The Knight himself did after ride,
Leading Crowdero by his side;
And tow'd him, if he lagg'd behind,1125
Like boat against the tide and wind.
Thus grave and solemn they march on,
Until quite thro' the town they'd gone:
At further end of which there stands
An ancient castle, that commands[1]1130
Th' adjacent parts; in all the fabrick
You shall not see one stone nor a brick,
But all of wood, by pow'rful spell
Of magic made impregnable:
There's neither iron bar nor gate,1135
Portcullis, chain, nor bolt, nor grate;
And yet men durance there abide,
In dungeon scarce three inches wide;
With roof so low, that under it
They never stand, but lie or sit;1140
And yet so foul, that whoso is in,
Is to the middle-leg in prison;
In circle magical confin'd,
With walls of subtle air and wind,
Which none are able to break thorough,1145
Until they're freed by head of borough.
Thither arriv'd, the advent'rous Knight
And bold Squire from their steeds alight
At th' outward wall, near which there stands
A Bastile, built t' imprison hands[2]1150
By strange enchantment made to fetter
The lesser parts, and free the greater:
Por tho' the body may creep through,
The hands in grate are fast enow:
And when a circle 'bout the wrist1155
Is made by beadle exorcist,
The body feels the spur and switch.
As if 't were ridden post by witch,
- ↑ The Stocks are here pictured as an enchanted castle, with infinite wit and humour, and in the true spirit of burlesque poetry.
- ↑ A description of the whipping-post; and a satire upon the great State-prison at Paris, of which there were many tales abroad, strange to English ears even in Star-chamber times.
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