When we courageously did wield
Our martial weapons in the field,
To tug for victory: and when
We shall our shining blades again
Brandish in terror o'er our heads,
They'll straight resume their wonted dreads:
Fear is an ague, that forsakes
And haunts by fits those whom it takes:
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.
As expert warriors use: then ply'd
With iron heel his courser's side,
Conveying sympathetic speed
From heel of Knight to heel of steed.
Meanwhile the foe, with equal rage
And speed, advancing to engage,
Both parties now were drawn so close,
Almost to come to handy blows:
When Orsin first let fly a stone
At Ralpho; not so huge a one
As that which Diomed did maul
Æneas on the bum withal;
Yet big enough, if rightly hurl'd,
T' have sent him to another world,
Whether above ground or below,
Which saints twice dipt are destin'd to.
The danger startled the bold Squire,
And made him some few steps retire;
But Hudibras advanc'd to his aid,
And rous'd his spirits hal dismay'd.
He wisely doubting lest the shot
O' th' enemy, now growing hot,
Might at a distance gall, press'd close,
To come pell-mell to handy blows;
And that he might their aim decline,
Advanc'd still in an oblique line,
But prudently forebore to fire,
- Till breast to breast he had got nigher:
As expert warriors use to do,
When hand to hand they charge their foe.
This order the advent'rous Knight,
Most soldier-like, observ'd in fight;
When Fortune, as she's wont, turn'd fickle,
And for the foe began to stickle.
The more shame for her Goodyship
To give so near a friend the slip.
For Colon choosing out a stone,
Levell'd so right, it thump'd upon
His manly paunch, with such a force,
As almost beat him off his horse.
He lost his whinyard, and the rein;
But laying fast hold of the mane,
Preserv'd his seat: and as a goose
In death contracts his talons close;
So did the Knight, and with one claw
Who straight, A Surgeon cry'd, a Surgeon:
He tumbled down, and as he fell,
Did Murder, murder, murder, yell.
This startled their whole body so,
That if the Knight had not let go
His arms, but been in warlike plight,
H' had won, the second time, the fight;
As, if the Squire had but fall'n on,..
He had inevitably done:
But he, diverted with the care
Of Hudibras his hurt, forbare
To press th' advantage of his fortune,
While danger did the rest dishearten.
For he with Cerdon b'ing engag'd
In close encounter, they both wag'd
The fight so well, 'twas hard to say
Which side was like to get the day.
And now the busy work of death
Had tir'd them so, th' agreed to breath,
As you have giv'n them, face us now;
But from so formidable a soldier
Had fled, like crows when they smell powder.
Thrice have they seen your sword aloft,
-Way'd o'er their heads, and fled as oft.
But if you let them recollect
Their spirits, now dismay'd and check,
You'll have a harder game to play
Than yet y' have had, to get the day.
Thus spoke the stout Squire; but was heard
By Hudibras with small regard.
His thoughts were fuller of the bang
He lately took, than Ralph's harangue;
To which he answer'd, Cruel fate
Tells me thy counsel comes too late.
The clotted blood within my host,
That from my wounded body flows,
With mortal crisis doth portend
My days to appropinque an end.
I am for action now unfit,
Either of fortitude or wit.
Fortune, my foe, begins to frown,
Resolv'd to pull my stomach down.
I am not apt, upon a wound
Or trivial basting to despond:
Yet I'd be loath my days to curtail;
For if I thought my wounds not mortal,
Or that we'd time enough as yet
To make an hon'rable retreat,
'Twere the best course: but if they find We fly, and leave our arms behind.
For them to seize on, the dishonour,
And danger too, is such, I'll sooner
Stand to it boldly, and take quarter,
To let them see I am no starter.
In all the trade of war, no feat
Is nobler than a brave retreat :
For those that run away, and fly,
Take place, at least, o' th' enemy.
This said, the Squire with active speed Dismounted from his bonny steed,
To sieze the arms which by mischance
Fell from the bold Knight in a trance.
These being found out, and restor❜d
To Hudibras, their nat'ral lord,
As a man may say, with might and main
He hasted to get up again.
Thrice he essay'd to mount aloft,
But, by his weighty bum, as oft
He was pull'd back, till having found
Th' advantage of the rising ground,
Thither he led his warlike steed,
And having plac'd him right, with speed
Prepar'd again to scale the beast:
When Orsin, who had newly drest
The bloody scar upon the shoulder
Of Talgol, with Promethean powder,
And now was searching for the shot
That laid Magnano on the spot,
Beheld the sturdy Squire aforesaid
Preparing to climb up his horse-side:
He left his cure, and laying hold
Upon his arms, with courage bold
Cry'd out, 'Tis now no time to dally,
His seat, and cast his right leg over;
When Orsin rushing in, bestow'd
On horse and man so heavy a load,
The beast was startled, and begun.
To kick and fling like mad, and run
Bearing the tough Squire like a sack,
Or stout King Richard on his back:
Till stumbling, he threw him down,
Sore bruis'd, and cast into a swoon.
Meanwhile the Knight began to rouse
The sparkles of his wonted prowess:
He thrust his hand into his hose,
And found both by his eyes and nose,
"Twas only choler, and not blood,
That from his wounded body flow'd.
This, with the hazard of the Squire,
Inflam'd him with despiteful ire:
Courageously he fac'd about,
And drew his other pistol out:
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