Then wit, and parts, and valour, may

By thofe that are proprietors,

Be ali'nated, and made away,

As I may give or fell my horse.

685

your

Quoth fhe, I grant the cafe is true,
And proper 'twixt horfe and you;
But whether I may take, as well
As you may give away or fell?
Buyers, you know, are bid beware;

699

And worse than thieves receivers are.

How fhall I anfwer Hue and Cry,

For a Roan-gelding, twelve hands high,

All fpurr'd and switch'd, a lock on 's hoof,

695

A forrel mane? Can I bring proof

Where, when, by whom, and what y' were fold for,

And in the open market toll'd for?

Or, fhould I take you for a stray,

You must be kept a year and day,

700

(Ere I can own you) here i' th' pound,

Where, if ye 're fought, you may be found;

And in the mean time I must pay

For all your provender and hay.

Quoth he, It stands me much upon
T'enervate this objection,

And prove myself, by topick clear,
No gelding, as you would infer.

705

Lofs of virility's averr'd

To be the cause of lofs of beard,

710

That does (like embryo in the womb)

Abortive on the chin become :

This first a woman did invent,

In envy of man's ornament,

Semiramis of Babylon,

715

Who firft of all cut men o' th' stone,

To mar their beards, and laid foundation

Of fow-geldering operation :

Look on this beard, and tell me whether

Eunuchs wear fuch, or geldings either?
Next it appears I am no horse,
That I can argue and difcourfe,
Have but two legs, and ne'er a tail.

729

Quoth fhe, That nothing will avail;
For fome philofophers of late here,
Write men have four legs by Nature,
And that 'tis cuftom makes them go
Erroneously upon but two;
As 'twas in Germany made good,
B' a boy that loft himself in a wood,
And growing down t' a man, was wont
With wolves upon all four to hunt.
As for your reasons drawn from tails,
We cannot fay they 're true or false,
Till you explain yourself, and fhow
B' experiment 'tis fo or no.

Quoth he, If you 'll join iffue on 't,
I'll give you fatisfactory account;

you

lofe,

So you will promise, if
To fettle all, and be my spouse.

That never shall be done (quoth fhe)

To one that wants a tail, by me;

N. 3

725

730

735

740

For

For tails by Nature fure were meant,

As well as beards, for ornament;

And though the vulgar count them homely,

745

In men or beast they are fo comely,

So gentee, alamode, and handfome,
I'll never marry man that wants one
And till you can demonftrate plain,
You have one equal to your mane,
I'll be torn piece-meal by a horse,
Ere I'll take you for better or worse.
The Prince of Cambay's daily food

750

Is afp, and bafilisk, and toad,

Which makes him have fo ftrong a breath,

755

Each night he ftinks a queen to death;

Yet I fhall rather lie in 's arms'

Than your's on any other terms.
Quoth he, What Nature can afford
I fhall produce, upon my word;
And if the ever gave that boon
Το

man, I'll prove that I have one;

I mean by poftulate illation,
When you fhall offer juft occafion;
But fince ye 'ave yet deny'd to give

My heart, your prisoner, a reprieve,

760

765

But made it fink down to my heel,
Let that at least your pity feel;
And for the sufferings of your martyr,
Give it's poor entertainer quarter;
And by discharge, or mainprize, grant
Delivery from this bafe restraint.

770

Quoth

Quoth fhe, I grieve to fee your leg

Stuck in a hole here like a peg,
And if I knew which way to do 't,
(Your honour fafe) I'd let you out.
That dames by jail-delivery
Of errant knights have been fet free,
When by enchantment they have been,
And fometimes for it, too, laid in,

775

780

It is not in my power to do;
For 'tis a fervice must be done ye
With folemn previous ceremony;
Which always has been us'd t' untie

But that which thorough Virtue's lay;

So from this dungeon there's no way
To honour'd freedom, but by passing
That other virtuous fchool of lashing,
Where knights are kept in narrow lists,
With wooden lockets 'bout their wrists;
In which they for a while are tenants,
And for their ladies fuffer penance:
Whipping, that 's Virtue's governess,
Tutrefs of arts and fciences;

That mends the gross mistakes of Nature,

And puts new life into dull matter;

That lays foundation for renown,
And all the honours of the gown :

805

810

815

This fuffer'd, they are fet at large,
And freed with honourable discharge;
Then, in their robes, the penitentials

And, all respect and charges paid,

They 're to their ancient feats convey❜d.
Now if you 'll venture, for my fake,
To try the toughness of your back,
And fuffer (as the rest have done)
The laying of a whipping-on
(And may you profper in your fuit
As you with equal vigour do 't)

825

830

1 here