Page:Hudibras - Volume 2 (Butler, Nash, Bohn; 1859).djvu/84

 He held it now no longer safe, To tarry the return of Ralph, But rather leave him in the lurch: Thought he, he has abus'd our church, Refused to give himself one firk, To carry on the Public work; Despis'd our Synod-men like dirt, And made their Discipline his sport; Divulg'd the secrets of their Classes, And their Conventions prov'd high places; Disparag'd their tithe-pigs, as pagan, And set at nought their cheese and bacon; Rail'd at their Covenant, and jeer'd Their rev'rend parsons, to my beard; For all which scandals, to be quit At once, this juncture falls out fit. I'll make him henceforth to beware, And tempt my fury, if he dare: He must, at least, hold up his hand, By twelve freeholders to be scann'd; Who by their skill in palmistry, Will quickly read his destiny, And make him glad to read his lesson, Or take a turn for't at the session: Unless his Light and Gifts prove truer Than ever yet they did, I'm sure; For if he 'scape with whipping now, 'Tis more than he can hope to do: