The courage of the braveft daunt, And turn poltroons as valiant: For men as refolute appear With too much, as too little fear; And, when they're out of hopes of flying,. Or turn again to stand it out, And those they fled, like lions, rout. This Hudibras had prov'd too true, And haunted with detachments, fent 25 30 35 40 Disguis'd in all the masks of night, We left our champion on his flight, He knew as little whither, fled, He never was in greater need, To keep the enemy, and fear, From equal falling on his rear. And though, with kicks and bangs he ply'd, As feamen ride with all their force, 45 50 55 And tug as if they row'd the horse, 60 And when the hackney fails more swift, So, tho' he posted e'er so fast, His fear was greater than his hafte : For fear, though fleeter than the wind, 65 70 And forc'd him from the foe t' escape, Had turn'd itself to Ralpho's shape, So like in perfon, garb, and pitch, 'Twas hard t' interpret which was which. For Ralpho had no sooner told The Lady all he had t' unfold, To entertain th' approaching knight; 75 And while he gave himself diverfion, For when the ceremony was done, The Knight miftook him for an elf; And did so still, till he began 80 85 90 To fcruple at Ralph's outward man, And thought, because they oft' agreed 95 And act the faint's and devil's part, They might have done fo now, perhaps, And put on one another's shapes ; Retainer to his fynagogue? 100 105 Alas! quoth he, I'm none of those Your bofom friends, as you suppose, But Ralph himself, your trufty Squire, Who 'as dragg'd your donship out o' th' mire, And from th' enchantments of a widow, Who'ad turn'd you int' a beast, have freed you; And, tho' a prisoner of war, Have brought you safe, where now you are; |