Steel Marginalia
[58]

Second against a passed Fourth

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

Plate

Enemy passed in Fourth; striker lowers point under the hilt, passes left foot, bends body deeply into Second out of presence
Enemy passed in Fourth; striker lowers point under the hilt, passes left foot, bends body deeply into Second out of presence De lo Schermo, overo Scienza d'Arme · Copenhagen, 1606 · Plate 58

Translation

This wound in Second against a Fourth passed with the left foot easily arises because the one who has made the Fourth goes to find the enemy blade on the outside, while that blade is in Third; and the other disengages from that Third. The first then wishes to wound in Fourth through the enemy weak, passing beyond with the left foot; but he who has disengaged lowers the point beneath the enemy hilt in that same time, and, also passing with the left foot and curving the whole body over that foot, turns the hand into Second, so that he comes far out from the presence of the enemy point and makes the shown wound.

This wound may also arise when both are in Third on the inside, and the striker widens with the point while making a slight turn of the hand toward Fourth. Seeing that opening, the enemy wishes to gain his weak and wound in the same time by passing with the left foot; but before he has arrived at the weak, the striker lowers the point beneath the enemy hilt, where it cannot be found, and in the same time carries the body out of presence and bends it over the passed left foot. So low, and already well advanced, he is able to penetrate to the enemy body. Fabris then adds a third way, from Third on the outside, in which a threatened mandritto to the head causes the enemy to turn into Fourth and pass in order to strike in the same time; then the original striker checks his blade near the enemy without letting them touch, turns the hand into Second, lowers the point under the enemy hilt, passes with the left foot, and bends the body so much that the point which sought the chest passes above. From this Fabris concludes how dangerous it is to parry, even when one wounds in the same time.

Analysis

Initial guards Enemy in Fourth passed with left foot; multiple alternate entries.
Wound Thrust in Second.
Version 1
  1. Enemy in quarta goes to find your terza outside.
  2. You disengage in terza.
  3. He wants to hit with quarta through your weak while passing with the left foot.
  4. In that same time you lower your point under his hilt.
  5. You also pass with the left foot.
  6. You bend the whole body over that foot.
  7. You turn the hand into seconda.
  8. You move far from the presenza of his point and wound.
Version 2
  1. Both are in terza inside.
  2. You widen with the point and make a slight turn toward quarta.
  3. He sees the opening and tries to gain your weak and wound while passing.
  4. Before he reaches your weak, you lower the point under his hilt.
  5. He cannot find your point.
  6. In one tempo you carry the body fuori di presenza and bend over the passed left foot.
  7. Already advanced and low, you penetrate to the body.
Version 3
  1. Both are in terza outside.
  2. Enemy goes to find your blade.
  3. You threaten mandritto at the head with the wrist only.
  4. He changes terza → quarta to defend and passes with the left foot to hit in the same time.
  5. You check your sword near his without touching.
  6. Then immediately turn the hand into seconda, lower the point under his hilt, pass with the left foot, and bend the body deeply.
  7. His point passes over.

Translation note

Fabris' lesson is explicit: even a parry while striking in the same time is dangerous; avoid parrying if possible.
The Steel Marginalia · HEMA Study Group Notes in the margins. Truth in the bind.