body (un poco di ritirata di corpo).
- You let his blade pass empty (lasciare passare la nimica a vuoto).
- As it passes, you lower your point only a little.
- You immediately thrust in terza.
- He cannot recover, parry, or retreat because his motion is unfinished.