How I've been Drubb'd, and with what Spiri
And Magnanimity I bear it;
And if you doubt it to be true,
I'll stake my felf down against you:
And if I fail in Love or Troth,
you the Winner, and take both.
Quoth She, I've heard old cunning Stagers Say, Fools for Argument ufe Wagers; And though I prais'd your Valour, yet I did not mean to baulk your Wit; Which if you have, you must needs know What I have told you before now, And you b' Experiment have prov'd I cannot Love where I'm belov'd, Quoth Hudibras, 'tis a Caprich Beyond the infliction of a Witch
So Cheats to play with thofe ftill aim
That do not understand the Game.
Love in your heart as idly burns
As Fire in Antique Roman Urns,
To warm the Dead, and vainly light
Those only that fee nothing by't.
Have you not Pow'r to entertain,
And render Love for Love again;
As no Man can draw in his Breath
At once, and force out Air beneath ?
Or do you love your felf fo much,
To bear all Rivals elfe a Grutch?
What Fate can lay a greater Curse
Than you upon your felf would force?
For Wedlock without Love, fome fay,
Is but a Lock without a Key.
It is a kind of Rape to Marry.
One that neglects, or cares not for ye:
For what does make it Ravishment,
But b'ing againft the Mind's Confent?
A Rape that is the more inhumane
For being acted by a Woman.
Why are you fair, but to entice us
To Love you, that you may defpife us?
But though you cannot Love, you say,
Out of your own Fanatick way,
Why fhould you not, at least allow
Thofe that Love you to do so too?
For, as you fly me, and pursue
Love more averfe, fo I do you;
And am by your own Doctrine taught
To practife what you call a Fault.
Quoth fhe, If what you fay be true,"
You must fly me, as I do you ;
But 'tis not what we do, but fay,
In Love and Preaching, that muft fway 'nă Quoth he, To bid me not to Love,
Is to forbid my Pulfe to move,
My Beard to grow, my Ears to prick up,
Or (when I'in in a fit) to hickup:
Command me to pifs out the Moon,
And 'twill as easily be done.
Love's Power's too great to be withstood
By feeble humane Flesh and Blood.
'Twas he that brought upon his knees
The Helt'ring Kill-Cow Hercules'
Transform'd his Leager-lion's skin-
T'a Petticoat, and made him fpin';
Seiz'd on his Club, and made it dwindle
T'a feeble Distaff, and a Spindle...
'Twas he that made Emperors Gallants
To their own Sifters, and their Aunts ;
Set Popes and Cardinals agog,
To play with Pages at Leap-frog:
'Twas he that gave our Senate purges,
And fluxt the House of many a Burgess ;
Made those that reprefent the Nation
Submit, and fuffer Amputation,
And all the Grandees of th' Cabal
Adjourn to Tubs, at Spring and Fall:
He mounted Synod-Men and rode 'em
To Durty-Lane, and Little Sodom
Made 'em Corvet, like Spanish Jenets,
And take the Ring at Madam--
"Twas he that made Saint Francis do
More than the Devil cou'd tempt him to,
In cold and frofty Weather grow
Enamour'd of a Wife of Snow;
And though the were of Rigid Temper,
With melting Flames accoft and tempt her;
Which after in Enjoyment quenching,
He hung a Garland on his Engine.
Quoth fhe, if Love have thefe Effects,
Why is it not forbid our Sex?
Why is't not damn'd, and interdicted
For Diabolical and Wicked?
And Sung, as out of Tune, againft,
As Turk and Pope are by the Saints?
I find I've greater reason for it,
Than I believ'd before t' abhor it.
Quoth Hudibras, Thefe fad Effects
Spring from your Heathenish neglects
Of Love's great Pow'r, which he returns
Upon your felves with equal Scorns;
And thofe, who worthy Lovers flight,
Plague's with prepoft'rous Appetite:
This made the Beauteous Queen of Crete
To take a Town-Bull for her Sweet;
And from her Greatnefs ftoop fo low,
To be the Rival of a Cow:
Others to prostitute their great Hearts,
To be Baboons and Monkeys Sweet-hearts.
Some with the Dev'l himself in League grow
By's Representative a Negro :
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