V. 760. That ply i'th Temples, under trees.] Oldham, in his Imitation of the 13th Satire of Juvenal, alludes to this practice :"In Temple walks, or Smithfield, never fail Of plying rogues that set their souls to sale To the best passenger that bids a price, And make their livelihood of perjuries: For God's sake, why are you so delicate, And think it hard to share the common fate?" V. 762. About the cross-legg'd knights, their hosts.] The knights of the post, and such like profligate characters, who frequented the Temple walks, are represented as guests of cross-legged knights, for this reason, that the Temple formerly belonged to the Knights Hospitallers of the order of St. John of Jerusalem, whose effigies on their monuments are represented in a recumbent posture, with their legs crossed. V. 785. To bait a letter, as you bid.] The Knight here determines to pursue the advice which Ralpho originally gave him, though at the time he rejected it; and having paid the lawyer his fee, a point which men of the law seldom fail to look closely into, the Canto concludes, promising to acquaint us with the contents of the Heroical Epistle, which, equally urged by the Squire, the Lawyer, and his own passion, he resolves to send to his mistress. AN HEROICAL EPISTLE OF HUDIBRAS TO HIS LADY. I WHO was once as great as Cæsar, Am now reduc'd to Nebuchadnezzar ; And from as fam'd a conqueror As ever took degree in war, Or did his exercise in battle, By you turn'd out to grass with cattle: For since I am deny'd access To all my earthly happiness, Am fallen from the paradise 5 Of your good graces and fair eyes; 10 Lost to the world, and you, I'm sent To everlasting banishment, Where all the hopes I had to 've won Your heart, being dash'd, will break my own. 15 Yet if you were not so severe To pass your doom before you hear, You'd find, upon my just defence, How much ye've wrong'd my innocence. That once I made a vow to you, Which yet is unperform'd, 'tis true; 20 But not because it is upaid, "Tis violated, though delay'd: Or, if it were, it is no fault So heinous as you'd have it thought, To undergo the loss of ears, Like vulgar hackney perjurers: For there's a difference in the case Between the noble and the base; Who always are observ'd t' have done 't Upon as different an account; The one for great and weighty cause, To salve, in honour, ugly flaws; 25 30 For none are like to do it sooner Than those who're nicest of their honour : The other, for base gain and pay, 35 Forswear and perjure by the day, To say he naturally abhorr'd Th' old-fashion'd trick, to keep his word, Though 'tis perfidiousness and shame, In meaner men, to do the same : For to be able to forget Is found more useful to the great Than gout, or deafness, or bad eyes, To make them pass for wond'rous wise. Inflicts the forfeiture of ears, It is not just, that does exempt The guilty, and punish th' innocent; And, when one member is forsworn, For he that for his lady's sake Lays down his life, or limbs, at stake, 40 45 50 55 60 Does not so much deserve her favour, you Are to be judg'd how far th' engage ; 65 70 3 Are found void and of none effect; For no man takes or keops a vow But just as he sees others do; As not to yield and bow a little : For as best temper'd blades are found, And, though they bow, are breaking proof. In love a greater latitude ? For as the law of arms approves All ways to conquest, so should love's 75 80 ; 85 |