45

This b'ing profeft, we hope's enough,
And now go on where we left off.

They rode, but authors having not
Determin'd whether pace or trot,
(This is to fay, whether tollutation,
As they do term it, or fuccufation)
We leave it, and go on, as now
50 Suppose they did, no matter how,
Yet fome from fubtle hints have got
Mysterious light, it was a trot.
But let that pafs: they now begun
To fpur their living engines on.
55 For as whipp'd tops, and bandy'd balls,
The learned hold, are animals:

So horses they affirm to be

Mere engines made by geometry;
And were invented firft from engines,
60 As Indian Britains were from penguins.
So let them be, as I was faying,

They their live engines play'd, not staying
Until they reach'd the fatal champain,
Which th' enemy did then incamp on :

1

47 That is to fay, whether tollutation,
As they do term it, or fuccuffation.

The American Indians call

Tollutation and fuccufation are only Latin words for ambling and trotting, though I believe both were natural amongst the old Romans; fince I never read, they made use of the tramel, or any other art, to pace their horses. 60 As Indian Britains, etc.] a great bird they have, with a white head, a penguin; which fignifies the same thing in the British tongue; from whence (with other words of the fame kind) fome authors have endeavoured to prove, that the Americans are originally derived from the Britains.

65 The dire Pharfalian plain, where battle
Was to be wag'd 'twixt puissant cattle,
And fierce auxiliary men,

That came to aid their bretheren :
Who now began to take the field,
70 As knight from ridge of steed beheld.
For as our modern wits behold,
Mounted a pick-back on the old,
Much farther off, much farther he,
Rais'd on his aged beaft, could fee:
Yet not fufficient to defcry

75

All postures of the enemy;

Wherefore he bids the squire ride further,
T' obferve their numbers, and their order,
That, when their motions he had known,
80 He might know how to fit his own.
Meanwhile he stopp'd his willing steed,
To fit himself for martial deed:
Both kinds of metal he prepar'd,
Either to give blows, or to ward:
85 Courage and fteel, both of great force,
Prepar'd for better or for worse.

His death-charg'd piftols he did fit well,
Drawn out from life-preferving vittel.
Thefe being prim'd, with force he labour'd
90 To free's fword from retentive scabbord:
And after many a painful pluck,
From rufty durance he bail'd tuck.

65 The dire, etc] Pharfalia is a city of Theffaly, famous for the battle won by Julius Caefar against Pompey the great, in the neighbouring plains, in the 607th year of Rome, of which read Lucan's Pharfalia.

Then fhook himself, to fee that prowess In fcabbard of his arms fat loofe; 95 And rais'd upon his defp'rate foot, On stirrup-fide he gaz'd about, Portending blood, like blazing ftar, The beacon of approaching war. Ralpho rode on with no lefs speed 100 Than Hugo in the forest did:

But far more in returning made, For now the foe he had survey'd, Rang'd, as to him they did appear, With van, main battle, wings, and rear. 105 I' th' head of all this warlike rabble, Crowdero march'd, expert and able. Instead of trumpet and of drum, That makes the warrior's stomach come, Whofe noise whets valour fharp, like beer

110 By thunder turn'd to vinegar ;

(For if a trumpet found, or drum beat, Who has not a month's mind to combat?) A fqueaking engine he apply'd Unto his neck, on north-east fide, 115 Juft where the hangman does difpofe, To fpecial friends, the knot of noose : For 'tis great grace when flatefmen strait Difpatch a friend, let others wait. His warped ear hung o'er the strings, 120 Which was but foufe to chitterlings:

For guts, fome write, ere they are fodden,
Are fit for mufic, or for pudden :
From whence men borrow ev'ry kind
Of minftrelfy, by ftring or wind.

125 His grifly beard was long and thick,
With which he strung his fiddle-stick :
For he to horse-tail scorn'd to owe,
For what on his own chin did grow.
Chiron, the four-legg'd bard, had both
130 A beard and tail of his own growth;
And yet by authors 'tis averr'd,
He made use only of his beard.
In Staffordshire, where virtuous worth
Does raise the minstrelfy, not birth;
135 Where bulls do chuse the boldest king,
And ruler o'er the men of string;

(As once in Perfia 'tis faid,

Kings were proclaim'd by a horse that neigh'd)
He bravely vent'ring at a crown,

140 By chance of war was beaten down,

And wounded fore: his leg then broke,

Had got a deputy of oak:
For when a fhin in fight is cropt,
The knee with one of timber's propt,

129 Chiron, the, etc.] Chiron, a Centaur, fon to Saturn and Phylliris, living in the mountains, where, being much given to hunting, he became very knowing in the virtues of plants, and one of the most famous phyficians of his time. He imparted his skill to Æfculapius, and was afterwards Apollo's governor, until being wounded by Hercules, and defiring to die, Jupiter placed him in heaven, where he forms the fign of Sagittarius, or the Archer.

133 In Staffordshire, where virtuous worth

Does raise the minstrelsy, not birth, etc.

The whole hiftory of this ancient ceremony, you may read at large in Dr. Plot's history of Staffordshire, under the town Tutbury.

145 Efteem'd more honourable than the other,

And takes place though the younger brother.
Next march'd brave Orfin, famous for
Wife conduct, and fuccefs in war;

A fkilful leader, ftout, fevere,
150 Now marshal to the champion bear.
With truncheon tipt with iron head,
The warrior to the lifts he led ;
With folemn march, and stately pace,
But far more grave and folemn face.
155 Grave as the emperor of Pegu,
Or Spanish potentate Don Diego.
This leader was of knowlege great,
Either for charge, or for retreat.
He knew when to fall on pell-mell,
160. To fall back and retreat as well.
So lawyers, left the bear defendant,
And plantiff dog, fhould make an end on't,
Do ftave and tail with writs of error,
Reverfe of judgment, and demurrer,

165 To let them breathe a while, and then,
Cry whoop, and set them on agen.
As Romulus a wolf did rear,
So he was dry-nurs'd by a bear,
That fed him with the purchas'd prey
170 Of many a fierce and bloody fray;
Bred up, where difcipline most rare is,
In military Garden Paris.

155 Grave as the, etc.] For the hiftory of Pegu, read Mandelfa and Olearius's travels.

172 In military, etc.] Paris Garden in Southwark took its name from the poffeffor.

F