Steel Marginalia
[31]

Fourth against Second

De lo Schermo, overo Scienza d'Arme
Salvator Fabris · Book I · Thrust in Fourth, body turned.

Plate

Fencer uncovers outside to invite; enemy enters in Second; striker disengages inside and wounds in Fourth with body turned
Fencer uncovers outside to invite; enemy enters in Second; striker disengages inside and wounds in Fourth with body turned De lo Schermo, overo Scienza d'Arme · Copenhagen, 1606 · Plate 31

Translation

This wound in Fourth against a Second may have been made because both were in Third on the outside, and the striker bent his sword and made an opening on the outside in order to give the enemy occasion to come wound there. The enemy, believing that this was only a simple operation for changing place, entered by that opening, judging that he could wound by turning from Third into Second so as to exclude the enemy sword on the outside, carrying the right foot forward. But the other, seeing him come, did not parry; rather, turning the body with the left foot and in the same instant disengaging the sword to the inside and turning the hand into Fourth, he made the said wound.

It may also have happened because both were in Third on the inside, and the striker went to find the other's sword. The other disengaged before it could be found and turned the hand into Second in order to cover himself and wound outside in the time that the first was going to the sword—something which would have succeeded had he wished to parry. But since it seemed to him that he could not defend himself by parrying with a sword that was already in motion to go find the enemy blade, he continued that motion, followed the enemy blade as it disengaged, made a counter-disengagement (contracauatione), turning the body fuori di presenza, and letting that blade pass freely, wounded at the very point at which it was coming on.

Analysis

Initial guards Usually both in Third on the outside; alternate version from inside Third.
Wound Thrust in Fourth, body turned.
Version 1
  1. You lower the point and uncover outside to tempt him (fatto discoperto di fuori).
  2. He thinks you are merely changing guard and enters.
  3. He changes from terza to seconda to exclude your blade outside.
  4. He advances the right foot.
  5. You do not parry.
  6. You turn the body with the left foot.
  7. In the same instant you disengage inside (cavare di dentro) and turn the hand into quarta.
  8. You wound.
Version 2
  1. Both are in terza on the inside.
  2. You go to find his blade.
  3. He disengages first and turns into seconda to cover and strike outside.
  4. Instead of parrying, you continue your original motion.
  5. You follow his disengagement and make a counter-disengagement (contracavazione).
  6. Turning the body fuori di presenza, you let his sword pass and hit in the moment of his advance.

Translation note

Johnson's "engage" should often be: "find" or "gain the blade."
The Steel Marginalia · HEMA Study Group Notes in the margins. Truth in the bind.