CANTO III.]
HUDIBRAS.
411
That does the feat, with braver vigours,In words at length, as well as figures;Is judge of all the world performsIn voluntary feats of arms,And whatsoe'er 's achiev'd in fight, 425Determines which is wrong or right;For whether yon prevail, or lose,All must be try'd there in the close;And therefore 'tis not wise to shunWhat you must trust to ere ye 've done. 430The law that settles all you do,And marries where you did but woo;That makes the most perfidious lover,A lady, that's as false, recover;[1]And if it judge upon your side, 435Will soon extend her for your bride,[2]And put her person, goods, or lands,Or which you like best, into your hands,For law's the wisdom of all ages,And manag'd by the ablest sages, 440Who, tho' their bus'ness at the barBe but a kind of civil war,In which th' engage with fiercer dungeonsThan e'er the Grecians did, and Trojans;They never manage the contest 445T' impair their public interest,Or by their controversies lessenThe dignity of their profession;Not like us brethren, who divideOur commonwealth, the Cause, and side;[3] 450And tho' we 're all as near of kindredAs th' outward man is to the inward,We agree in nothing, but to wrangleAbout the slightest fingle-fangle,
- ↑ That, is, the law will recover a lady though she be as false as the most perfidious lover.
- ↑ Meaning to levy an extent upon the lady: seize her for your use in satisfaction of the debt.
- ↑ Take part on one side or the other. Whereas we who have a common interest, a common cause, a common party against the Royalists and Episcopalians, weaken our strength by internal divisions among ourselves
