Page:Hudibras - Volume 2 (Butler, Nash, Bohn; 1859).djvu/280

When he's confess'd he stole my cloak,
And pick'd my fob, and what he took;
Which was the cause that made me bang him,
And take my goods again—Marry^[1] hang him.
Now, whether I should beforehand 645
Swear he robb'd me?—I understand.
Or bring my action of conversion
And trover for my goods?^[2]—Ah, whoreson!
Or, if 'tis better to indite,
And bring him to his trial?—Right. 650
Prevent what he designs to do,
And swear for th' state against him?^[3]—True.
Or whether he that is defendant,
In this case, has the better end on't;
Who, putting in a new cross-bill, 655
May traverse th' action?—Better still.
Then there's a lady too—Aye, marry.
That's easily prov'd accessary;
A widow, who by solemn vows,
Contracted to me for my spouse, 660
Combin'd with him to break her word,
And has abetted all-Good Lord!
Suborn'd th' aforesaid Sidrophel
To tamper with the dev'l of hell,
Who put m' into a horrid fear, 665
Fear of my life—Make that appear.
Made an assault with fiends and men
Upon my body—Good agen.
And kept me in a deadly fright,

And false imprisonment, all night. 670
Meanwhile they robb'd me, and my horse,
And stole my saddle—Worse and worse.
And made me mount upon the bare ridge,
T' avoid a wretcheder miscarriage.

1. The second syllable must be slurred in reading. For a note on Marry-come-up see page 93.
2. An action of trover is an action brought for recovery of goods wrongfully detained.
3. Swear that a crime was committed by him against the public peace, or peace of the state.