And they'll opine they feel the Pain
And Blows they felt to day, again.
Then let us boldly charge them home,
And make no doubt to overcome.
This faid, his Courage to inflame,
He call'd upon his Miftrefs name.
His Pistol next he cock'd anew,
And out his nut-brown Whinyard drew:
And placing Ralpho in the Front,
Referv'd himself to bear the brunt;
As expert Warriors ufe: Then ply'd
With Iron heel his Courfer's fide,
Conveying Sympathetick speed
From heel of Knight to heel of Steed.
Mean while the Foe with equal Rage
And Speed, advancing to engage,
Both Parties now were drawn fo clofe,
Almoft to come to Handy-blows.
When Orfin first let fly a Stone
At Ralpho; not fo huge a one
At that which Diomed did maul
Eneas on the Bum withal
Yet big enough, if rightly hurl'd,
T'have fent him to another World
Whether above-ground, or below,
Which Saints twice dipt are deftin'd to.
The Danger ftartled the bold Squire,
And made him fome few Steps retire.
But Hudibras advanc'd to's Aid,
And rouz'd his Spirits half dismay'd,
He wifely doubting left the Shot
O'th' Enemy, now growing hot,
Might at a Distance gall, preft close,
To come, pell-mell, to handy Blows,
And that he might their Aim decline,
Advanc'd still in an oblique Line;
But prudently forbore to fire,
Till Breast to Breast he had got nigher:
As expert Warriors use to do,
When hand to hand they charge the Foe.
This Order the advent'rous Knight
Moft Soldier-like obferv'd in Fight,
When Fortune (as fhe's wont) turn'd fickle,
And for the Foe began to ftickle.
The more shame for her Goody-fhip,
To give fo near a Friend the flip.
For Colon chufing out a Stone,
Levell❜d fo right, it thumpt upon
His Manly Paunch, with fuch a Force,
As almost beat him off his Horse.
He loft his Whinyard and the Rein;
But laying faft hold on the Mane,
Preferv'd his Seat: And as a Goofe
In Death contracts his Talons clofe;
So did the Knight, and with one Claw
The Tricker of his Piftol draw.
The Gun went off: And, as it was
Still fatal to ftout Hudibras,
In all his Feats of Arms, when least
He dreamt of it, to prosper beft
So now he far'd: The Shot let fly
At random, 'mong the Enemy,
Pierc'd Talgol's Gabberdine, and grazing
Upon his Shoulder, in the paffing
Lodg'd in Magnano's brafs Habergeon,
Who ftraight A Surgeon cry'd, A Surgeon:
He tumbled down and as he fell,
Did Murther, murther, murther yell.
This ftartled their whole Body fo,
That if the Knight had not let go
His Arms, but been in Warlike Plight,
H' had won (the fecond time) the fight.
As, if the Squire had but faln on,
He had inevitably done:
But he, diverted with the care
Of Hudibras his Hurt, forbare
To prefs th' Advantage of his Fortune,
While danger did the reft dishearten.
For he with Cerdon b'ing engag'd
In close Encounter, they both wag'd
The fight fo well, 'twas hard to fay
Which fide was like to get the day.
And now the bufie Work of Death
Had tir'd them fo, th' agreed to breath,
Preparing to renew the Fight;
When the Disaster of the Knight
And t'other Party, did divert
Their fell intent, and forc'd them part.
Ralpho preft up to Hudibras,
And Cerdon, where Magnano was ;
Each striving to confirm his Party
With ftout Encouragements and hearty.
Quoth Ralpho, Courage, valiant Sir,
And let Revenge and Honour ftir
Your Spirits up, once more fall on,
The shatter'd Foe begins to run:
For if but half fo well you knew
Toufe your Victory as fubdue,
They durft not after such a Blow
As you have giv'n them, face us now;
But from fo formidable a Soldier
Had fled like Crows when they smell Powder.
Thrice have they feen your Sword aloft
Wav'd o'er their Heads, and fled as oft.
But if you let them recollect
Their Spirits, now difmay'd and check'd,
You'll have a harder Game to play
Than yet y' have had, to get the Day.
Thus fpoke the ftout Squire ; but was heard By Hudibras with finall regard.
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