Diogenes; who is not faid

1025

For aught that ever I could read)

To whine, put finger i̇' th' eye, and fob,

For both to give blows, and to carry,

In fights are equi-neceffary :

But in defeats the paffive ftout

1035

Are always found to ftand it out

Moft defperately, and to out-do

The active, 'gainst a conquering foe.!

Though we with blacks and blues are fuggil'd,

Or, as the vulgar fay, are cudgel'd,

1040

He that is valiant, and dares fight,

Though drubb'd, can lofe no honour by 't.

Honour 's a leafe for lives to come,

And cannot be extended from

The legal tenant: 'tis a chattel

1045

Not to be forfeited in battle..
If he that in the field is flain,
Be in the bed of Honour lain,
He that is beaten may be faid
To lie in Honour's truckle-bed.
For as we fee th' eclipfed fun

By mortals is more gaz'd upon
Than when, adorn'd with all his light,
He fhines in ferene sky moft bright;

1050

So

So valour, in a low eftate,

1055

Is moft admir'd and wonder'd at.

Quoth Ralph, How great I do not know

We may by being beaten grow;

1

But none, that see how here we fit,

Will judge us overgrown with wit.
As Gifted Brethren, preaching by
A carnal hour-glafs, do imply
Illumination can convey
Into them what they have to fay,
But not how much; so well enough
Know you to charge, but not draw off:
For who, without a cap and bauble,
Having fubdued a Bear and rabble,
And might with honour have come off,
Would put it to a fecond proof?

A politic exploit, right fit

For Presbyterian zeal and wit.

1060

1065

1070

Quoth

Ver. 1061, 1062.] In thofe days there was always an hour-glass stood by the pulpit, in a frame of iron made on purpose for it, and fastened to the board on which the cushion lay, that it might be visible to the whole congregation; who, if the fermon did not hold till the glafs was out (which was turned up as foon as the text was taken), would say that the preacher was lazy; and if he held out much longer, would yawn and ftretch, and by those signs fignify to the preacher that they began to be weary of his difcourfe, and wanted to be difmiffed. Thefe hour-glaffes remained in fome churches till within these forty years.

Ver. 1072.] Ralpho looked upon their ill plight to be owing to his master's bad conduct; and, to vent his

3

refentment,

Quoth Hudibras, That cuckoo's tone,
Ralpho, thou always harp'ft upon :
When thou at any thing wouldft rail,
Thou tak ft Presbytery, thy scale,

To take the height on 't, and explain
To what degree it is profane;

Whats'ever will not with (thy what-d'"ye-call)

1075

And dare thee to 't with all thy light.
Quoth Ralpho, Truly that is no
Hard matter for a man to do,
That has but any guts in 's brains,

1090

And could believe it worth his pains:

But fince you dare and urge me to it,

You'll find I 've light enough to do it.
Synods are myftical Bear-gardens,

1095

Where Elders, Deputies, Church-wardens,

And

refentment, he fatirizes him in the most affecting part of his character, his religion: this, by degrees, brings on the old arguments about Synods. The Poet, who thought he had not fufficiently lafhed claffical affemblies, very judiciously completes it, now there is full

leifure for it.

And other Members of the Court,
Manage the Babylonish sport;

For Prolocutor, Scribe, and Bear-ward,
Do differ only in a mere word.
Both are but several fynagogues

Of carnal men, and Bears and Dogs:
Both antichriftian assemblies,

To mifchief bent as far 's in them lies:
Both ftave and tail, with fierce contests,
The one with men, the other beasts.
The difference is, the one fights with
The tongue, the other with the teeth;

1100

1105

And that they bait but Bears in this,

In th' other Souls and Confciences;

Where Saints themselves are brought to stake

For Gospel-light and Conscience' sake;

Expos'd to Sribes and Presbyters,

Instead of Maftive Dogs and Curs;

Than whom they 've less humanity,
For thefe at fouls of men will fly.
This to the Prophet did
Who in a vifion faw a Bear,

appear,

Prefiguring the beaftly rage

Of Church-rule, in this latter age;
As is demonstrated at full

By him that baited the Pope's Bull.
Bears naturally are beasts of prey,
That live by rapine; fo do they.

What are their Orders, Conftitutions,
Church-cenfures, Curfes, Abfolutions,

But feveral myftic chains they make,
To tie poor Chriftians to the stake!,
And then fet Heathen officers,
Instead of Dogs, about their ears.
For to prohibit and dispense,
To find out, or to make offence
Of hell and heaven ́to dispose,
To play with fouls at faft and loose;
To fet what characters they pleafe,
And mulets, on fin and godliness;
Reduce the Church to Gofpel-order,

1130

1135

them

1.140

By rapine, facrilege, and murther;
To make Presbytery fupreme,
And Kings themselves fubmit to
And force all people, though against
Their confciences, to turn Saints;

Muft prove a pretty thriving trade,

When Saints monopolifts are made:

When pious frauds and holy fhifts

1145

Are Difpenfations and Gifts,

There godlinefs becomes mere ware,
And every Synod but a fair.

Synods are whelps o' th' Inquifition,
A mongrel breed of like pernicion,
And growing up, became the fires

1150

Of Scribes, Commiffioners, and Triers;

Whose business is, by cunning fleight,

To caft a figure for men's light,

To

Ver. 1129.]. They were more tyrannical in office than any officers of the bishop's court.