Some with a Noife, and greafie Light,
Are fnapt, as Men catch Larks by Night;
Enfnar'd and hamper'd by the Soul,
As Noofes by the Legs catch Fowl.
Some with a Medicine, and Receipt,
Are drawn to nibble at the Bait
And though it be a two-foot Trout,
'Tis with a fingle Hair pull'd out.

Others believe no Voice tan Organ,
So fweet as Lawyer's in his Bar-gown ;
Until with fubtil Cobweb-cheats,

Th' are catch'd in knotted Law, like Nets;
In which, when once they are imbrangled,
The more they ftir, the more they're tangled;
And while their Purfes can difpute,

There's no End of th' immortal Suit.

Others ftill gape t' anticipate et The Cabinet-Defigns of Fate,

Apply to Wizards, to fore-fee

What fhall, and what fhall never be.

And, as thofe Vultures do fore-bode, LA

Believe Events prove bad, or good

A flam more fenfeless than the Rog'ry

Of old Arufpicy and Augʼry,

That out of Garbages of Cattel,
Prefag'd th' Events of Truce, or Battel
From flight of Birds, or Chickens pecking,
Succefs of great'ft Attempts would reckon ;
Though Cheats, yet more intelligible,
Than those that with the Stars do fribble.
This Hudibras by Proof found true,
As in due time and place we'll fhew:
For he with Beard and Face made clean,
B'ing mounted on his Steed agen;
(And Ralpho got a cock-horse too
Upon his Beaft with much ado,)
Advanc'd on for the Widow's House,
T'acquit himself, and pay his Vows;
When various Thoughts began to buftle,
And with his inward Man to juftle.
He thought what Danger might accrue,
If he should find he fwore untrue:
Or, if his Squire or he should fail,
And not be punct al in their Tale ;

It might at once the Ruin prove

Both of his Honour, Faith, and Love.

But if he should forbear to

go,

She might conclude h” had broke his Vow
And that he durft not now for Shame
Appear in Court to try his Claim.
This was the Pen'worth of his Thought,
To pafs Time and uneafie Trot.

Quoth he, in all my past Adventures,

I ne'er was fet fo on the Tenters.

i

Or taken tardy with Dilemma,

That ev'ry way I turn does hem me;
And with inextricable Doubt,

Befets my puzzled Wits about:

For though the Dame has been my Bail,

To free me from enchanted Gaol,

Yet as a Dog, committed clofe

ازی

For fome Offence, by chance breaks loofe,
And quits his Clog, but all in vain,

He ftill draws after him his Chain
5
So though my Ankle fhe has quitted,
My Heart continues ftill committed.

And

And like a Bail'd and Main-priz'd Lover,
Although at large I am bound over.
And when I fhall appear in Court
To plead my Caufe, and answer for't,
Unless the Judge do partial prove,
What will become of Me and Love?
For if in our Account we vary,
Or but in Circumftance miscarry;

1

Or if she put me to ftrict Proof,
And make me pull my Doublet off,
To fhew by evident Record

Writ on my Skin, I've kept my word,
How can Ie'er expect to have her,
Having demurr'd unto her Favour;
But Faith, and Love and Honour loft,
Shall be reduc'd t'a Knight o' th' Poft?
Beside, that Stripping may prevent
What I'm to prove by Argument z

And justify I have à Tail,

a

And that way too, my Proof may fail,
Oh! that I could enucleate,

And folve the Problems of my Fate 3

T

Of

Or find by Necromantick Art,

How far the Deft'nies take my Part;
For if I were not more than certain

To win, and wear her, and her Fortune,
no farther in this Courtship;

go

To hazard Soul, Eftate, and Worship,
For though an Oath obliges not,
Where any thing is to be got,

(As thou haft prov'd,) yet 'tis profane,
And finful, when Men fwear in vain.

Quoth Ralph, Not far from hence doth dwell A cunning Man, hight Sidropbel, That deals in Destinies dark Counfels, And fage Opinions of the Moon fells To whom all People far and near, On deep Importances, repair When Brafs and Pewter hap to ftray, And Linen slinks out of the way

When Geefe and Pullen are feduc'd,

And Sows of Sucking Pigs are chous'd ; a L'.