By this time 'twas grown dark and late, When they' heard a knocking at the gate, Laid on in hafte, with fuch a powder, The blows grew louder still and louder; Which Hudibras, as if they 'd been Beftow'd as freely on his skin, Expounding by his inward light, Or rather more prophetic fright, To be the Wizard, come to fearch, And take him napping in the lurch, Turn'd pale as afhes, or a clout, But why, or wherefore, is a doubt ; For men will tremble, and turn paler, With too much or too little valour. His heart laid on, as if it try'd To force a paffage through his fide,
Ver. 1053, 1054.] Two days were but yet paffed fince the beginning of thefe adventures: we are now entering into the night wherein happened the most remarkable action in the whole Poem. Mr. Butler, in this piece of management, imitated Homer and Virgil, who are equally celebrated for their night-adventures. But who are the perfons that knock at the gate? probably two of the Lady's own fervants: for, as fhe and Ralpho (who all the time lay in ambufcade) had been defcanting on the Knight's villainies, fo they had undoubtedly laid this fcheme to be revenged of him: the fervants were disguised, and acted in a bold and hectoring manner, pursuant to the inftructions given them by the Widow. The Knight was to be made believe they were Sidrophel and Whachum, which made his fright and confternation fo great, that we find him Falling into a fwoon.
Impatient (as he vow'd) to wait them,
But in a fury to fly at them;
And therefore beat and laid about
To find a cranny to creep out.
But fhe, who faw in what a taking
The Knight was by his furious quaking, Undaunted cry'd, Courage, Sir Knight, Know I'm refolv'd to break no rite Of hofpitality to a stranger, But, to fecure you out of danger, Will here myself stand centinel, To guard this pass 'gainst Sidrophel : Women, you know, do feldom fail To make the ftouteft men turn tail, And bravely fcorn to turn their backs Upon the defperateft attacks.
At this the Knight grew refolute
As Ironfide, or Hardiknute; His fortitude began to rally, And out he cry'd aloud to sally; But the befought him to convey His courage rather out o' th' way, And lodge in ambush on the floor, Or fortify'd behind a door,
That, if the enemy should enter,
He might relieve her in th' adventure.
Ver. 1086.] Two famous and valiant princes of this country, the one a Saxon, the other a Dane.
Meanwhile, they knock'd against the door,
As fierce as at the gate before;
Which made the renegado Knight Relapfe again t' his former fright.
He thought it defperate to stay Till th' enemy had forc'd his way, But rather poft himself, to ferve The Lady for a fresh reserve. His duty was not to dispute, But what fhe 'ad order'd execute; Which he refolv'd in hafte t' obey, And therefore ftoutly march'd away, And all h' encounter'd fell upon, Though in the dark, and all alone; Till fear, that braver feats performs Than ever courage dar'd in arms, Had drawn him up before a pafs, To stand upon his guard, and face : This he courageously invaded, And, having enter'd, barricadoed; Infconc'd himself as formidable As could be underneath a table, Where he lay down in ambush close, T'expect th' arrival of his foes. Few minutes he had lain perdue, To guard his desperate avenue, Before he heard a dreadful shout, As loud as putting to the rout, With which impatiently alarm'd, He fancy'd th' enemy had ftorm'd,
Was dragg'd through' a window by the ears ;
So he was ferv'd in his redoubt,
And by the other end pull'd out.
Soon as they had him at their mercy,
They put him to the cudgel fiercely,
As if they 'ad fcorn'd to trade or barter,
By giving or by taking quarter:
They ftoutly on his quarters laid,
Until his fcouts came in t' his aid:
For when a man is paft his fenfe, There's no way to reduce him thence,
But twinging him by th' ears or nose, Or laying on of heavy blows, And, if that will not do the deed, To burning with hot irons proceed. No fooner was he come t' himself, But on his neck a sturdy elf Clapp'd, in a trice, his cloven hoof, And thus attack'd him with reproof: Mortal, thou art betray'd to us By' our friend, thy evil genius; Who for thy horrid perjuries,
Thy breach of faith, and turning lyes,
The Brethren's privilege (against
The Wicked) on themselves, the Saints, Has here thy wretched carcase fent,
For just revenge and punishment; Which thou haft now no way to leffen, But by an open, free confeffion; For if we catch thee failing once,
That made m' apply t' your crony witches; That in return would pay th' expence,
The wear and tear of confcience;
Which I could have patch'd-up, and turn'd, For th' hundredth part of what I carn'd.
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