Page:Hudibras - Volume 2 (Butler, Nash, Bohn; 1859).djvu/132

And, like a candle in the socket,
Dissolves her graces int' your pocket.
 By this time 'twas grown dark and late,
When th' heard a knocking at the gate
Laid on in haste, with such a powder,^[1] 1055
The blows grew louder and still louder:
Which Hudibras, as if they'd been
Bestow'd as freely on his skin,
Expounding hy his Inward Light,
Or rather more prophetic fright, 1060
To be the wizard, come to search,
And take him napping in the lurch,
Turn'd pale as ashes, or a clout;
But why, or wherefore, is a doubt:
For men will tremble, and turn paler, 1065
With too much, or too little valour.
His heart laid on, as if it tried
To force a passage through his side,
Impatient, as he vow'd, to wait 'em;
But in a fury to fly at 'em; 1070
And therefore beat, and laid about,
To find a cranny to creep out.
But she, who saw in what a taking
The Knight was by his furious quaking,
Undaunted cry'd. Courage, Sir Knight, 1075
Know I'm resolv'd to break no rite
Of hospitality t' a stranger;
But, to secure you out of danger,
Will here myself stand sentinel,
To guard this pass 'gainst Sidrophel: 1080
Women, you know, do seldom fail,
To make the stoutest men turn tail,
And bravely scorn to turn their backs,
Upon the desp'ratest attacks.
At this the Knight grew resolute, 1085
As Ironside, or Hardiknute;^[2]

1. Haste, bustle. Wright's Provincial Dictionary.
2. Two princes celebrated for their valour in the 11th century. The former the predecessor, the latter the son and successor, of Canute the Great.