Page:Hudibras - Volume 1 (Butler, Nash, Bohn; 1859).djvu/70

18 Unless they grazed, there's not one word Of their provision on record: Which made some confidently write, They had no stomachs but to fight. 'Tis false: for Arthur wore in hall Round-table like a farthingal, On which, with shirt pull'd out behind. And eke before, his good knights dined. Tho' 'twas no table some suppose, But a huge pair of round trunk-hose: In which he carried as much meat As he and all his knights could eat, When laying by their swords and truncheons, They took their breakfasts, or their nuncheons. But let that pass at present, lest "We should forget where we digrest; As learned authors use, to whom "We leave it, and to th' purpose come. His puissant sword unto his side, Near his undaunted heart, was tied. With basket-hilt, that would hold broth, And serve for fight and dinner both. In it he melted lead for bullets, To shoot at foes, and sometimes pullets; To whom he bore so fell a grutch, He ne'er gave quarter t' any such. The trenchant blade, Toledo trusty, For want of fighting was grown rusty,