Steel Marginalia
[42]

Hit in Third against Third

De lo Schermo, overo Scienza d'Arme
Salvator Fabris · Book I · Under-thrust in Third (terza) to the outside.

Plate

A thrust in Third underneath on the outside after intercepting the opponent’s disengagement
A thrust in Third underneath on the outside after intercepting the opponent’s disengagement De lo Schermo, overo Scienza d'Arme · Copenhagen, 1606 · Plate 42

Translation

This is another wound in Third against Third, made under the sword on the outside. The striker moves as though to gain the enemy blade, but in truth only to make the opponent move. The enemy, seeing the apparent opening, tries to disengage inside and wound in Fourth, lowering the point and advancing so as to put the striker under necessity to parry. But as the enemy lowers the point and comes on, the striker also lets his point fall, lowers the body, meets the enemy weak with hilt or forte, and stops the disengagement while thrusting outside underneath in Third.

The lesson is that one should not always chase a disengagement after it has already gained line. Rather, one may intercept it at the very moment it is being made, taking the weak with the strong and striking under the sword. This is why the initial motion to gain the blade is in truth a provocation: it is made not necessarily to finish the gain, but to draw out the enemy’s line-change and strike in the moment of that change.

Doctrinal note

This is a classic Fabris answer to the disengage: do not chase late; intercept the line-change and wound under the sword.

Analysis

Initial guards Both in Third (terza), usually outside after an attempted gain of the blade.
Wound Under-thrust in Third (terza) to the outside.
  1. You move as though to gain the blade (andare per acquistare / trovare la spada).
  2. The enemy sees the apparent time and tries to disengage inside to wound in quarta.
  3. Your first motion was only to make him move.
  4. As he lowers the point and advances, you also let your point fall and lower the body.
  5. You take his weak with your forte/hilt, stop the disengagement, and wound outside underneath in terza.

Translation note

This is not merely “a hit under the sword.” It is an interception of the disengage through forte-over-debole control.
The Steel Marginalia · HEMA Study Group Notes in the margins. Truth in the bind.