270
HUDIBRAS.
[PART III.
Or for a lady tender-hearted, 25
In purling streams or hemp departed?
Leap't headlong int' Elysium,
Thro' th' windows of a dazzling room?[1]
But for some cross ill-natur'd dame,
The am'rous fly burnt in his flame. 30
This to the Knight could be no news,
With all mankind so much in use;
Who therefore took the wiser course,
To make the most of his amours,
Resolv'd to try all sorts of ways, 35
As follows in due time and place.
No sooner was the bloody fight
Between the wizard and the Knight,
With all th' appurtenances, over,
But he relaps'd again t' a lover; 40
As he was always wont to do,
When he'ad discomfited a foe,
And us'd the only antique philters,
Deriv'd from old heroic tilters.[2]
But now triumphant and victorious, 45
He held th' atchievement was too glorious
For such a conqueror to meddle
With petty constable or beadle;
Or fly for refuge to the hostess
Of th' inns of court and chanc'ry, Justice; 50
Who might, perhaps, reduce his cause
To th' ordeal trial of the laws;[3]
In purling streams or hemp departed?
Leap't headlong int' Elysium,
Thro' th' windows of a dazzling room?[1]
But for some cross ill-natur'd dame,
The am'rous fly burnt in his flame. 30
This to the Knight could be no news,
With all mankind so much in use;
Who therefore took the wiser course,
To make the most of his amours,
Resolv'd to try all sorts of ways, 35
As follows in due time and place.
No sooner was the bloody fight
Between the wizard and the Knight,
With all th' appurtenances, over,
But he relaps'd again t' a lover; 40
As he was always wont to do,
When he'ad discomfited a foe,
And us'd the only antique philters,
Deriv'd from old heroic tilters.[2]
But now triumphant and victorious, 45
He held th' atchievement was too glorious
For such a conqueror to meddle
With petty constable or beadle;
Or fly for refuge to the hostess
Of th' inns of court and chanc'ry, Justice; 50
Who might, perhaps, reduce his cause
To th' ordeal trial of the laws;[3]
- ↑ Drowned themselves. Objects reflected by water appear nearly the same as when they are viewed through the windows of a room so high from the ground that it dazzles to look down from it. Thus Juvenal, Sat. vi. v. 31, Altæ caligantesque fenestræ: which Holyday translates, dazzling high windows.
- ↑ The heroes of romance endeavoured to conciliate the affections of their mistresses by the fame of their illustrious exploits. So was Desdemona won. Othello, Act i.,
- ↑ Ordeal comes from the Anglo-Saxon ordal, and signifies judgement. The methods of trial by fire, water, or combat, were in use till the time of Henry III., and the right of exercising them was annexed to several lordships or manors, At this day, when a culprit is arraigned at the bar, and asked how he will be tried, he is directed to answer, "by God and my
