Or wait for customers between The pillar-rows in Lincoln's-Inn ; And affidavit-men ne'er fail T'expose to fale all forts of oaths, Besides the gospel, and their souls; And when ye're furnish'd with all purveys, I fhall be ready at your service. I would not give, quoth Hudibras, A ftraw to understand a cafe, Without the admirable skill To wind and manage it at will; To veer, and tack, and fteer a cause, 765 770 775 And ring the changes upon cafes, As plain as noses upon faces: 780 As you have well instructed me, For which you've earn'd, here 'tis, your fee. I long to practise your advice, And try the fubtle artifice; To bait a letter as you bid, As, not long after, thus he did : 785 ΑΝ HEROICAL EPISTLE OF HUDIBRAS TO HIS LADY. I WHO was once as great as Cæfar, As ever took degree in war, Or did his exercise in battle, By you turn'd out to graze with cattle. Am fall'n from the paradise Of your good graces, and fair eyes; Where all the hopes I had t' have won Your heart, b'ing dafh'd, will break my own. Yet if you were not so severe To pass your doom before you hear, How much y' have wrong'd my innocence. Which yet is unperform'd 'tis true; 'Tis violated, though delay'd. Or if it were, it is no fault. So heinous, as you'ld have it thought; Like vulgar hackney perjurers: For there's a difference in the cafe, Between the noble and the base; Who always are obferv'd to 've done 't 15 20 25 30 The one for great and weighty cause, To falve, in honour, ugly flaws; For none are like to do it fooner, Than those who 're niceft of their honour; Forfwear and perjure by the day, And make th' expofing and retailing To say he nat❜rally abhorr'd Th' old fashion'd trick to keep his word, In meaner men, to do the fame: Is found more useful to the great 35 40 45 |