Are mine by military law, Of which I will not bate one straw; The rest, thy life and limbs, once more, Though doubly forfeit, I restore. Quoth Hudibras, It is too late Concerns not me; but was 't not thou His generous bowels rage and fret: But now thy carcafe fhall redeem, 895 900 905 910 This Ver. 913, 914.] This was but an equitable retaliation, though very difgraceful to one of the Knight's ftation. Is not the Poet to be blamed for bringing his hero to fuch a direful condition, and for representing him as ftript and degraded by a trull? No, certainly. It was her right, by the law of arms (which the Poet must observe), to ufe her captive at her pleasure. Trulla K 3 acted Then threw it o'er his sturdy back. The length of breeches, and the gathers, Meanwhile the other champions, yerft In Lurry of the fight difperft, Upon him in a wooden fhower, 925 930 935 She acted more honourably by him than he expected, and generously screened him from a threatening ftorm, ready to be poured on him by her comrades. With what pomp and folemnity does this famous heroine lead the captive in triumph to the ftocks, to the eternal honour of her fix! She brandish'd o'er her head his fword, And vow'd they should not break her word ; By Hudibras, as yet lay fast, Where, to the hard and ruthless stones, This ftopp'd their fury, and the bafting Which towards Hudibras was hafting; They thought it was but juft and right 940 945 950 955 And Talgol that which Ralpho preft; All The Knight and Squire they firft unhorse, 985 990 And with an iron mace laid flat A breach, which straight all enter'd at, And in the wooden dungeon found Crowdero laid upon the ground: With luscious vengeance to affuage ; 995 For For he no fooner was at large, But Trulla ftraight brought on the charge, The Knight and Squire where he was fhut; Which they advanc'd, they march'd away: In the fame order and array But Hudibras, who scorn'd to stoop To Fortune, or be faid to droop, 1000 1005 1010 Cheer'd up himself with ends of verse, And sayings of philosophers. Quoth he, Th' one half of man, his mind, 'Tis not restraint, or liberty, The mind, or equanimities. The whole world was not half fo wide To Alexander, when he cry'd, As was a paltry narrow tub to 1015 1020 Diogenes; Ver. 1003.] Where leaving them in Hockley-i'th'bole. Altered, 1674, to, I' the wretched hole. Ref tored, 1704. |