CANTO I.]
HUDIBRAS.
307
His fortitude began to rally,
And out he cry'd aloud, to sally;
But she besought him to convey
His courage rather out o' th' way, 1090
And lodge in ambush out of the floor,
Or fortified behind a door,
That, if the enemy should enter,
He might relieve her in th' adventure.
Meanwhile they knock'd against the door 1095
As fierce as at the gate before;
Which made the renegado Knight
Relapse again t' his former fright.
He thought it desperate to stay
Till the enemy had forc'd his way, 1100
But rather post himself to serve
The lady for a fresh reserve.
His duty was not to dispute,
But what she'd order'd execute;
Which he resolv'd in haste t' obey, 1105
And therefore stoutly march'd away,
And all h' encounter'd fell upon,
Tho' in the dark, and all alone:
Till fear, that braver feats performs
Than ever courage dar'd in arms, 1110
Had drawn him up before a pass,
To stand upon his guard, and face:
This he courageously invaded,
And, having enter'd, barricado'd;
Ensconc'd himself as formidable 1115
As could be underneath a table;
Where he lay down in ambush close,
T' expect th' arrival of his foes.
Few minutes he had lain perdue,
To guard his desp'rate avenue, 1120
Before he heard a dreadful shout,
As loud as putting to the rout,
With which impatiently alarm'd,
He fancied th' enemy had storm'd,
And after ent'ring, Sidrophel 1125
Was fall'n upon the guards pell-mell;
And out he cry'd aloud, to sally;
But she besought him to convey
His courage rather out o' th' way, 1090
And lodge in ambush out of the floor,
Or fortified behind a door,
That, if the enemy should enter,
He might relieve her in th' adventure.
Meanwhile they knock'd against the door 1095
As fierce as at the gate before;
Which made the renegado Knight
Relapse again t' his former fright.
He thought it desperate to stay
Till the enemy had forc'd his way, 1100
But rather post himself to serve
The lady for a fresh reserve.
His duty was not to dispute,
But what she'd order'd execute;
Which he resolv'd in haste t' obey, 1105
And therefore stoutly march'd away,
And all h' encounter'd fell upon,
Tho' in the dark, and all alone:
Till fear, that braver feats performs
Than ever courage dar'd in arms, 1110
Had drawn him up before a pass,
To stand upon his guard, and face:
This he courageously invaded,
And, having enter'd, barricado'd;
Ensconc'd himself as formidable 1115
As could be underneath a table;
Where he lay down in ambush close,
T' expect th' arrival of his foes.
Few minutes he had lain perdue,
To guard his desp'rate avenue, 1120
Before he heard a dreadful shout,
As loud as putting to the rout,
With which impatiently alarm'd,
He fancied th' enemy had storm'd,
And after ent'ring, Sidrophel 1125
Was fall'n upon the guards pell-mell;
