Steel Marginalia
[47]

Fourth against a Third that wants to hit under the sword

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

Plate

Striker inside; enemy raises left hand to head and lowers for inside hit; striker lowers point between enemy's arms, hand in Fourth, wounds before recovery
Striker inside; enemy raises left hand to head and lowers for inside hit; striker lowers point between enemy's arms, hand in Fourth, wounds before recovery De lo Schermo, overo Scienza d'Arme · Copenhagen, 1606 · Plate 47

Translation

And this other likewise will be a Fourth which wounds against a Third that wished to wound beneath the sword. It proceeded from the striker, being on the inside, feinting that he wished to wound toward the right side of the enemy face, and from that enemy wishing to parry with the left hand while lowering the body in order to wound underneath on the inside. But the other, who had feinted, taking the time of the raising of the hand made by that man in order to defend his head, lowered the point between one arm and the other at the very time the opening was being made, and by turning the hand into Fourth and turning the body with the left foot, wounded him, so that the enemy could not parry because the sword, shut between the two arms, remained in such a way that it could not be pushed aside without changing the whole effect.

Analysis

Initial guards You are inside; enemy intends left-hand parry plus low inside hit.
Wound Thrust in Fourth.
  1. You feint toward the right side of the enemy's face.
  2. He tries to parry with the left hand.
  3. He lowers the body to hit under the sword on the inside.
  4. You seize the tempo of his hand rising to protect the head.
  5. You lower your point between his two arms.
  6. In the same time you turn the hand into quarta.
  7. You turn the body with the left foot and hit.
  8. He cannot parry because your sword is shut between his two arms and cannot be pushed aside without changing action.

Translation note

The decisive action is: you exploit the opening created by the left hand lifting.
The Steel Marginalia · HEMA Study Group Notes in the margins. Truth in the bind.