Steel Marginalia
[43]

Third against Fourth using the left hand

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

Plate

Both fencers inside in Third; striker feints Fourth, enemy counters in Fourth; striker drops to Third, left hand deflects enemy blade, wounds in chest
Both fencers inside in Third; striker feints Fourth, enemy counters in Fourth; striker drops to Third, left hand deflects enemy blade, wounds in chest De lo Schermo, overo Scienza d'Arme · Copenhagen, 1606 · Plate 43

Translation

This other of Third, which follows against a Fourth, was made because, both finding themselves in Third on the inside, the striker feinted a wound in Fourth on the inside, and the other wished to wound with a counter-Fourth through the adversary weak. The first, in the proper time, lowered the sword-hand into Third and brought the left hand to the enemy sword, which was coming to wound, lowering and turning the body with the left side forward so much that his hand carried the enemy sword away, and he wounded the adversary in the chest.

It may also have occurred in this other way: the striker, being on the outside, had driven the enemy sword away, and the other wished to disengage and wound in Fourth on the inside; and that same striker parried with the hand, wounding below as is seen.

Further, it may very well be that they were on the outside and the wounded man came to find the sword of the enemy, who turned the hand into Fourth so as not to let his sword be occupied; and that the said wounded man then wished to wound with another Fourth through the opening he saw, and that the other in that time parried and made such a wound.

Analysis

Initial guards Both in Third inside; alternate versions from outside.
Wound Thrust in Third.
Version 1
  1. You feint a quarta inside.
  2. He tries a counter-quarta through your weak.
  3. In the same time you lower your sword hand to terza.
  4. You carry the left hand to his incoming blade.
  5. You lower and turn the body with the left side forward.
  6. Your hand carries his sword away.
  7. You hit him in the chest.
Version 2
  1. You are outside and push his blade away.
  2. He disengages and tries to hit in quarta inside.
  3. You parry with the hand and hit below.
Version 3
  1. Both are outside.
  2. He tries to find your blade.
  3. You turn the hand into quarta to avoid occupation.
  4. He tries another quarta to the opening.
  5. In that time you parry and hit.

Translation note

Again, this belongs to the "left-hand emergency" material, not Fabris' preferred standard fencing.
The Steel Marginalia · HEMA Study Group Notes in the margins. Truth in the bind.