As pedants out of school-boys' breeches465
Do claw and curry their own itches.[1]
But in this case it is profane,
And sinful too, because in vain;
For we must take our oaths upon it
You did the deed, when I have done it. 470
Quoth Hudibras, That's answer'd soon;
Give us the whip, we'll lay it on.
Quoth Ralpho, That you may swear true,
'Twere properer that I whipp'd you;
For when with your consent 'tis done,475
The act is really your own.
Quoth Hudibras, It is in vain,
I see, to argue 'gainst the grain;
Or, like the stars, incline men to
What they're averse themselves to do: 480
For when disputes are weary'd out,
'Tis interest still resolves the doubt:
But since no reason can confute ye,
I'll try to force you to your duty;
For so it is, howe'er you mince it; 485
As, ere we part, I shall evince it,
And curry, if you stand out, whether
[2]
You will or no, your stubborn leather.
Canst thou refuse to bear thy part
1' th' public work, base as thou art? 490
To higgle thus, for a few blows,[3]
To gain thy Knight an op'lent spouse,
Whose wealth his bowels yearn to purchase,
Merely for th' int'rest of the churches?
And when he has it in his claws, 495
Will not be hide-bound to the Cause;
- ↑ In Spectator, No. 157, are to be found remarks illustrative of this peculiarity of pedagogues.
- ↑ Grey observes that a contest between Don Quixote and his renowned squire appears to have furnished the pattern for this amusing falling out (see chaps. 35 and 60). But there is more intellectual subtlety in the argumentation of Butler's heroes than in the Don and Sancho.
- ↑ See Don Quixote, chap. 68, for the like reproaches administered by the knight to his squire.
