When use, and when abstain from, vice, I' th' almanack, strange bilks presage. He would an elegy compose His mistress eating a black pudden ; And when imprison'd air escap'd her, It puft him with poetic rapture: Like Orpheus look'd among the beasts : A carman's horse could not pass by But stood ty'd up to poetry; 375 380 385 No porter's burthen pass along, But serv'd for burthen to his song: 390 20 HUDIBRAS. Each window like a pill'ry appears, PART II. With heads thrust through, nail'd by the ears; All trades run in as to the sight Of monsters, or their dear delight The gallow-tree, when cutting purse Breeds bus'ness for heroic verse, Which none does hear, but would have hung Those two together long had liv'd In mansion prudently contriv'd, Where neither tree nor house could bar 395 400 The free detection of a star; And nigh an ancient obelisk Was rais'd by him, found out by Fisk, On which was written, not in words, 405 But hieroglyphic mute of birds, 410 The strangest long-wing'd hawk that flies, 415 That, like a bird of Paradise, Or herald's martlet, has no legs, Nor hatches young ones, nor lays eggs; His train was six yards long, milk-white, At th' end of which there hung a light, 420 Enclos'd in lantern made of paper, That far off like a star did appear: This Sidrophel by chance espy'd, And, with amazement staring wide, Bless us! quoth he, what dreadful wonder 425 A comet, and without a beard! Of all those beasts, and fish, and fowl, With which, like Indian plantations, The learned stock the constellations; It must be supernatural, Unless it be that cannon-ball That, shot i' th' air point-blank upright, 430 435 That learn'd philosophers maintain It ne'er came backwards down again, Hangs, like the body of Mahomet :) 440 For if it be above the shade That by the earth's round bulk is made, 'Tis probable it may from far 145 Appear no bullet, but a star. This said, he to his engine flew, Plac'd near at hand, in open view, And rais'd it till it levell'd right Against the glow-worm tail of kite. Then peeping through, Bless us! (quoth he) It is a planet now, I see; 450 And, if I err not, by his proper Figure, that's like tobacco-stopper, It should be Saturn: yea, 'tis clear 455 'Tis Saturn, but what makes him there? He's got between the Dragon's tail And farther leg behind o' th' Whale; And can no less than the world's end, 460 With that he fell again to pry Breaking, down fell the star. Well shot, To make our best advantage of it, This feat fell out not long before The Knight, upon the forenam'd score, Was now in prospect of the mansion; 465 470 475 480 485 |