408
HUDIBRAS.
[PART III.
And those achieve the high'st renown,
That bring the other stomachs down.
There's now no fear of wounds nor maiming,
All dangers are reduc'd to famine, 330
And feats of arms to plot, design,
Surprise, and stratagem, and mine;
But have no need nor use of courage,
Unless it be for glory, 'r forage:
For if they fight 'tis but by chance, 335
When one side vent'ring to advance,
And come uncivilly too near,
Are charg'd unmercifully i' th' rear,
And forc'd, with terrible resistance,
To keep hereafter at a distance, 340
To pick out ground t' encamp upon,
Where store of largest rivers run,
That serve, instead of peaceful barriers,
To part th' engagements of their warriors;
Where both from side to side may skip, 345
And only encounter at bo-peep:
For men are found the stouter-hearted,
The certainer they 're to be parted,
And therefore post themselves in bogs,
As th' ancient mice attack'd the frogs,[1] 350
And made their mortal enemy,
The water-rat, their great ally.[2]
For 'tis not now, who's stout and bold?
But, who bears hunger best, and cold?[3]
And he's approv'd the most deserving, 355
Who longest can hold out at starving;
But he that routs most pigs and cows,
The formidablest man of prow'ss.[4]
That bring the other stomachs down.
There's now no fear of wounds nor maiming,
All dangers are reduc'd to famine, 330
And feats of arms to plot, design,
Surprise, and stratagem, and mine;
But have no need nor use of courage,
Unless it be for glory, 'r forage:
For if they fight 'tis but by chance, 335
When one side vent'ring to advance,
And come uncivilly too near,
Are charg'd unmercifully i' th' rear,
And forc'd, with terrible resistance,
To keep hereafter at a distance, 340
To pick out ground t' encamp upon,
Where store of largest rivers run,
That serve, instead of peaceful barriers,
To part th' engagements of their warriors;
Where both from side to side may skip, 345
And only encounter at bo-peep:
For men are found the stouter-hearted,
The certainer they 're to be parted,
And therefore post themselves in bogs,
As th' ancient mice attack'd the frogs,[1] 350
And made their mortal enemy,
The water-rat, their great ally.[2]
For 'tis not now, who's stout and bold?
But, who bears hunger best, and cold?[3]
And he's approv'd the most deserving, 355
Who longest can hold out at starving;
But he that routs most pigs and cows,
The formidablest man of prow'ss.[4]
- ↑ Alluding to Homer's Batrachomyomachia, or Battle of the Frogs and Mice.
- ↑ Meaning the Dutch, who were allies of the Parliamentarians.
- ↑ An ordinance was passed March 26, 1644, for the contribution of one meal a week toward the charge of the army.
- ↑ A sneer, perhaps, on Venables and Pen, who were unfortunate in their expedition against the Spaniards at St Domingo, in the year 1615. It is observed of them, that they exercised their valour only on horses, asses, and such like, making a slaughter of all they met, greedily devouring skins, en-
