And therefore charg'd him firft to bind.
Crowdero's hands on rump behind,
And to its former place and use
The VVooden member to reduce ::
But force it take an Oath before,
Ne're to bear arms against him more..
Ralphe difpatch'd with speedy haft,
And having ty'd Crowdero fast,
He gave Sir Knight the end of Cord,
To lead the Captive of his fword
In triumph, while the Steeds he caught,.
And them to further fervice brought.
The Squire in ftate rode on before,
And on his nut-brown VVhiniard bore
The Trophee-Fiddle and the Cafe,
Leaning on shoulder like a Mace.
The Knight himfelf did after ride,
Leading Crowdero by his fide,
And tow'd him, if he lagg'd behind,
Like Boat against the Tide and Wind.
Thus grave and folemn they march on,
Until quite through the Town th'had gone:
At further end of which there ftands
An ancient Castle, that commands
Th' adjacent parts; in all the fabrick-
You fhall not fee one ftone nor a brick,
But all of Wood, by pow'rful Spell
Of Magick made impregnable.
D.4
There's neither Iron-bar,nor Gate,
Port-cullis, Chain,or Bolt,or Grate :
And yet men durance there abide,
In Dungeon fcarce three inches wide;
VVith Roof fo low, that under it
They never ftand,but lie,or fit;
And yet fo foul,that whofo is in,
Is to the middle-leg in prifon,
In Circle Magical confin'd,
With walls of fubtle Air and Wind,
Which none are able to break thorough,
Until th'are freed by Head of Burrough.
Thither arriv'd, th' advent'rous Knight
And bold Squire from their Steeds alight,
At th' outward wall, near which there ftands.
A Baftile, built t'imprison hands;
By ftrange enchantment made to fetter
The leffer parts,and free the greater.
For though the Body may creep through,
The Hands in Grate are faft enough..
And when a circle 'bout the wrift
Is made by Beadle Exorcift,
The Body feels the Spur and Switch,
As if'twere ridden Poft by 'witch
At twenty miles an houer pace,
And yet ne're ftirs out of the place.
On top of this there is a Spire,
On which Sir Knight firft bids the Squire
The Fiddle, and its fpoils, the Cafe,
In manner of a Trophee, place.
That done, they ope the Trap-dore-gate,
And let Crowdero down thereat.
Crowdero making doleful face,
Like Hermit poor in penfive place,
To Dungeon they the wretch commit,
And the furvivor of his feet:
But th' other, that had broke the peace.
And head of Knighthood, they release,
Though a Delinquent falfe and forged,
Yet b'ing a Stranger, he's enlarged;
While his Comrade, that did no hurt,
Is clapt up faft in prifon for't.
So Iuftice, while fhe winks at Crimes,
Stumbles on Innocence fometimes..
ARGUMENT
The THIRD CANTO.
The Scatter'd Rout return and rally,
Surround the Place; the Knight does fally;
And is made Pris'ner: then they feize
› Th' Inchanted Fort by storm, releafe
Crowdero, and put the Squire in's place.
I should have first faid, Hudibras.
Y me! what perils do inviron (ron
The man that meddles with cold I-
What plaguy mifchiefs and mishaps
Do dog him ftill with after-claps !
For though Dame Fortune feem to fmile
And leer upon him for a while;
She'l after fhew him, in the nick
Of all his Glories, a Dog-trick.
This any man may fing or fay
I'th' Ditty call'd, What if a Day.
For Humbras, who thought h' had won
The field as fuer as a Gun,
And having routed the whole troop,
With Victory was Cock-a-hoop;
Thinking h' had done enough to purchase the Churches,
Thanksgiving-day among
Wherein his mettle and brave worth
Might be explain'd by Holder-forth,
And register'd by fame eternal,
In Deathleffe Pages of Diurnal;
Found in few minutes, to his Coft,
He did but Count without his Hoft;
And that a Turn-ftile is more certain,
Then in events of War Dame Fortune..
For now,the late-faint-hearted Rout
O'rethrown and fcatter'd round about,
Chac'd by the horrour of their fear
From bloudy fray of Knight and Bear,
(All but the Dogs, who in purfuit
Of the Knight's Victory flood to't,
And most ignobly fought to get
The Honour of his bloud and fweat)
Seeing the coaft was free and clear
O'th' Conquer'd and the Conquerer,
Took heart at graffe,and faced about,
As if they meant to stand it out :
For by this time,the routed Bear
Attack'd by th' enemy i'th' rear,
Finding their number grew too great
For him to make a fafe retreat,
Like a bold Chieftain fac'd about;
Eut wifely doubting to hold out,
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