But whether both with the fame Wind,
Or one before, and one behind,

We know not, only this can tell,
The one founds vilely, th' other well;
And therefore vulgar Authors name
The one Good, t' other Evil Fame.
This twatling Goffip knew too well,
What mischief Hudibras befel;
And ftreight the fpightful tidings bears
Of all, to th' unkind Widow's Ears.
Democritus ne'er laugh'd fo loud,

To fee Bawds carted through the crowd
Or Funerals with ftately Pomp,
March flowly on in folemn Dump,
As fhe laugh'd out, until her back,
As well as fides, was like to crack.
She vow'd fhe wou'd go fee the fight,
And vifit the diftreffed Knight.
To do the Office of a Neighbour,

And be a Gossip at his labour ;

And from his wooden Gaol, the Stocks,

To fet at large his Fetter'd-Locks,

And by Exchange, Parole, or Ranfom,
To free him from th' Enchanted Manfion;
This b'ing refolv'd, fhe call'd for Hood
And Ufher, Impliments Abroad
Which Ladies wear, befide a flender
Young waiting Damfel to attend her.
All which appearing, on fhe went,
To find the Knight in Limbo pent.
And 'twas not long before the found
Him, and his ftout Squire in the Pound
Both coupled in Enchanted Tether
By farther Leg behind together :
For as he fat upon his Rump,

His Head, like one in doleful dump,
Between his Knees, his Hands apply'd ‚·

Unto his Ears on either fide;
And by him, in another Hole,
Afflicted Ralpho, Cheek by Joul;
She came upon him in his Wooden
Magician's Circle on the fudden,
As Spirits do t' a Conjurer,

When in their dreadful fhapes th' appear.

No

No fooner did the Knight perceive her, But ftreight he fell into a Fever,

Inflam'd all over with Difgrace,

To be seen by her in fuch a Place;

Which made him hang his Head, and scoul,

And wink and goggle like an Owl.

He felt his Brains begin to swim,

When thus the Dame accofted him.

This Place (quoth fhe) they fay's Enchanted, And with Delinquent Spirits haunted, That here are ty'd in Chains, and scourg'd, Until their guilty Crimes be purg'd: Look, there are two of them appear, Like Perfons I have feen fomewhere: Some have mistaken Blocks and Pofts For Spectres, Apparitions, Ghofts, With Sawcer-Eyes, and Horns, and fome Have heard the Devil beat a Drum : But if our Eyes are not falfe Glaffes, That give a wrong Account of Faces; That Beard and I fhould be acquainted, Before 'twas Conjur'd and Enchanted;

For

For tho' it be disfigur'd fomewhat,
As if t'had lately been in Coinbat,
It did belong t' a worthy Knight,
Howe'er this Goblin is come by't.

When Hudibras the Lady heard
Difcourfing thus upon his Beard,

And speak with fuch Refpect and Honour, Both of the Beard, and the Beard's Owner, He thought it beft to fet as good

A Face upon it as he cou❜d,

And thus he fpoke: Lady, Your Bright

And radiant Eyes are in the Right;

The Beard's th' Identick Beard

The fame numerically true:

Nor is it worn by Fiend, or Elf,

But its Proprietor himself.

you knew,

Oh Heavens! quoth the, can that be true I do begin to fear 'tis you

Not by your individual Whiskers,

But by your Dialect and Discourse,
That never fpoke to Man or Beaft
In Notions vulgarly expreft.

But

But what malignan Star, alas!

Has brought you both to this fad pass?
Quoth he, The fortune of the War
Which I am lefs afflicted for,

Than to be feen with Beard and Face

By you in fuch a homely cafe.

Quoth fhe, thofe need not be afham'd,
Fer being honourably maim'd;
If he that is in Battle Conquer'd,
Have any Title to his own Beard,
Though yours be forely lugg'd and torn,
It does your Visage more adorn,

Than if 'twere prun'd, and ftarcht;and lander'd, And cut fquare by the Ruffian Standard.

A torn Beard's like a tatter'd Ensign,

That's braveft which there are moft Rents in.

That Petticoat about your Shoulders

Does not fo well become a Soldier's,

And I'm afraid they are worfe handled, Although i' th' Rear, your Beard the Van lead; And those uneafie Bruifes make

My heart for Company to ake,

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