In other men 'tis but a huff

To vapour with, instead of proof,

That like a wen, looks big and swells,
Insenseless, and just nothing else.
Let it (quoth he) be what it will,
It has the world's opinion still.
But as men are not wise that run

The slightest hazard they may shun,
There may a medium be found out
To clear to all the world the doubt;
And that is, if a man may do 't,
By proxy whipt, or substitute.

Tho' nice and dark the point appear,

(Quoth Ralph) it may hold up and clear.
That Sinners may supply the place

Of suff'ring Saints, is a plain case.
Justice gives sentence many times
On one man for another's crimes.
Our Brethren of New-England use
Choice Malefactors to excuse,

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400

405

410

And hang the Guiltless in their stead,
Of whom the Churches have less need;

Into his hands, or hang, th' offender;

But they maturely having weigh'd
They had no more but him o' th' trade,
(A man that serv'd them in a double
Capacity, to teach and cobble)
Resolv'd to spare him; yet to do
The Indian Hoghan Moghan too
Impartial justice, in his stead did
Hang an old Weaver that was bedrid:

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435

Then wherefore may not you be skipp'd,

And in your room another whipp'd?

For all philosophers, but the Sceptic,

Hold whipping may be sympathetic.

440

It is enough, quoth Hudibras,

Thou hast resolv'd and clear'd the case ;,

And canst, in Conscience, not refuse,

From thy own Doctrine, to raise Use:
I know thou wilt not (for my sake)
Be tender-conscienc'd of thy back:

445

Then strip thee of thy carnal jerkin,
And give thy outward fellow a ferking;
For when thy vessel is new hoop'd,

All leaks of sinning will be stopp'd.

Quoth Ralpho, You mistake the matter,
For in all scruples of this nature,
No man includes himself, nor turns
The point upon his own concerns.

450

As no man of his own self catches

455

The itch, or amorous French aches;

So no man does himself convince,

By his own doctrine, of his sins:

And tho' all cry down self, none means

For we must take our Oaths upon it
You did the deed, when I have done it.
Quoth Hudibras, That's answer'd soon;
Give us the whip, we'll lay it on.

Quoth Ralpho, That we may swear true, 'Twere properer that I whipp'd you;

470

But since no reason can confute ye,
I'll try to force you to your duty;

485

For so it is, howe'er you mince it,
As, e'er we part, I shall evince it;
And curry, (if you stand out) whether
You will or no, your stubborn leather.
Canst thou refuse to bear thy part

I' th' public Work, base as thou art?

499

To higgle thus, for a few blows,

To gain thy Knight an op❜lent spouse,

Whose wealth his bowels yearn to purchase,
Merely for th' int'rest of the Churches?

495

And when he has it in his claws,

Will not be hide-bound to the Cause:
Nor shalt thou find him a curmudgin,
If thou dispatch it without grudging:
If not, resolve, before we go,

That you and I must pull a crow.

Ye 'ad best (quoth Ralpho) as the Ancients.

Say wisely, Have a care o' th' main chance,

And Look before you ere you leap;

For as you sow, ye're like to reap:
And were y' as good as George-a-Green,
I should make bold to turn agen;
Nor am I doubtful of the issue

505

In a just quarrel, and mine is so.

Is't fitting for a man of honour

To whip the Saints, like Bishop Bonner?

510

A Knight t'usurp the Beadle's office,

For which y' are like to raise brave trophies?
But I advise you (not for fear,

But for your own sake) to forbear,

And for the Churches, which may chance,

515

From hence, to spring a variance,

And raise among themselves new scruples,
Whom common danger hardly couples.
Remember how in arms and politics

We still have worsted all your holy tricks;

520

Trepann'd your Party with intrigue,
And took your Grandees down a peg;
New-modell'd th' Army, and cashier'd
All that to Legion Smec adher'd;
Made a mere utensil o' your Church,
And after left it in the lurch;

525