HUDIBRAS. HUDIBRAS CONSULTS THE LAWYER. QUOTн he, "There is one Sidrophel Whom I have cudgelled "-"Very well." "And now he brags t' have beaten me""Better, and better still," quoth he; "And vows to stick me to a wall, Where'er he meets me". "Best of all!" "'Tis true the knave has taken's oath That I robbed him "-"Well done, in troth ""When h' has confessed he stole my cloak, And picked my fob, and what he took; Which was the cause that made me bang him, And take my goods again "-" Marry, hang him." "Now, whether I should beforehand, Swear he robbed me?"-"I understand "Or, if 'tis better to indict, And bring him to his trial?"—" Right "- "Prevent what he designs to do, And swear for th' state against him?"-"True" "Or whether he that is defendant, In this case, has the better end on't; Who, putting in a new cross-bill, May traverse the action?"-"Better still." Then there's a lady too."-"Ay, marry""That's easily proved accessory; A widow, who, by solemn vows, Combined with him to break her word, SAMUEL BUTLER. Who put m' into a horrid fear, Fear of my life"-"Make that appear". "Made an assault with fiends and men Upon my body"-"Good again""And kept me in a deadly fright, And false imprisonment, all night. Meanwhile they robbed me, and my horse, And stole my saddle"-"Worse and worse""And made me mount upon the bare ridge, T' avoid a wretcheder miscarriage." "Sir," quoth the lawyer, "not to flatter ye, You have as good and fair a battery As heart can wish, and need not shame The proudest man alive to claim: That you as sure may pick and choose, SURE there are poets which did never dream Those made not poets, but the poets those. And as courts make not kings, but kings the court, So where the Muses and their train resort, Parnassus stands; if I can be to thee A poet, thou Parnassus art to me. SIR JOHN DENHAM. My eye descending from the Hill, surveys Where Thames among the wanton valleys strays. Thames the most loved of all the Ocean's sons By his old sire, to his embraces runs, Hasting to pay his tribute to the sea, Like mortal life to meet eternity. Though with those streams he no resemblance hold Like profuse kings, resumes the wealth he gave. The mower's hopes, nor mock the ploughman's toil; First loves to do, then loves the good he does. Brings home to us, and makes both Indies ours; So that to us no thing, no place is strange, My great example, as it is my theme! TELL me not, sweet! I am unkind, Of thy chaste breast, and quiet mind, True, a new mistress now I chase, And, with a stronger faith, embrace Yet this inconstancy is such I could not love thee, dear! so much, TO ALTHEA, FROM PRISON. WHEN Love, with unconfined wings, Hovers within my gates, And my divine Althea brings To whisper at the grates; |