And now had half way bent the cock,
When Cerdon gave so fierce a shock,
With sturdy truncheon, thwart his arm,
That down it fell, and did no harm :
Then stoutly pressing on with speed,
Essay'd to pull him off his steed.
The Knight his sword had only left,
But as a bark, that in foul weather,
Toss'd by two adverse winds together,
Is bruis'd and beaten to and fro,
And knows not which to turn him to:
So far'd the Knight between two foes,
And knew not which of them t' oppose;
Till Orsin, charging with his lance
At Hudibras, by spiteful chance,
Hit Cerdon such a bang, as stunn'd
And laid him flat upon the ground.
At this the Knight began to cheer up,
And raising up himself on stirrup,
Cry'd out, Victoria, lie thou there,
And I shall straight dispatch another
To bear thee company in death:
But first I'll halt a while, and breathe.
As well he might: for Orsin, griev'd
At th' wound that Cerdon had receiv'd;
Ran to relieve him with his lore,
And cure the hurt he gave before.
Meanwhile the Knight had wheel'd about,
To breathe himself, and next find out
Th' advantage of the ground, where best
He might the ruffled foe infest.
This b'ing resolv'd, he spurr'd his steed
To run at Orsin with full speed,
While he was busy in the care
Of Cerdon's wound, and unaware:
And judg'd it best to stay th' assault,
Until he had reliev'd the Squire,
And then, in order, to retire;
Or, as occasion should invite,
With forces join'd renew the fight.
Ralpho by this time disentranc'd
Upon his bum himself advanc'd,
Though sorely bruis'd his limbs all o'er,
With ruthless bangs were stiff and sore:
Right fain he would have got upon
His feet again, to get him gone;
When Hudibras to aid him came.
Quoth he, and call'd him by his name,
Courage, the day at length is ours,
And we once more as conquerors,
Have both the field and honour won;
The foe is profiigate and run;
I mean all such as can, for some
This hand has sent to their long home;
And some lie sprawling on the ground,
With many a gash and bloody wound.
Cæsar himself could never say
He got two vict'ries in a day;
As I have done, that can say, Twice I
In one day, veni, vidi, vici.
The foe's so numerous, that we
As they perire, and yet enow
Be left to strike an after-blow,
Then lest they rally, and once more
Put us to fight the bus'ness o'er,
Get up and mount thy steed, dispatch,
And let us both their motions watch,
Quoth Ralph, I should not, if I were
In case for action, now be here:
Nor have I turn'd my back, or hang'd
An arse, for fear of being bang'd.
It was for you I got these harms,
Advent'ring to fetch off your arms.
The blows and drubs I have receiv'd,
Have bruis'd my body and bereav'd
My limbs of strength: unless you stoop,
And reach your hand to pull me up,
I shall lie here, and be a prey
And tho' th' art of a diff'rent church,
I will not leave thee in the lurch.
This said, he jogg'd his good steed nigher,
And steer'd him gently tow'rd the Squire,
Then bowing down his body, stretch'd
His hands out, and at Ralpho reach'd;
When Trulla, whom he did not mind,
Charg'd him like lightning behind,
She had been long in search about
The pillage of the prisoners,
Which in all feats of arms were her's;
And now to plunder Ralph she flew,
When Hudibras his hard fate drew
To succour him; for, as he bow'd
To help him up, she laid a load
Of blows so heavy, and plac'd so well,
On t' other side, that down he fell.
Yield, scoundrel base, (quoth she,) or die;
Thy life is mine, and liberty;
But if thou think'st I took thee tardy,
And dar'st presume to be so hardy,
To try thy fortune o'er afresh,
I'll wave my title to thy flesh,
Thy arms and baggage now my right:
And if thou hast the heart to try 't,"
I'll lend the back thyself a while,
And once more for thy carcase vile
Fight upon tick.Quoth Hudibras,
Thou offer'st nobly, valiant lass,
And I shall take thee at thy word.
First let me rise, and take my sword:
That sword which has so oft this day
Thro' squadrons of my foes made way,
And to other worlds dispatch'd,
Now with a feeble spinster match'd,
Will blush with blood ignoble stain'd
By which no honour's to be gain'd.
But if thon 'It take m' advice in this,
Consider whilst thou may'st, what 'tis
To interrupt a victor's course,
B' opposing such a trivial force:
For if with conquest I come off,
(And that I shall do sure enough,)
Quarter thou cans't not have, nor grace
By law of arms in such a case;
Both which I now do offer freely.
I scorn, quoth she, thou coxcomb silly, (Clapping her hand upon her breech,
To show how much she priz'd his speech,)
Quarter, or counsel from a foe:
If thou can'st force me to it, do.
But lest it should again be said,
When I have once more won thy head,
I took thee napping, unprepar'd,
Arm, and betake thee to thy guard.
This said, she to her tackle fell,
And on the Knight let fall a peal
Of blows so fierce, and press'd so home,
That he retir'd, and follow'd's bum.
Stand to 't, quoth she, or yield to mercy;
It is not fighting arsie-versie
Shall serve thy turn.-This stirr❜d his spleen
More than the danger he was in:
The blows he felt, or was to feel,
Altho' th' already made him reel;
Honour, despite, revenge and shame,
At once into his stomach came;
Which fir'd it so, he rais'd his arm
Above his head, and rain'd a storm
Of blows so terrible and thick,
As if he meant to hash her quick;
But she upon her truncheon took them,
And by oblique diversion broke them,
Waiting an opportunity
To pay all back with usury;
Which long she fail'd not of: for now
The Knight with one dead-doing blow
Resolving to decide the fight
With home-made thrust the heavy swing,
She laid him flat upon his side;
In basely breaking his parole;
And when before the fight th' had'st vow'd
To give no quarter in cold blood;
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