Page:Hudibras - Volume 1 (Butler, Nash, Bohn; 1859).djvu/186

108 'Till stumbling, lie threw him down, Sore bruis'd, and cast into a swoon. Meanwhile the Knight began to rouse The sparkles of his wonted prowess; He thrust his hand into his hose, And found, both by his eyes and nose, 'Twas only choler, and not blood, That from his wounded body flow'd. This, with the hazard of the Squire, Inflam'd him with despightful ire; Courageously he fac'd about, And drew his other pistol out, And now had half-way bent the cock, When Cerdon gave so fierce a shock, With sturdy truncheon, 'thwart his arm, That down it fell, and did no harm: Then stoutly pressing on with speed, Essay'd to pull him off his steed. The Knight his sword had only left, With which he Cerdon's head had cleft. Or at the least cropt off a limb, But Orsin came and rescu'd him. He with his lance attack'd the Knight Upon his quarters opposite. But as a bark, that in foul weather, Toss'd by two adverse winds together, Is bruis'd and beaten to and fro, And knows not which to turn him to: So far'd the Knight between two foes, And knew not which of them t' oppose; 'Till Orsin charging with his lance At Hudibras, by spightful chance Hit Cerdon such a bang, as stunn'd And laid him flat upon the ground. At this the Knight began to cheer up, And raising up himself on stirrup, Cry'd out, Victoria! lie thou there, And I shall straight dispatch another,