Page:Hudibras - Volume 1 (Butler, Nash, Bohn; 1859).djvu/287

CANTO II.] Quoth Ralpho, Honour's but a word To swear by only in a lord: In other men 'tis but a huff To vapour with, instead of proof; That like a wen looks big and swells, Is senseless, and just nothing else. Let it, quoth he, be what it will, It has the world's opinion still. But as men are not wise, that run The slightest hazard they may shun; There may a medium be found out To clear to all the world the doubt; And that is, if a man may do't, By proxy whipp'd, or substitute. Though nice and dark the point appear, Quoth Ralph, it may hold up and clear. That sinners may supply the place Of suffering saints, is a plain case. Justice gives sentence, many times, On one man for another's crimes.