Page:Hudibras - Volume 2 (Butler, Nash, Bohn; 1859).djvu/59

CANTO III.] They are but idle dreams and fancies, And savour strongly of the ganzas. Tell me but what's the natural cause, Why on a sign no painter draws The full moon ever, but the half;— Resolve that with your Jacob's staff; Or why wolves raise a hubbub at her, And dogs howl when she shines in water; And I shall freely give my vote, You may know something more remote. At this, deep Sidrophel look'd wise, And staring round with owl-like eyes, He put his face into a posture Of sapience, and began to bluster; For having three times shook his head To stir his wit up, thus he said: Art has no mortal enemies, Next ignorance, but owls and geese: Those consecrated geese, in orders, That to the Capitol were warders, And being then upon patrol, With noise alone beat off the Gaul; Or those Athenian sceptic owls, That will not credit their own souls,