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Some with a noise and greasy light
Are snapt, as men catch larks by night,
Ensnar'd and hamper'd by the soul,
As nooses by the legs catch fowl.
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.

PART II.

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Others believe no voice t' an organ

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So sweet as lawyer 's in his bar-gown,

Until with subtle cobweb-cheats

They're catch'd in knotted law like nets:
In which, when once they are imbrangled,

The more they stir the more they're tangled; 20
And while their purses can dispute,

There's no end of the immortal suit.

Others still gape t' anticipate

The cabinet-designs of Fate,

Apply to wizards to foresee

What shall and what shall never be ;
And, as those vultures do forebode,

Believe events prove bad or good:

A flam more senseless than the roguery

Of old auruspicy and aug'ry,

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That out of garbages of cattle

Presag'd th' events of truce or battle;
From flight of birds, or chickens' 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,

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As in due time and place we'll shew:

For he, with beard and face made clean,

Being mounted on his steed agen,

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(And Ralpho got a-cock-horse too

Upon his beast, with much ado,)
Advanc'd on for the Widow's 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 ruin prove

Both of his honour, faith, and love.

But if he should forbear to go,

She might conclude he 'ad broke his vow;

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"And that he durst not now for shame

Appear in court to try his claim :

This was the penn' worth of his thought,
To pass time, and uneasy trot.

Quoth he, In all my past adventures

I ne'er was set so on the tenters,

Or taken tardy with dilemma

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And quits his clog: but all in vain,

He still draws after him his chain :

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So, though my ankle she has quitted,

My heart continues still committed;
And, like a bail'd and mainpriz'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 judge do partial prove,
What will become of me and love?

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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 honour lost,

Shall be reduc'd t' a Knight o' th' Post!

Beside, that stripping may prevent

What I'm to prove by argument,

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And justify I have a tail,

And that way too my proof may fail.

Oh, that I could enucleate,

And solve the problems of my fate!

Or find by necromantic art

How far the Dest'nies take my part!
For if I were not more than certain

To win, and wear her, and her fortune,
I'd go no farther in this courtship,

To hazard soul, estate, and Worship :
For though an oath obliges not
Where any thing is to be got,

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HUDIBRAS.

(As thou hast prov'd), yet 'tis profane

And sinful when men swear in vain.

PART II.

Quoth Ralph, Not far from hence doth dwell

A cunning man, hight Sidrophel,

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That deals in Destiny's dark counsels,

And sage opinions of the Moon sells ;
To whom all people, far and near,
On deep importances repair;
When brass and pewter hap to stray,
And linen slinks out o' the way;

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disappear

When geese and pullen are seduc'd,
And sows of sucking pigs are chows'd;
When cattle feel indisposition,

And need th' opinion of physician ;
When murrain reigns in hogs or sheep,
And chickens languish of the pip;
When yeast and outward means do fail,
And have no power to work on ale;
When butter does refuse to come,

And love proves cross and humoursome;
To him with questions, and with urine,

They for discov'ry flock, or curing.

Quoth Hudibras, This Sidrophel I've heard of, and should like it well,

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