Tho' cheats, yet more intelligible35
Than those that with the stars do fribble.
This Hudibras by proof found true,
As in due time and place we'll shew:
For he, with beard and face made clean,
Being mounted on his steed again,40
And Ralpho got a cock-horse too,
Upon his beast, with much ado,
Advanc'd on for the widow's house,
T' acquit himself and pay his vows;
When various thoughts began to bustle45
And with his inward man to justle.[1]
He thought what danger might accrue,
If she should find he swore untrue;
Or if his squire or he should fail,
And not be punctual in their tale,50
It might at once the ruin prove
Both of his honour, faith, and love:
But if he should forbear to go,
She might conclude he'd broke his vow;
And that he durst not now, for shame,55
Appear in court to try his claim.
This was the penn'orth of his thought,[2]
To pass time, and uneasy trot.
Quoth he, In all my past adventures
I ne'er was set so on the tenters,60
Or taken tardy with dilemma,[3]
That ev'ry way I turn, does hem me,
And with inextricable doubt
Besets my puzzled wits about:
For though the dame has been my bail,65
To free me from enchanted jail,
Yet, as a dog committed close
For some offence, by chance breaks loose,
And quits his clog; but all in vain,
- ↑ The Knight is perpetually troubled with "cases of conscience;" this being one characteristic of the class which he typifies.
- ↑ That is, the value of it, in allusion to the common saying—"A penny for your thoughts."
- ↑ An argument in logic consisting of two or more propositions, so disposed that deny or admit which you will you shall be involved in difficulties.
