While manfully himself he bore, But all, alas! had been in vain And he inevitably flain, If Trulla and Cerdon in the nick, 100 To rescue him, had not been quick ; For Trulla, who was light of foot, As fhafts which long-field Parthians fhoot, (But not fo light, as to be born Upon the ears of standing corn, 105 Or trip it o'er the water quicker Than witches, when their staves they liquor, As fome report) was got among The foremost of the martial throng: There pitying the vanquish'd bear, 110 She call'd to Cerdon, who stood near, Viewing the bloody fight; to whom, Shall we, quoth fhe, stand still hum drum, And fee ftout Bruin all alone, By numbers bafely overthrown? 115 Such feats already h' has atchiev'd, In story not to be believ'd; And 'twould to us be fhame enough, So fiercely that th' amazed rout 130 As if the devil drove, to run. Mean while th' approach'd th' place where Bruin Was now engag'd to mortal ruin: The conqu'ring foe they foon affail'd, First Trulla ftav'd, and Cerdon tail'd, 135 Until their maftives loos'd their hold ; And yet, alas! do what they could, The worsted bear came off with store Of bloody wounds, but all before ; For as Achilles, dipt in pond, 140 Was anabaptiz'd free from wound, Made proof against dead-doing steel All over, but the pagan heel: 134 First Trulla stav'd, etc.] Staving and tailing are terms of art ufed in the Bear Garden, and fignify there only the parting of dogs and bears: though they are used metaphorically in feveral other profeffions, for moderating; as aw, divinity, hectoring, etc. So did our champion's arms defend 145 His head and ears, which in the martial He wore in's nofe, convey'd a string, As authors write, in a cool fhade, 165 And wanting nothing but a fong, 153 Or like the late corrected leathern Ears of the circumcifed brethren. Pryn, Bastwick, and Burton, who laid down their ears as proxies for their profeffion of the godly party, not long after maintained their right and title to the pillory, to be as good and lawful, as theirs, who first of all took poffeffion of it in their names. They both drew up, to march in quest 170 Of his great leader, and the rest. For Orfin (who was more renown'd With others that purfu'd the chace; And like to fall, not by the prowess, 195 And most unconscionably depofe Things of which the nothing knows : And when she has faid all fhe can fay, 'Tis refted to the lover's fancy. Quoth he, O whither, wicked Bruin, 200 Art thou fled to my eccho ruin? I thought th' hadft scorn'd to budge a step, For fear. Quoth eccho, Marry guep. Am not I here to take thy part? Then what has quell'd thy ftubborn heart? 205 Have these bones rattled, and this head So often in thy quarrel bled? Nor did I ever winch or grudge it, For thy dear fake. Quoth fhe, Mum budget. Think'st thou 'twill not be laid i' th' difh 210 Thou turn'dít thy back? Quoth eccho, pish. To run from those th' hadst overcome Which in his manly stomach burn'd; dear 225 He vow'd the authors of his woe To action ftraight, and giving o'er |