Page:Hudibras - Volume 1 (Butler, Nash, Bohn; 1859).djvu/178

100 Then, Hudibras, why should'st thou fear To be, that art a conqueror? Fortune the audacious doth juvare, But lets the timidous miscarry: Then, while the honour thou hast got Is spick and span new, piping hot, Strike her up bravely thou hadst best, And trust thy fortune with the rest. Such thoughts as these the Knight did keep More than his bangs, or fleas, from sleep; And as an owl, that in a barn Sees a mouse creeping in the corn, Sits still, and shuts his round blue eyes, As if he slept, until he spies The little beast within his reach, Then starts, and seizes on the wretch; So from his couch the Knight did start, To seize upon the widow's heart; Crying, with hasty tone and hoarse, Ralpho, dispatch, to horse, to horse! And 'twas but time; for now the rout, We left engag'd to seek him out, By speedy marches were advanc'd Up to the fort where he ensconc'd, And all the avenues possest About the place, from east to west. That done, awhile they made a halt, To view the ground, and where t' assault: Then call'd a council, which was best, By siege, or onslaught, to invest The enemy; and 'twas agreed By storm and onslaught to proceed. This b'ing resolv'd, in comely sort They now drew up t' attack the fort;