Page:Hudibras - Volume 1 (Butler, Nash, Bohn; 1859).djvu/77

CANTO I.] This sturdy Squire had, as well As the bold Trojan knight, seen hell, Not with a counterfeited pass Of golden bough, but true gold lace. His knowledge was not far behind The knight's, but of another kind, And he another way came by't; Some call it Gifts, and some New Light. A lib'ral art, that costs no pains Of study, industry, or brains. His wits were sent him for a token, But in the carriage crack'd and broken. Like commendation nine-pence, crookt With—to and from my love—it lookt. He ne'er consider' d it, as loth To look a gift-horse in the mouth; And very wisely would lay forth No more upon it than 'twas worth. But as he got it freely, so He spent it frank and freely too. For saints themselves will sometimes be, Of gifts that cost them nothing, free. By means of this, with hem and cough, Prolongers to enlighten'd snuff, He could deep mysteries unriddle. As easily as thread a needle;