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With Orange-tawny-slime, his Beard:
But Beard, and slime being of one Hue,
The wound the less appear'd in view.
Then he that on the Panniers rode,
Let fly o' th' other side a load;
And quickly charg'd again, gave fully
In Ralpho's face, another Volley.
The Knight was startl'd with the smell,
And for his sword began to feel:
And Ralpho smother'd with the stink,
Grasp'd his when one that bore a Link,
O' th' sudden, clap'd his flaming Cudgel,
Like Linstock, to the Horse's touch-hole;
And streight another with his Flambeaux,
Gave Ralpho's, o'er the eyes, a damn'd blow.
The Beasts began to kick, and fling,
And forc'd the Rout to make a Ring.
Through which they quickly broke their way,
And brought them off from further fray;
And though disorder'd in Retreat,
Each of them stoutly kept his seat:
For quitting both their Swords and Rains,

They grasp'd with all their strength the manes;
And to avoid the foes pursuit,

With spurring put their Cattle to't,
And till all four were out of wind,
And danger too, ne'r lookt behind.
After th' had paus'd a while, supplying
Their spirits spent with fight and flying,
And Hudibras recruited force,
Of Lungs, for action or discourse:

Quoth he, that man is sure to lose,
That fouls his hands with durty foes:
For where no honor's to be gain'd,
'Tis thrown away in being maintain❜d,
'Twas ill for us, we had to do
With so dishonorable a Foe:
For though the Law of Arms does bar
The use of venom'd shot in War,
Yet by the nauseous smell, and noisom,

Their Case-shot savours strong of poison;
And doubtless have been chew'd with teeth
Of some that had a stinking breath:
Else when we put it to the push,
They had not giv'n us such a brush.
But as those Pultroons that fling durt,
Do but defile, but cannot hurt;
So all the Honor they have won,
Or we have lost, is much at one.
'Twas well we made so resolute
A brave Retreat, without pursuit ;
For if we had not, we had sped
Much worse, to be in Triumph led;
Than which, the Ancients held no state,
Of Man's life more unfortunate.

But if this bold Adventure e'er
Do chance to reach the Widows ear,
It may, b'ing destin'd to assert
Her Sex's Honor, reach her heart,
And as such homely Treats (they say)
Portend good fortune, so this may.
Vespasian being dawb'd with durt,
Was destin'd to the Empire for't:
And from a Scavinger did come
To be a mighty Prince in Rome:
And why may not this foul Address
Presage in Love the same success?

Then let us streight to cleanse our wounds,
Advance in quest of nearest Ponds;

And after (as we first design'd)

Swear I've perform'd what she enjoin'd.

CANTO III.

THE

ARGUMENT.

The Knight with various doubts possest
To win the Lady, goes in Quest

Of Sidrophel the Rosy-crucian,
To know the Dest' nies resolution;

With whom being met, they both chop Logick
About the Science Astrologick.

Till falling from Dispute, to Fight,
The Conjurer's worsted by the Knight.

Dou

Oubtless the pleasure is as great
Of being cheated, as to cheat.

As lookers-on feel most delight,
That least perceive a Juglers slight;
And still the less they understand,
The more th' admire his slight of hand.
Some with a noise, and greasie light,
Are snapt, as men catch Larks by night;
Ensnar'd and hamper'd by the Soul,
As Noozes by the legs catch Foul.

Some with a Med'cine, and Receipt,
Are drawn to nibble at the Bait;
And though it be a two-foot Trout,
'Tis with a single hair pull'd out.

Others believe no Voice t' an Organ;
So sweet as Lawyer in his Bar-gown.

Until, with subtle Cobweb-cheats,

Th' are catch'd in knotted Law, like Nets:
In which, when once they are imbrangled,
The more they stir, the more th're tangled;
And while their Purses can dispute,
There's no end of th' immortal Suit.
Others still gape t' anticipate
The Cabinet designs of Fate,
Apply to Wisards to fore-see

What shall, and what shall never be:
And as those Vulturs do foreboad,
Believe Events prove bad, or good.
A flam more sensless than the Roguery
Of old Aruspicy and Augury.
That out of Garbages of Cattle,
Presag'd th' events of Truce, or Battle;
From flight of Birds, or Chickins pecking,
Success of great'st attempts would reckon;
Though Cheats, yet more intelligible,
Than those that with the Stars do fribble.
This Hudibras by proof found true,
As in due time and place we'll shew.
For He, with Beard and Face made clean,
Being mounted on his Steed agen, 43
(And Ralpho got a Cock-horse too
Upon his Beast, with much ado)
Advanc'd on for the Widows house,
T'acquit himself and pay his Vows;
When various thoughts began to bustle,
And with his inward man to justle.
He thought what danger might accrue,
If she should find he swore untrue:
Or, if his Squire, or he should fail,
And not be punctual in their Tale;
It might at once the ruine prove
Both of his Honor, Faith, and Love.
But if he should forbear to go,

She might conclude h' had broke his Vow;
And that he durst not now for shame
Appear in Court to try his Claim.

20

This was the Pen'worth of his thought,
To pass time, and uneasie trot.

Quoth he, in all my past Adventures,
I ne'er was set so on the Tenters,
Or taken tardy with Dilemma,

That, every way I turn, does hem me;
And with inextricable doubt,
Besets my puzled Wits about:

For though the Dame has been my Bail,
To free me from enchanted Jail:
Yet as a Dog committed close

For some offence, by chance breaks loose,
And quits his Clog; but all in vain,
He still draws after him his Chain.
So though my Ankle she has quitted,
My Heart continues still committed.
And like a Bay'd and Main-priz'd Lover,
Although at large, I am bound over.
And when I shall appear in Court,
To plead my Cause, and answer for't
Unless the fudge do partial prove,
What will become of Me and Love?
For, if in our account we vary,
Or but in Circumstance miscarry,
Or if she put me to strict proof,
And make me pull my Doublet off,
To shew by evident Record,

Writ on my skin, I've kept my word:
How can I e'er expect to have her,
Having demurr'd unto her favour?
But Faith, and Love, and Honor lost,
Shall be reduc'd t'a Knight o' th' Post:
Beside, that Stripping may prevent
What I'm to prove by Argument ;
And justifie I have a Tail,

And that way too, my proof may fail.
Or that I could enucleate,

And solve the Problems of my Fate;
Or find by Necromantick Art,
How far the Dest'nies take my part;

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