Page:Hudibras - Volume 1 (Butler, Nash, Bohn; 1859).djvu/223

CANTO I.] This tattling gossip knew too well, What mischief Hudibras befell; And straight the spiteful tidings bears, Of all, to th' unkind widow's ears. Democritus ne'er laugh'd so loud, To see bawds carted through the crowd, Or funerals with stately pomp, March slowly on in solemn dump. As she laugh'd out, until her back, As well as sides, was like to crack. She vow'd she would go see the sight, And visit the distressed Knight, To do the office of a neighbour. And be a gossip at his labour; And from his wooden jail, the stocks. To set at large his fetter-locks, And by exchange, parole, or ransom, To free him from th' enchanted mansion. This b'ing resolv'd, she call'd for hood And usher, implements abroad Which ladies wear, beside a slender Young waiting damsel to attend her. All which appearing, on she went To find the Knight in limbo pent. And 'twas not long before she found Him, and his stout Squire, in the pound; Both coupled in enchanted tether, By further leg behind together: