Page:Hudibras - Volume 1 (Butler, Nash, Bohn; 1859).djvu/73

CANTO I.] And ate into itself, for lack Of somebody to hew and hack. The peaceful scabbard where it dwelt, The rancour of its edge had felt: For of the lower end two handful It had devour'd, 'twas so manful, And so much scorn'd to lurk in case, As if it durst not show its face. In many desperate attempts, Of warrants, exigents, contempts, It had appear'd with courage bolder Than Serjeant Bum, invading shoulder: Oft had it ta'en possession, And pris'ners too, or made them run. This sword a dagger had, his page, That was but little for his age: And therefore waited on him so, As dwarfs upon knights errant do. It was a serviceable dudgeon, Either for fighting or for drudging: When it had stabb'd, or broke a head, It would scrape trenchers, or chip bread, Toast cheese or bacon, though it were To bait a mouse-trap, 'twould not care. 'Twould make clean shoes, and in the earth Set leeks and onions, and so forth: It had been 'prentice to a brewer, Where this, and more, it did endure; But left the trade, as many more Have lately done, on the same score.