Page images
PDF
EPUB

Hudibras continued.]

Whatever sceptic could inquire for,
For every why he had a wherefore.1

Parti. Canto i. Line 131.

Where entity and quiddity,

The ghosts of defunct bodies fly.

Parti. Canto i. Line 145.

He knew what's what, and that's as high 2
As metaphysic wit can fly.

Parti. Canto i. Line 149.

Such as take lodgings in a head
That's to be let unfurnished.3

Parti. Canto i. Line 161.

'T was Presbyterian true blue.

Parti. Canto i. Line 191.

And prove their doctrine orthodox,
By apostolic blows and knocks.

Parti. Cante i. Line 199.

Compound for sins they are inclined to,
By damning those they have no mind to.

Parti. Canto i. Line 215.

The trenchant blade, Toledo trusty,

For want of fighting was grown rusty,
And ate into itself for lack

Of somebody to hew and hack.

Parti. Canto i. Line 359.

1 Every why hath a wherefore.

Shakespeare, Comedy of Errors, Act ii. Sc. 2.

2 See Proverbial Expressions.

3 Compare Fuller, Holy and Profane State. Andronicus, ad fin. 1.

[Hudibras continued.

For rhyme the rudder is of verses,

With which, like ships, they steer their courses.

Parti. Canto i. Line 463.

And force them, though it was in spite

Of Nature, and their stars, to write.

Parti. Canto i. Line 647.

1

Quoth Hudibras, "I smell a rat ;1
Ralpho, thou dost prevaricate."

Parti. Canto i. Line 821.

Or shear swine, all cry and no wool.2

Parti. Canto i. Line 852.

With many a stiff thwack, many a bang,
Hard crab-tree and old iron rang.

Parti. Canto ii. Line 831.

Like feather bed betwixt a wall,
And heavy brunt of cannon ball.

Parti. Canto ii. Line 871.

Ay me! what perils do environ

The man that meddles with cold iron.3

Parti. Canto iii. Line 1.

Nor do I know what is become

Of him, more than the Pope of Rome.

Parti. Canto iii. Line 263.

He had got a hurt

O' th' inside, of a deadlier sort.

Parti. Canto iii. Line 309.

With mortal crisis doth portend
My days to appropinque an end.

Part i. Canto iii. Line 589.

1 See Proverbial Expressions.

2 And so his Highness schal have thereof, but as had the man that scheryd his Hogge, moche Crye and no Wull. - Fortescue (1395-1485), Treatise on Absolute and Limited Monarchy, Ch. x.

3 See Spenser, Faerie Queene, Book i. Canto 8. St. 1.

Hudibras continued.]

For those that run away, and fly,
Take place at least o' th' enemy.1

Parti. Canto iii. Line 609.

I am not now in fortune's power;
He that is down can fall no lower.2

Part i. Canto iii. Line 877.

Cheer'd up himself with ends of verse,
And sayings of philosophers.

Parti. Canto iii. Line 1OII.

If he that in the field is slain
Be in the bed of honour lain,
He that is beaten may be said
To lie in honour's truckle-bed.

Parti. Canto iii. Line 1047.

When pious frauds and holy shifts
Are dispensations and gifts.

Part i. Canto iii. Line 1145.

Friend Ralph, thou hast

Outrun the constable at last.

Parti. Canto iii. Line 1367.

Some force whole regions, in despite
O' geography, to change their site;
Make former times shake hands with latter,
And that which was before, come after;
But those that write in rhyme still make
The one verse for the other's sake;
For one for sense, and one for rhyme,

I think 's sufficient at one time.

1 See page 378.

Part ii. Canto i. Line 23.

2 He that is down needs fear no fall.

Bunyan, Pilgrim's Progress.

[Hudibras continued.

Some have been beaten till they know
What wood a cudgel's of by th' blow;
Some kick'd until they can feel whether
A shoe be Spanish or neat's leather.

Part ii. Canto i. Line 221.

Quoth she, I've heard old cunning stagers.

Say, fools for arguments use wagers.

Part ii. Canto i. Line 297.

For what is worth in anything,

But so much money as 't will bring?

Part ii. Canto i. Line 465.

Love is a boy by poets styl'd;

Then spare the rod and spoil the child.1

Part ii. Canto i. Line 843

The sun had long since in the lap
Of Thetis taken out his nap,

And, like a lobster boiled, the morn
From black to red began to turn.

Part ii. Canto ii. Line 29.

Have always been at daggers-drawing,
And one another clapper-clawing.

Part ii. Canto ii. Line 79.

For truth is precious and divine,

Too rich a pearl for carnal swine.

Part ii. Canto ii. Line 257.

Why should not conscience have vacation

As well as other courts o' th' nation.

Part ii. Canto ii. Line 317.

He that imposes an oath makes it,

Not he that for convenience takes it:

1 He that spareth his rod hateth his son. - Proverbs, ch. xiii. 24.

Hudibras continued.]

Then how can any man be said

To break an oath he never made?

Part ii. Canto ii. Line 377.

As the ancients

Say wisely, Have a care o' th' main chance,1
And look before you ere you leap ;1

For as you sow, y' are like to reap.2

Part ii. Canto ii. Line 501.

Doubtless the pleasure is as great
Of being cheated, as to cheat.

Part ii. Canto iii. Line 1.

He made an instrument to know
If the moon shine at full or no.

Part ii. Canto iii. Line 261.

Each window like a pill'ry appears,

With heads thrust thro' nailed by the ears.

Part ii. Canto iii. Line 391.

To swallow gudgeons ere they 're catched, And count their chickens ere they 're hatched.

Part ii. Canto iii. Line 923.

There's but the twinkling of a star

Between a man of peace and war.

Part ii. Canto iii. Line 957.

As quick as lightning, in the breech,

Just in the place where honour's lodged,

1 See Proverbial Expressions.

2 Whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap. Galatians, ch. vi. 7.

Compare Tusser, ante, p. 8.

« PreviousContinue »