344
HUDIBRAS.
[PART III.
As th' earth is easiest undermin'd,
By vermin impotent and blind.[1] 400
By all these arts, and many more,
He'd practis'd long and much before,
Our state-artificer foresaw
Which way the world began to draw:
For as old sinners have all points 405
O' th' compass in their bones and joints,
Can by their pangs and aches find
All turns and changes of the wind,
And better than by Napier's bones,[2]
Peel in their own the age of moons; 410
So guilty sinners, in a state,
Can by their crimes prognosticate,
And in their consciences feel pain
Some days before a show'r of rain:
He therefore wisely cast about 415
All ways he could t' ensure his throat,
And hither came, t' observe and smoke
What courses other riskers took,
And to the utmost do his best
To save himself, and hang the rest. 420
To match this saint there was another,
As busy and perverse a brother,[3]
By vermin impotent and blind.[1] 400
By all these arts, and many more,
He'd practis'd long and much before,
Our state-artificer foresaw
Which way the world began to draw:
For as old sinners have all points 405
O' th' compass in their bones and joints,
Can by their pangs and aches find
All turns and changes of the wind,
And better than by Napier's bones,[2]
Peel in their own the age of moons; 410
So guilty sinners, in a state,
Can by their crimes prognosticate,
And in their consciences feel pain
Some days before a show'r of rain:
He therefore wisely cast about 415
All ways he could t' ensure his throat,
And hither came, t' observe and smoke
What courses other riskers took,
And to the utmost do his best
To save himself, and hang the rest. 420
To match this saint there was another,
As busy and perverse a brother,[3]
- ↑ The poet probably means earthworms, which are still more impotent and blind than moles.
- ↑ See "Napier's bones" explained at page 257.
- ↑ It is supposed that this character is intended for Colonel John Lilburn, whose repugnance to all, especially regal, authority, manifested itself in whatever shape it appeared, whether Monarchy or Protectorate. He had been severely censured in the Star-chamber for dispersing seditious pamphlets, and on that account was afterwards rewarded by the Parliament, and preferred by Cromwell. But when Cromwell was made Protector, Lilburn forsook him, and afterwards writing and speaking vehemently was arraigned of treason. He was an uncompromising leveller, and strong opponent of all that was uppermost; a man of such an inveterate spirit of contradiction, that it was commonly said of him, if the world were emptied of all but himself, John would be against Lilburn, and Lilburn against John; which part of his character gave occasion to the following lines at his death:Is John departed, and is Lilburn gone?
Farewell to both, to Lilburn and to John.
Yet being dead, take this advice from me,
Let them not both in one grave buried be;
Lay John here, and Liburn thereabout,
For if they both should meet they would fall out.
