Steel Marginalia
[41]

Another Second against Fourth

De lo Schermo, overo Scienza d'Arme
Salvator Fabris · Book I · Thrust in Second while passing with the left foot.

Plate

Both fencers inside in Third; striker feints Fourth; enemy turns with counter-Fourth; striker converts to Second, passes left foot, wounds before enemy recovers
Both fencers inside in Third; striker feints Fourth; enemy turns with counter-Fourth; striker converts to Second, passes left foot, wounds before enemy recovers De lo Schermo, overo Scienza d'Arme · Copenhagen, 1606 · Plate 41

Translation

This other of Second, again against a Fourth, may have come about because both were in Third on the inside, and the striker stood in a stronger position than the enemy and feinted that he wished to wound in Fourth through that enemy's weak. Believing that he was truly coming, the other made a turn of the body with the right foot and a Fourth toward the adversary weak, in order to meet him in the time that he came. But the first, seeing that effect, immediately turned into Second, lowering point and body, and passing with the left foot, and made the said wound by continuing on straight to the enemy body before the wounded man had been able to recover, for he had not passed but turned, and the left foot had remained fixed.

Likewise it may be that the striker went to find the enemy blade on the outside, and that enemy disengaged in Third to the inside; but that the striker in that time feinted a wound in Fourth, and therefore the other wished to make a counter-Fourth through the adversary weak, turning the body out of presence in order to meet him while he came on. The striker, seeing the danger, changed from Fourth into Second and made the wound that is seen, and the enemy blade passed vainly above.

Analysis

Initial guards Both in Third on the inside; alternate from outside engagement.
Wound Thrust in Second while passing with the left foot.
Version 1
  1. You are in the stronger position.
  2. You feint a quarta through his weak.
  3. Thinking the thrust is real, he turns with the right foot and makes a counter-quarta through your weak.
  4. Seeing that, you immediately change to seconda.
  5. You lower point and body.
  6. You pass with the left foot.
  7. You continue to the body before he can recover.
  8. He had only turned, not passed, so he cannot recover as quickly.
Version 2
  1. You go to find the enemy blade outside.
  2. He disengages inside in terza.
  3. In that time you feint in quarta.
  4. He tries a counter-quarta through your weak, turning the body out of presenza.
  5. Seeing the danger, you change quarta → seconda and wound.
  6. His point passes vainly above.

Translation note

This is not just "another Second against a Fourth," but: a Second that defeats a turned or counter-Fourth by passing.
The Steel Marginalia · HEMA Study Group Notes in the margins. Truth in the bind.