Steel Marginalia
[42]

Fourth against Third using the left hand

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

Plate

Both fencers outside in Third; striker feints, places left hand on enemy blade, disengages to Fourth, passes left foot to wound at right flank
Both fencers outside in Third; striker feints, places left hand on enemy blade, disengages to Fourth, passes left foot to wound at right flank De lo Schermo, overo Scienza d'Arme · Copenhagen, 1606 · Plate 42

Translation

Here will follow a wound in Fourth against a Third, caused because the striker, being in Third on the outside, as also was the adversary, feinted that he wished to wound with that Third on the outside. The other went to parry, intending then to wound by driving the right foot forward, enticed by having seen the enemy move without time. That enemy, seeing him go to parry and wound, put his left hand to the inside of the adversary's sword and disengaged into Fourth, passing beyond with the left foot, and thus made the wound in the joint of the right flank.

It may also be that the striker was on the inside and disengaged while showing an outside wound, and the other wished to parry; and that the striker, putting the left hand to the enemy sword, made the said wound. These defenses with the left hand, which will be seen here, are set down to show how, only in case of necessity, they may sometimes be used; and one will also see certain effects that will show how easily such defenses may be deceived. At the end of the book Fabris says he will speak of a way of working against which that left hand will avail nothing and will not be able to parry.

Analysis

Initial guards Both in Third outside; alternate from inside.
Wound Thrust in Fourth.
Version 1
  1. You feint to hit outside in terza.
  2. He moves to parry and then hit, stepping with the right foot, because he thinks you moved without time.
  3. Seeing his parry-and-hit, you place the left hand inside his sword.
  4. You disengage in quarta.
  5. You pass with the left foot.
  6. You hit him at the joint of the right flank.
Version 2
  1. You are inside.
  2. You disengage, showing an outside hit.
  3. He tries to parry.
  4. You set the left hand on his sword and make the wound.

Translation note

Fabris clearly limits this: left-hand parries are for necessity only, and can easily be deceived.
The Steel Marginalia · HEMA Study Group Notes in the margins. Truth in the bind.