'Twas well we made so resolute
À brave retreat without pursuit,
For if we had not we had sped
Much worse, to be in triumph led;
Than which the ancients held no state
Of man's life more unfortunate.

But if this bold adventure e'er

Do chance to reach the widow's ear,
It may, being destin'd to assert
Her sex's honour, reach her heart:
And as such homely treats (they say)
Portend good fortune, so this may.
Vespasian being daub'd with dirt
Was destin'd to the empire for 't;
And from a scavenger did come
To be a mighty prince in Rome :
And why may not this foul address

Presage in love the same success?

Then let us straight, to cleanse our wounds,
Advance in quest of nearest ponds;

And after (as we first design'd)

Swear I've perform'd what she enjoin'd.

870

875

880

885

PART II. CANTO III.

THE ARGUMENT.

The Knight, with various doubts possest,
To win the Lady goes in quest

Of Sidrophel the Rosycrucian,

To know the Dest'nies' resolution :
With whom b'ing met, they both chop logic
About the science astrologic;

Till, falling from dispute to fight,

The Conj'rer's worsted by the Knight.

DOUBTLESS the pleasure is as great
Of being cheated, as to cheat;
As lookers-on feel most delight

That least perceive a juggler's sleight,

And still, the less they understand,

5

The more they' admire his sleight of hand.
Some with a noise and greasy light
Are'snapt, as men catch larks by night,
Ensnar'd and hamper'd by the soul,
As nooses by the legs catch fowl.
Some with a med'cine and receipt
Are drawn to nibble at the bait;
And though it be a two-foot trout,
'Tis with a single hair pull'd out.

Others believe no voice t' an organ
So sweet as lawyer's in his bar-gown,
Until with subtle cobweb-cheats
They're catch'd in knotted law like nets:
In which, when once they are imbrangled,

10

15

The more they stir the more they're tangled;
And while their purses can dispute,

There's no end of th' immortal suit.

Others still gape t' anticipate
The cabinet-designs of Fate,
Apply to wizards to foresee

What shall and what shall never be ;
And, as those vultures do forebode,
Believe events prove bad or good :'
A flam more senseless than the roguery
Of old auruspicy and aug'ry,

That out of garbages of cattle

Presag'd th' events of truce or battle;

From flight of birds, or chickens' pecking,
Success of great'st 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 shew:
For he, with beard and face made clean,
Being mounted on his steed agen,
(And Ralpho got a-cock-horse too
Upon his beast, with much ado),
Advanc'd on for the Widow's house,
T'acquit himself and pay his vows:
When various thoughts began to bustle,
And with his inward man to justle.
He thought what danger might accrue,
If she should find he swore untrue;
Or if his Squire or he should fail,
And not be punctual in their tale,
It might at once the ruin prove

25 VAR. Run after wizards.'

Both of his honour, faith, and love.

But if he should forbear to go,

She might conclude he 'ad broke his vow;
And that he durst not now for shame
Appear in court to try his claim:
This was the penn'worth of his thought,
Το
pass time, and uneasy trot.

Quoth he, In all my past adventures
I ne'er was set so on the tenters,
Or taken tardy with dilemma

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

Besets my puzzled wits about:

For though the Dame has been my bail,
To free me from enchanted jail,
Yet as a dog, committed close

For some offence, by chance breaks loose,
And quits his clog; but all in vain,
He still draws after him his chain:
So, though my ankle she has quitted,
My heart continues still committed ;
And, like a bail'd and mainpriz'd lover,
Although at large, I am bound over;
And when I shall appear in court
To plead my cause 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 circumstance miscarry;
Or if she put me to strict proof,
And make me pull my doublet off
To shew, by evident record

Writ on my skin, I've kept my word,
How can I e'er expect to have her,

Having demurr'd unto her favour?
But, faith and love and honour lost,
Shall be reduc'd t' a Knight o' th' Post?
Beside, that stripping may prevent
What I'm to prove by argument,
And justify I have a tail,

And that way too my proof may fail.
Oh, that I could enucleate,
And solve the problems of my fate!
Or find by necromantic art

How far the Dest'nies take my part!
For if I were not more than certain
To win and wear her and her fortune,
I'd go no farther in this courtship,
To hazard soul, estate, and Worship:
For though an oath obliges not
Where any thing is to be got

(As thou hast prov'd), yet 'tis profane
And sinful when men swear in vain.

Quoth Ralph, Not far from hence doth dwell
A cunning man, hight Sidrophel,

That deals in Destiny's dark counsels,
And sage opinions of the Moon sells ;
To whom all people, far and near,
On deep importances repair:
When brass and pewter hap to stray,
And linen slinks out o' the way;
When geese and pullen are seduc'd,
And sows of sucking pigs are chous'd;
When cattle feel indisposition,

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115

106 William Lilly, the famous astrologer of those times, who in his yearly almanacks foretold victories for the Parliament with as much certainty as the preachers did in their sermons.