Page:Hudibras - Volume 1 (Butler, Nash, Bohn; 1859).djvu/98

38 Of deeds, not words, and such as suit Another manner of dispute: A controversy that affords Actions for arguments, not words; Which we must manage at a rate Of prowess and conduct, adequate To what our place and fame doth promise, And all the godly expect from us. Nor shall they be deceived, unless W' are slurr'd and outed by success; Success, the mark no mortal wit Or surest hand can always hit: For whatsoe'er we perpetrate, We do but row, w' are steer'd by fate, Which in success oft disinherits, For spurious causes, noblest merits. Great actions are not always true sons Of great and mighty resolutions; Nor do the bold'st attempts bring forth Events still equal to their worth; But sometimes fail, and in their stead Fortune and cowardice succeed. Yet we have no great cause to doubt, Our actions still have borne us out; Which, tho' they're known to be so ample, We need not copy from example; We're not the only persons durst Attempt this province, nor the first. In northern clime a val'rous knight Did whilom kill his bear in fight, And wound a fiddler: we have both Of these the objects of our wroth, And equal fame and glory from Th' attempt, or victory to come.