Page:Hudibras - Volume 1 (Butler, Nash, Bohn; 1859).djvu/199

CANTO III.] To take the height on't, and explain To what degree it is profane: Whats'ever will not with thy—what d'ye call Thy light—jump right, thou call'st synodical. As if presbytery were a standard To size whats'ever's to be slander'd. Dost not remember how this day Thou to my beard was bold to say, That thou could'st prove bear-baiting equal With synods, orthodox and legal? Do, if thou can'st, for I deny't, And dare thee to't with all thy light. Quoth Ralpho, Truly that is no Hard matter for a man to do, That has but any guts in's brains, And could believe it worth his pains; But since you dare and urge me to it, You'll find I've light enough to do it. Synods are mystical bear-gardens, Where elders, deputies, church-wardens, And other members of the court, Manage the Babylonish sport. For prolocutor, scribe, and bearward, Do differ only in a mere word, Both are but sev'ral synagogues Of carnal men, and bears, and dogs: Both antichristian assemblies, To mischief bent, as far's in them lies: Both stave and tail with fierce contests, The one with men, the other beasts. The diff'rence is, the one fights with The tongue, the other with the teeth; And that they bait but bears in this, In th' other souls and consciences;