Page:Hudibras - Volume 1 (Butler, Nash, Bohn; 1859).djvu/146

70 How durst th', I say, adventure thus T' oppose thy lumber against us? Could thine impertinence find out No work t' employ itself about, Where thou, secure from wooden blow, Thy busy vanity might show? Was no dispute afoot between The caterwauling bretheren? No subtle question rais'd among Those out-o'-their wits, and those i' th' wrong? No prize between those combatants O' th' times, the land and water saints; Where thou might'st stickle, without hazard Of outrage to thy hide and mazzard, And not, for want of bus'ness, come To us to be thus troublesome, To interrupt our better sort Of disputants, and spoil our sport? Was there no felony, no bawd. Cut-purse, nor burglary abroad? No stolen pig, nor plunder'd goose, To tie thee up from breaking loose? No ale unlicens'd, broken hedge, For which thou statute might'st allege, To keep thee busy from foul evil, And shame due to thee from the devil? Did no committee sit, where he Might cut out journey-work for thee;