HUDIBRAS.
437
Your heels degraded of your spurs,[1]And in the stocks close prisoners:Where still they 'd lain, in base restraint, 15If I, in pity 'f your complaint,Had not, on hon'rable conditions,Releast 'em from the worst of prisons;And what return that favour met,You cannot, tho' you wou'd forget; 20When being free you strove t' evadeThe oaths you had in prison made;Forswore yourself, and first denied it,But after own'd, and justified it;And when you'd falsely broke one vow, 25Absolv'd yourself, by breaking two.For while you sneakingly submit,And beg for pardon at our feet;[2]Discourag'd by your guilty fears,To hope for quarter, for your ears; 30And doubting 'twas in vain to sue,You claim us boldly as your due,Declare that treachery and force,To deal with us, is th' only course;We have no title nor pretence 35To body, soul, or conscience,But ought to fall to that man's shareThat claims us for his proper ware:These are the motives which, t' induce,Or fright us into love, you use; 40A pretty new way of gallanting,Between soliciting and ranting;Like sturdy beggars, that intreatFor charity at once, and threat.But since you undertake to prove 45Your own propriety in love,As if we were but lawful prizeIn war, between two enemies,
