Steel Marginalia
[60]

Fourth against Third using the left hand

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

Plate

Both fencers outside in Third; striker feints, places left hand on enemy blade, disengages to Fourth, passes left foot to wound at right flank
Both fencers outside in Third; striker feints, places left hand on enemy blade, disengages to Fourth, passes left foot to wound at right flank De lo Schermo, overo Scienza d'Arme · Copenhagen, 1606 · Plate 60

Translation

Here follows a wound in Fourth against Third, caused because the striker, being in Third on the outside like the adversary, feigns as though he wishes to wound from that same outside Third. The other goes to parry in order then to wound by pushing the right foot forward, enticed by having seen the enemy move without time. But the striker, seeing him go to parry and wound, places the left hand on the inside of the enemy sword, disengages in Fourth, passes beyond with the left foot, and thus makes the wound at the joint of the right flank.

It may also happen that the striker is on the inside and disengages while showing an outside wound, and the other wishes to parry; then the striker, placing the left hand to the enemy sword, makes the same wound. Fabris says expressly that these defenses with the left hand are included only to show that in necessity they may sometimes be used, and that one will also see effects that show how easily such defenses may be deceived. At the end of the book, he says, he will speak of a mode of acting against which that left hand will avail nothing and will not be able to parry.

Analysis

Initial guards Both in Third outside; alternate from inside.
Wound Thrust in Fourth.
Version 1
  1. You feint to hit outside in terza.
  2. He moves to parry and then hit, stepping with the right foot, because he thinks you moved without time.
  3. Seeing his parry-and-hit, you place the left hand inside his sword.
  4. You disengage in quarta.
  5. You pass with the left foot.
  6. You hit him at the joint of the right flank.
Version 2
  1. You are inside.
  2. You disengage, showing an outside hit.
  3. He tries to parry.
  4. You set the left hand on his sword and make the wound.

Translation note

Fabris clearly limits this: left-hand parries are for necessity only, and can easily be deceived.
The Steel Marginalia · HEMA Study Group Notes in the margins. Truth in the bind.