CANTO III.]
HUDIBRAS.
417
But was a kind and constant friend
To all that regularly offend:
As residentiary bawds, 615
And brokers that receive stol'n goods;
That cheat in lawful mysteries,
And pay church-duties, and his fees;
But was implacable and awkward,
To all that interlop'd and hawker'd.[1] 620
To this brave man the Knight repairs
For counsel in his law affairs,
And found him mounted in his pew.
With books and money plac'd for show,
Like nest-eggs to make clients lay, 625
And for his false opinion pay:
To whom the Knight, with comely grace,
Put off his hat to put his case :
Which he as proudly entertain’d,
As th' other courteously strain'd; 630
And, to assure him 'twas not that
He look'd for, bid him put on's hat.
Quoth he, There is one Sidrophel
Whom I have cudgell'd—Very well—
And now he brags to 've beaten me— 635
Better and better still, quoth he—
And vows to stick me to the wall.
Where'er he meets me—Best of all.
'Tis true the knave has taken 's oath
That I robb'd him—Well done, in troth. 640
To all that regularly offend:
As residentiary bawds, 615
And brokers that receive stol'n goods;
That cheat in lawful mysteries,
And pay church-duties, and his fees;
But was implacable and awkward,
To all that interlop'd and hawker'd.[1] 620
To this brave man the Knight repairs
For counsel in his law affairs,
And found him mounted in his pew.
With books and money plac'd for show,
Like nest-eggs to make clients lay, 625
And for his false opinion pay:
To whom the Knight, with comely grace,
Put off his hat to put his case :
Which he as proudly entertain’d,
As th' other courteously strain'd; 630
And, to assure him 'twas not that
He look'd for, bid him put on's hat.
Quoth he, There is one Sidrophel
Whom I have cudgell'd—Very well—
And now he brags to 've beaten me— 635
Better and better still, quoth he—
And vows to stick me to the wall.
Where'er he meets me—Best of all.
'Tis true the knave has taken 's oath
That I robb'd him—Well done, in troth. 640
- ↑ That is, he was very severe to hawkers and interlopers, who interfered with the regular trade of roguery, but favoured the offences of those who kept houses, took out licences, and paid rates and taxes. The passage is thus amplified in prose, in Butler's Character of a Justice of the Peace. "He uses great care and moderation in punishing those that offend regularly by their calling, as residentiary bawds, and incumbent pimps, that pay parish duties, shopkeepers that use constant false weights and measures, these he rather prunes, that they may grow the better, than disables; but is very severe to hawkers and interlopers, that commit iniquity on the bye."
measure, or spurious mixtures. So Butler says of his Justice, Remains, vol. ii. p. 191. "He does his country signal service in the judicious and mature legitimation of tippling-houses; that the subject be not imposed upon with illegal and arbitrary ale."
