Steel Marginalia
[35]

First against Second

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

Plate

Both fencers inside in Third; enemy disengages outside to Second for overhead thrust; striker converts to First, body lowered, hilt closing the high line
Both fencers inside in Third; enemy disengages outside to Second for overhead thrust; striker converts to First, body lowered, hilt closing the high line De lo Schermo, overo Scienza d'Arme · Copenhagen, 1606 · Plate 35

Translation

A wound in First, seen here following, against a Second, must have happened because, both being on the inside in Third, the striker went to find the enemy sword. The enemy took the time while the first wished to oppress that sword, and disengaged to the outside, turning the hand into Second and carrying himself forward in order to wound the adversary above the sword through the opening that he had made in wishing to oppress it. But that adversary, seeing the disengagement and the blow that the other wished to make, took that time and turned from Third into First, lowering the body so much that the head remained wholly covered and defended by the hilt and the right arm, and also closed out the Second on the outside, because in turning into First the hilt went so high that it covered the place where the enemy aimed to wound with that Second. Thus the point, which was meant to wound above, remained below and excluded by the adversary's strong.

It may also be that the striker came to find the sword of the other, and that the wounded man wished to turn a riverso to the arm through the opening he saw; and that the striker, merely by turning from Third into First, defended himself and covered that arm with the strong, so that the other could do nothing, but in the same time remained wounded.

Analysis

Initial guards Both in Third on the inside.
Wound Thrust in First.
  1. You go to find the enemy blade.
  2. He takes the time while you try to suppress or dominate it (opprimere la spada).
  3. He disengages outside, turns into seconda, and goes forward to strike over the sword.
  4. Seeing the disengagement, you seize the tempo.
  5. You turn from terza to prima.
  6. You lower the body deeply so the head is fully covered by hilt and right arm.
  7. Your hilt rises high enough to close the line he aimed at.
  8. His point, which aimed high, remains below and excluded by your strong.
Alternate
  1. He may instead attempt a riverso to the arm; the same conversion terza → prima covers the arm with the forte and wounds him in the same time.

Translation note

"subject his sword" is not ideal. Better: "press down / dominate / suppress his blade" for _opprimere la spada_.
The Steel Marginalia · HEMA Study Group Notes in the margins. Truth in the bind.