But Hudibras advanc'd to his aid,
And rous'd his spirits half dismay'd.
He wisely doubting lest the shot
O' th' enemy, now growing hot,
Might at a distance gall, press'd close,
To come pell-mell to handy blows,
And, that he might their aid decline,
Advanc'd still in an oblique line;
But prudently forbore to fire,

505

When Fortune, as she's wont, turn'd fickle,

And for the foe began to stickle.

516

The more shame for her goodyship,
To give so near a friend the slip.
For Colon, choosing out a stone,
Levell'd so right, it thump'd upon
His manly paunch, with such a force,
As almost beat him off his horse.
He lost his whinyard, and the rein;
But laying fast hold of the mane,

520

508. This line alludes to the gradual motion of the moon in her librations.

Preserv'd his seat: and as a goose
In death contracts his talons close;
So did the knight, and with one claw
The tricker of his pistol draw.
The gun went off: and as it was
Still fatal to stout Hudibras,

In all his feats of arms, when least
He dream'd of it, to prosper best;
So now he far'd: the shot let fly
At random 'mong the enemy,

525

530

Pierc'd Talgol's gaberdine, and grazing 535
Upon his shoulder in the passing,

Lodg'd in Magnano's brass habergeon,
Who straight A surgeon cry'd, A surgeon:
He tumbled down, and as he fell,
Did Murder, murder, murder yell.
This startled their whole body so,
That if the knight had not let go

540

526. Talgol's shoulders and head, together, resemble a goose, its body to the south; head, north, and its bill to the left of the north.

538. Magnano's outcry of murder and for a surgeon are referable to the resemblance of a forceps and to other surgical instruments, situate in the moon near to the hand, which hand has been before noticed to be distinguishable in the front of his body, and is introduced in the figure of Magnano (numbered, ante, 19); and his being shot refers to the apparent shot-hole just below his breast.

His arms, but been in warlike plight,
H' had won, the second time, the fight.
As, if the squire had but fall'n on,

He had inevitably done:

But he, diverted with the care

Of Hudibras his hurt, forbare

To press th'advantage of his fortune
While danger did the rest dishearten.
For he with Cerdon b'ing engag'd
In close encounter, they both wag'd
The fight so well, 'twas hard to say
Which side was like to get the day.
And now the busy work of death

545

550

555

Had tir'd them so, th' agreed to breath,

Preparing to renew the fight;

When the disaster of the knight

And th' other party did divert

Their fell intent, and forc'd them part.

560

551. When the positions in the moon of the prototypes of the various characters in the Poem, in respect of each other, are considered, it will be seen, that the poet, in the management of his characters, resorts at pleasure to the principles of aliusque et idem, and of idem cum eodem (of both which there is a striking example in this line and in 554), and of idem per idem (as in 965, 966); and in this manner he exercises his fancy throughout the Poem, as before observed in the note on line 489 of the second

canto.

Ralpho press'd up to Hudibras,
And Cerdon where Magnano was;
Each striving to confirm his party
With stout encouragements, and hearty.
Quoth Ralpho, Courage, valiant Sir,
And let revenge and honour stir
Your spirits up; once more fall on,
The shatter'd foe begins to run:
For if but half so well you knew
To use your victory as subdue,
They durst not, after such a blow

565

570

As you have giv'n them, face us now;

But from so formidable a soldier

Had fled like crows when they smell powder.

Thrice have they seen your sword aloft

575

Wav'd o'er their heads, and fled as oft.
But if you let them recollect

Their spirits now dismay'd and check'd,
You'll have a harder game to play
Than yet y' have had, to get the day.

580

Thus spoke the stout squire; but was heard By Hudibras with small regard.

574. If the map of the moon be placed so that the south be on the right-hand, the body of Magnano (without the head) will be found to exhibit a strong resemblance to

a crow.

His thoughts were fuller of the bang
He lately took, than Ralph's harangue;
To which he answer'd, Cruel fate

585

Tells me thy counsel comes too late.

The clotted blood within my hose,
That from my wounded body flows,
With mortal crisis doth portend
My days to appropinque an end.
I am for action now unfit,
Either of fortitude or wit.
Fortune my foe begins to frown,

590

Resolv'd to pull my stomach down.
I am not apt, upon a wound

595

Or trivial basting to despond:

Yet I'd be loth my days to curtail ;

For if I thought my wounds not mortal,
Or that we'd time enough as yet

To make an hon'rable retreat;

600

'Twere the best course: but if they find

We fly, and leave our arms behind,
For them to seize on; the dishonour,
And danger too, is such, I'll sooner
Stand to it boldly, and take quarter,

605

To let them see I am no starter.

In all the trade of war, no feat
Is nobler than a brave retreat:
For those that run away, and fly,
Take place at least o' th'

enemy.

610