Page:Hudibras - Volume 1 (Butler, Nash, Bohn; 1859).djvu/308

206 Thro' which they quickly broke their way, And brought them off from further fray; And tho' disorder'd in retreat, Each of them stoutly kept his seat; For quitting both their swords and reins, They grasp'd with all their strength the manes; And, to avoid the foe's pursuit, With spurring put their cattle to't, And till all four were out of wind, And danger too, ne'er look'd behind. After they'd paus'd awhile, supplying Their spirits, spent with fight and flying, And Hudibras recruited force Of lungs, for action or discourse: Quoth he, That man is sure to lose That fouls his hands with dirty foes: For where no honour's to be gain'd, 'Tis thrown away in be'ng maintain'd: 'Twas ill for us we had to do With so dishon'rable a foe: For tho' the law of arms doth bar The use of venom'd shot in war, Yet by the nauseous smell, and noisome, Their case-shot savours strong of poison; And, doubtless, have been chew'd with teeth Of some that had a stinking breath; Else when we put it to the push, They had not giv'n us such a brush: But as those poltroons that fling dirt, Do but defile, but cannot hurt; So all the honour they have won, Or we have lost, is much at one.