Ralpho, bear witness, and go fetch us

A constable to seize the wretches:

1015

For though they're both false knaves and cheats, Imposters, jugglers, counterfeits,

I'll make them serve for perpendic❜lars,

As true as e'er were us'd by bricklayers.
They're guilty, by their own confessions,
Of felony, and at the sessions

Upon the bench I will so handle 'em,
That the vibration of this pendulum

1020

Shall make all tailors' yards of one

1025

Unanimous opinion:

A thing he long has vapour'd of,

But now shall make it out by proof.
Quoth Sidrophel, I do not doubt

To find friends that will bear me out:

1030

Nor have I hazarded my art,

And neck so long on the state's part,

To be expos'd i' th' end to suffer,

By such a braggadocia huffer.

Huffer! quoth Hudibras, This sword

1035

Shall down thy false throat cram that word.
Ralpho, make haste, and call an officer,

T' apprehend this Stygian sophister:

THEN W TUCLC U

ASTOC
TILDEN FO

Meanwhile I'll hold 'em at a bay,

Lest he and Whachum run away.

.1040

This b'ing resolv'd, he spy'd by chance

Behind the door, an iron lance,

That many a sturdy limb had gor'd,

And legs, and loins, and shoulders bor'd;
He snatch'd it up, and made a pass

To make his way through Hudibras.
Whachum had got a fire-fork,

With which he vow'd to do his work.

But Hudibras was well prepar'd,

And stoutly stood upon his guard:

He put by Sidrophelo's thrust,

1050

1055

And in right manfully he rusht;

1060

The weapon from his gripe he wrung,

And laid him on the earth along.

Whachum his sea-coal prong threw by,

And basely turn'd his back to fly;
But Hudibras gave him a twitch

do!

10. 1065

As quick as lightning in the breech;20 Just in the place where honor 's lodg'd,

As wise philosophers have judg'd ;

Because a kick in that place, more

1

Hurts honor, than deep wounds before... 1070

Quoth Hudibras, The stars determine

You are my prisoners, base vermin!
Could they not tell you so as well ́:
As what I came to know foretell?
By this what cheats you are we find,
That in your own concerns are blind.
Your lives are now at my dispose,
To be redeem'd by fine or blows:
But who his honor would defile,
To take, or sell, two lives so vile?
I'll give you quarter; but your pillage
The conqu❜ring warrior's crop and tillage,
Which with his sword he reaps and plows,

That's mine, the law of arms allows.

This said, in haste, in haste he fell

1075

1080

bal.

1085

To rummaging of Sidrophel;