Steel Marginalia
[61]

Third against Fourth using the left hand

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

Plate

Both fencers inside in Third; striker feints Fourth, enemy counters in Fourth; striker drops to Third, left hand deflects enemy blade, wounds in chest
Both fencers inside in Third; striker feints Fourth, enemy counters in Fourth; striker drops to Third, left hand deflects enemy blade, wounds in chest De lo Schermo, overo Scienza d'Arme · Copenhagen, 1606 · Plate 61

Translation

This next wound in Third against Fourth happens because, both being in Third on the inside, the striker feigns a wound in Fourth on the inside, and the other wishes to wound with a counter-Fourth through the enemy weak. Then the striker, in that same time, lowers the sword hand into Third, brings the left hand to the enemy blade that was coming to wound, while lowering and turning the body with the left side forward, so that the hand carries the enemy blade outside and he wounds the adversary in the chest.

It may also happen in another way: if the striker is on the outside and has pushed the enemy blade, and the other wishes to disengage and wound in Fourth on the inside, then the same striker parries with the hand and wounds below, as shown. Or again, both may be on the outside, and the wounded man comes to find the enemy blade, while the striker turns the hand into Fourth so as not to let his blade be occupied; then that wounded man wishes to wound through the opening he sees with another Fourth, and the striker in that same time has parried and made such a wound. The play therefore belongs to the emergency left-hand family, but with a finishing thrust in Third.

Analysis

Initial guards Both in Third inside; alternate versions from outside.
Wound Thrust in Third.
Version 1
  1. You feint a quarta inside.
  2. He tries a counter-quarta through your weak.
  3. In the same time you lower your sword hand to terza.
  4. You carry the left hand to his incoming blade.
  5. You lower and turn the body with the left side forward.
  6. Your hand carries his sword away.
  7. You hit him in the chest.
Version 2
  1. You are outside and push his blade away.
  2. He disengages and tries to hit in quarta inside.
  3. You parry with the hand and hit below.
Version 3
  1. Both are outside.
  2. He tries to find your blade.
  3. You turn the hand into quarta to avoid occupation.
  4. He tries another quarta to the opening.
  5. In that time you parry and hit.

Translation note

Again, this belongs to the "left-hand emergency" material, not Fabris' preferred standard fencing.
The Steel Marginalia · HEMA Study Group Notes in the margins. Truth in the bind.