Page:Hudibras - Volume 1 (Butler, Nash, Bohn; 1859).djvu/163

CANTO III.] Thinking he'd done enough to purchase Thanksgiving-day among the churches, Wherein his metal and brave worth Might be explain'd by holder-forth, And register'd by fame eternal, In deathless pages of diurnal; Found in few minutes, to his cost, He did but count without his host: And that a turn-stile is more certain Than, in events of war, Dame Fortune. For now the late faint-hearted rout. O'erthrown and scatter'd round about, Chas'd by the horror of their fear, From bloody fray of Knight and Bear, All but the dogs, who, in pursuit Of the Knight's victory, stood to 't And most ignobly sought to get The honour of his blood and sweat, Seeing the coast was free and clear O' the conquer'd and the conqueror, Took heart of grace, and fac'd about, As if they meant to stand it out: For now the half defeated bear, Attack'd by th' enemy i' th' rear. Finding their number grew too great For him to make a safe retreat, Like a bold chieftain fac'd about; But wisely doubting to hold out, Grave way to fortune, and with haste Fac'd the proud foe, and fled, and fac'd,