Page:Hudibras - Volume 2 (Butler, Nash, Bohn; 1859).djvu/12

212 Tho' cheats, yet more intelligible Than those that with the stars do fribble. This Hudibras by proof found true, As in due time and place we'll shew: For he, with beard and face made clean, Being mounted on his steed again, And Ralpho got a cock-horse too, Upon his beast, with much ado, Advanc'd on for the widow's house, T' acquit himself and pay his vows; When various thoughts began to bustle And with his inward man to justle. He thought what danger might accrue, If she should find he swore untrue; Or if his squire or he should fail, And not be punctual in their tale, It might at once the ruin prove Both of his honour, faith, and love: But if he should forbear to go, She might conclude he'd broke his vow; And that he durst not now, for shame, Appear in court to try his claim. This was the penn'orth of his thought, To pass time, and uneasy trot.
 * Quoth he, In all my past adventures

I ne'er was set so on the tenters, Or taken tardy with dilemma, That ev'ry way I turn, does hem me, And with inextricable doubt Besets my puzzled wits about: For though the dame has been my bail, To free me from enchanted jail, Yet, as a dog committed close For some offence, by chance breaks loose, And quits his clog; but all in vain,