So did the Knight, and with one claw
The trigger of his pistol draw.
The gun went off; and as it was
Still fatal to stout Hudibras,530
In all his feats of arms, when least
He dreamt of it, to prosper best;
So now he far'd: the shot let fly,
At random, 'mong the enemy,
Pierced Talgol's gaberdine,[1] and grazing 535
Upon his shoulder, in the passing
Lodg'd in Magnano's brass habergeon,[2]
Who straight, A surgeon! cried—a surgeon!
He tumbled down, and, as he fell.
Did murder! murder! murder! yell.540
This startled their whole body so,
That if the Knight had not let go
His arms, but been in warlike plight,
H' had won, the second time, the fight;
As, if the Squire had but fall'n on,545
He had inevitably done.
But he, diverted with the care
Of Hudibras his wound,[3] forbare
To press th' advantage of his fortune,
While danger did the rest dishearten.550
For he with Cerdon b'ing engag'd
In close encounter, they both wag'd
The fight so well, 'twas hard to say
Which side was like to get the day.
And now the busy work of death 555
Had tir'd them so, they 'greed to breathe,
Preparing to renew the fight,
When th' hard disaster of the knight,
And th' other party, did divert
Their fell intent, and forc'd them part.[4]560
Ralpho press'd up to Hudibras,
And Cerdon where Magnano was,
- ↑ A coarse robe or mantle; the term is used by Shylock in the Merchant of Venice, Act I. sc. 3.
- ↑ Habergeon, a diminutive of the French word hauberg, a little coat of mail. But here it signifies the tinker's budget.
- ↑ Var. Hudibras, his hurt.
- ↑ Var. And force their sullen rage to part.
