Fabris -- Plate 27

This illustration shows a wound of second against a sword in third out of line. Both contenders start in third to the inside, and our fencer moves to find the opponent’s sword. The opponent uses that tempo to turn a fendente riverso to the opening created to the outside around our fencer’s head and shoulder. But as our fencer sees the opponent’s sword turn for the cut, he changes from third to second – covering the opening – and in the same tempo pushes forward for the counter. Our fencer is therefore able to reach the opponent’s body before the opponent’s sword has time to finish its swing. Had there even been time to finish the cut, it would have fallen on our fencer’s blade, which is aptly poised for the defense.