The little Beaft within his Reach,
Then ftarts, and feizes on the Wretch.
So from his Couch the Knight did start,
To feize upon the Widow's Heart
Crying with hafty Tone, and hoarfe,
Ralpho, dispatch, To Horfe, To Horse.
And 'twas but time; for how the Rout,
We left engag'd to seek him out,
By speedy Marches were advanc'd
Up to the Fort, where he enfconc'd;
And all th' Avenues had poffeft
About the Place, from Eaft to West.
That done, a while they made a Halt,
To view the Ground, and where t'affault :
Then call'd a Council, which was beft,
By Siege or Onflaught, to invest
The Enemy; And 'twas agreed,
By Storm and Onslaught to proceed.
This b'ing refolv'd, in comely Sort,
They now drew up t' attack the Fort.
When Hudibras, about to enter
Upon another-gates Adventure;
To Ralpho call'd aloud to arm,
Not dreaming of approaching Storm.
Whether Dame Fortune, or rhe Care
Of Angel bad, or Tutelar,
Did arm, or thruft him on a Danger,
To which he was an utter Stranger;
That Forefight might, or might not blot
The Glory he had newly got;
Or to his Shame it might be fed,
They took him napping in his Bed :
To them we leave it to expound,
That deal in Sciences profound.
His Courfer fcarce he had beftrid,
And Ralpho that on which he rid,
When, fetting ope the Poftern Gate,
Which they thought beft to fally at,
The Foe appear'd, drawn up, and drill'd,
Ready to charge them in the Field.
This fomewhat startled the bold Knight,
Surpriz'd with th' unexpected Sight;
The Bruifes of his Bones and Flesh
He thought began to fmart afresh;
Till recollecting wonted Courage,
His Fear was foon converted to Rage.
And thus he spoke, The Coward Foe,
Whom we but now gave Quarter to,
Look, yonder's rally'd, and appears,
As if they had out-run their Fears;
The Glory we did lately get,
The Fates command us to repeat;
And to their Wills we muft fuccumb,
Quocunque trabunt, 'tis our doom.
This is the fame numerick Crew
Which we fo lately did fubdue ;
The felf-fame Individuals that
Did run as Mice do from a Cat,
When we Couragiously did wield
Our Martial Weapons in the Field
To tug for Victory: And when
We shall our fhining Blades agen
Brandifh in Terrour o'er our Heads,
They'll ftraight refume their wonted Dreads; Fear is an Ague, that forfakes
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.
This faid, his Courage to inflame,
He call'd upon his Miftrefs name.
His Piftol next he cock'd anew,
And out his nut-brown Whinyard drew:
And placing Ralpho in the Front,
Referv'd himself to bear the brunt;
As expert Warriors ufe: Then ply'd
With Iron heel his Courfer's fide,
Conveying Sympathetick speed
From heel of Knight to heel of Steed.
Mean while the Foe with equal Rage
And Speed, advancing to engage,
Both Parties now were drawn fo close,
Almost to come to Handy-blows.
When Orfin first let fly a Stone
At Ralpho; not fo huge a one
At that which Diomed did maul
Eneas on the Bum withal
Yet big enough, if rightly hurl'd,
T'have fent him to another World
Whether above-ground, or below,
Which Saints twice dipt are deftin'd to.
The Danger ftartled the bold Squire,
And made him fome few Steps retire.
But Hudibras advanc'd to's Aid,
And rouz'd his Spirits half difmay'd,
He wifely doubting left the Shot
O'th' Enemy, now growing hot,
Might at a Distance gall, preft close,
To come, pell-mell, to handy Blows,
And that he might their Aim decline,
Advanc'd still in an oblique Line;
But prudently forbore to fire,
Till Breaft to Breast he had got nigher:
expert Warriors ufe to do,
When hand to hand they charge the Foe.
This Order the advent❜rous Knight
Moft Soldier-like obferv'd in Fight,
When Fortune (as fhe's wont) turn'd fickle,
And for the Foe began to ftickle,
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