Page:Hudibras - Volume 1 (Butler, Nash, Bohn; 1859).djvu/296

196 This strange surprisal put the Knight And wrathful Squire into a fright; And tho' they stood prepar'd, with fatal Impetuous rancour, to join battle, Both thought it was the wisest course To wave the fight, and mount to horse; And to secure, by swift retreating, Themselves from danger of worse beating; Yet neither of them would disparage, By utt'ring of his mind, his courage, Which made them stoutly keep their ground, With horror and disdain wind-bound. And now the cause of all their fear By slow degrees approach'd so near, They might distinguish different noise Of horns, and pans, and dogs, and boys, And kettle-drums, whose sullen dub Sounds like the hooping of a tub: But when the sight appear'd in view, They found it was an antique show; A triumph, that for pomp and state, Did proudest Romans emulate: For as the aldermen of Rome Their foes at training overcome, And not enlarging territory, As some, mistaken, write in story,