'Twas only choler, and not blood, 660 And drew his other pistol out : And now had half way bent the cock, 663 When Cerdon gave so fierce a shock, With sturdy truncheon, 'thwart his arm, With which he Cerdon's head had cleft, Or at the least cropt off a limb, But Orsin came, and rescu'd him. He with his lance attack'd the Knight 675 Upon his quarters opposite: But as a bark, that in foul weather, a Toss'd by two adverse winds together, of And knows not which to turn him to: 680 Till Orsin, charging with his lance At Hudibras, by spiteful chance, Hit Cerdon such a bang, as stunn'd 685 And laid him flat upon the ground. At this the knight began to cheer up, And I shall straight dispatch another 690 This b'ing resolv'd, he spurr'd his steed To run at Orsin with full speed, While he was busy in the care Of Cerdon's wound, and unaware: 705 And seeing th' enemy prepar'd, Drew up, and stood upon his guard. Then like a warrior right expert And skilful in the martial art, The subtle Knight straight made a halt, And judg'd it best to stay th' assault, Until he had reliev'd the Squire, 710 Though sorely bruis'd: his limbs all o'er, 720 Right fain he would have got upon His feet again, to get him gone;' When Hudibrass to aid him came. Quoth he, and called him by his name, This hand has sent to their long home; With many a gash and blood wound. Cæsar himself could never say 730 He got two vict'ries in a day; As I have done, that can say, Twice I 735 Then lest they rally, and once more Get up and mount thy steed, dispatch, And let us both their motions watch. Quoth Ralph, I should not, if I were 745 In case for action, now be here: Nor have I turn'd my back, or hang'd An arse, for fear of being bang'd. 7.50 My limbs of strength: unless you stoop, The one we oft to-day have done; The other shall dispatch anon: And tho' th' art of a diff'rent church, I will not leave thee in the lurch. This said, he jogg'd his good steed nigher, 765 But could find none, nor where the shot 770 |