Fourth against a sword raised for mandritto
Plate
Translation
This is a wound in Fourth against a sword raised to strike mandritto at the head. Both are on the outside, and the striker has gone to find the enemy blade (trouare la spada nimica), which may have been in Third or in Second. While that blade rises to wound with mandritto at the head, the striker, already in motion with Fourth in going to find it, does nothing other than extend his sword and advance the right foot, so that he arrives before the enemy blade falls.
Even if that cut had fallen, it would have done nothing, because in extending he has raised the hand enough to cover the head and defend from the cut. That cut, being made from the elbow (col gombito), leaves much uncovered and is slow to wound, and so causes the present wound. If, however, the cut had been made with the wrist (col nodo della mano), then in the very time that the striker wounded, the enemy blade would have fallen upon his sword, and thus one would see defense and offense together. Since it happened otherwise, here one sees only the offense.
Even if the cut had fallen, it would have achieved nothing, because in extending, the striker has raised the hand enough to cover the head, defending against the cut. That cut, because it is made with the elbow, leaves much uncovered and is slow to wound, which is why it gives rise to this wound. Fabris adds that if the cut had been made only with the wrist (col nodo della mano), then the descending blade would have fallen upon the defender's sword during the thrust, so that one would see both offense and defense together.
Analysis
- You go to find the enemy blade outside (andato a trovare la spada nimica).
- The enemy raises to strike mandritto to the head (si levava per ferire di mandiritto per testa).
- You were already moving in quarta.
- You simply extend and advance the right foot (slongare la sua inanzi, avanzare il destro piede).
- You arrive before his cut falls.
- Even if the cut fell, your raised hand would protect the head.