274
HUDIBRAS.
[PART III.
His firm and stedfast resolution, 135
To swear her to an execution;[1]
To pawn his inward ears to marry her,[2]
And bribe the devil himself to carry her.
In which both dealt, as if they meant
Their party saints to represent, 140
Who never fail'd, upon their sharing
In any prosperous arms-bearing,
To lay themselves out to supplant
Each other cousin-german saint.
But ere the Knight could do his part, 145
The Squire had got so much the start,
He'd to the lady done his errand.
And told her all his tricks aforehand.
Just as he finish'd his report,
The Knight alighted in the court, 150
And having ty'd his beast t' a pale,
And taken time for both to stale,
He put his band and beard in order,
The sprucer to accost and board her:[3]
And now began t' approach the door, 155
When she, who 'ad spy'd him out before,
Convey'd th' informer out of sight,
And went to entertain the Knight:
With whom encountering, after longees[4]
Of humble and submissive congees, 160
And all due ceremonies paid,
He strok'd his beard, and thus he said:[5]
To swear her to an execution;[1]
To pawn his inward ears to marry her,[2]
And bribe the devil himself to carry her.
In which both dealt, as if they meant
Their party saints to represent, 140
Who never fail'd, upon their sharing
In any prosperous arms-bearing,
To lay themselves out to supplant
Each other cousin-german saint.
But ere the Knight could do his part, 145
The Squire had got so much the start,
He'd to the lady done his errand.
And told her all his tricks aforehand.
Just as he finish'd his report,
The Knight alighted in the court, 150
And having ty'd his beast t' a pale,
And taken time for both to stale,
He put his band and beard in order,
The sprucer to accost and board her:[3]
And now began t' approach the door, 155
When she, who 'ad spy'd him out before,
Convey'd th' informer out of sight,
And went to entertain the Knight:
With whom encountering, after longees[4]
Of humble and submissive congees, 160
And all due ceremonies paid,
He strok'd his beard, and thus he said:[5]
- ↑ To swear he had undergone the stipulated whipping, and then demand the performance of her part of the bargain.
- ↑ His honour and conscience, which might forfeit some of their immunities by perjury, as the outward ears do for the same crime in the sentence of the statute law.
- ↑ Thus in Hamlet, Act ii. sc. 2:See also Twelfth Night, Act i. sc. 3; and Taming of the Shrew, Act i. sc. 2.
- ↑ Longees are thrusts made by fencers.
- ↑ "And now, being come within compass of discerning her, be began to frame the loveliest countenance that he could; stroking up his legs, setting
