Which still he had a special care

To keep well cramm'd with thrifty fare;

As white-pot, butter-milk, and curds,

Such as a country-house affords ;

With other victual, which anon

We farther shall dilate upon,

When of his hose we come to treat,

300

The cupboard where he kept his meat.
His doublet was of sturdy buff,
And tho' not sword, yet cudgel-proof;
Whereby 'twas fitter for his use,

Who fear'd no blows, but such as bruise.

His breeches were of rugged woollen,
And had been at the siege of Bullen;

To old King Harry so well known,
Some writers held they were his own.
Thro' they were lin'd with many a piece,
Of ammunition bread and cheese,

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310

And when he put a hand but in
The one or t'other magazine,
They stoutly in defence on't stood,

And from the wounded foe drew blood;?

And till th' were storm'd and beaten out,
Ne'er left the fortify'd redoubt,

325

And tho' Knights-Errant, as some think,
Of old did neither eat nor drink,

'Tis false for Arthur wore in hall
Round table like a farthingal,
On which, with shirt pull'd out behind,
And eke before, his good knights din'd :
Though 'twas no table, some suppose,
But a huge-pair of round trunk-hose ;
In which he carried as much meat
As he and all the knights could eat,

340

When laying by their swords and truncheons, 345

They took their breakfasts or their nuncheons. But let that pass at present, lest

We should forget where we digrest ;

As learned authors use, to whom

We leave it, and to th' purpose come.

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His puissant sword unto his side,

Near his undaunted heart was ty'd;

With basket-hilt, that would hold broth,

In many desperate attempts,

Of warrants, exigents, contempts,

It had appear'd with courage bolder

Than Sergeant Bum invading shoulder,
Oft had it ta'en possession,

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And pris'ners too, or made them run.

This sword a dagger had t' his page,

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That was but little for his age;

And therefore waited on him so,

As dwarfs upon knights-errants do.
It was a serviccable dudgeon,
Either for fighting or for drudging.
When it had stabb'd, or broke a head,

It would scrape trenchers, or chip bread ;
Toast cheese or bacon, though it were

To bait a mousetrap, 'twould not care.

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"Twould make clean shoes, and in the earth 385

Set leeks and onions, and so forth.

слышей

It had been 'prentice to a brewer,
Where this and more it did endure;
But left the trade as many more
Have lately done on the same score,
In th' holsters at his saddle bow
Two aged pistols he did stow,

C

390

Among the surplus of such meat

As in his hose he could not get.

These would inveigle rats with th' scent,
To forage when the cocks were bent ;
And sometimes catch them with a snap,
As cleverly as th' ablest trap.

They were upon hard duty still,

And every night stood centinel,

To guard the magazine i' th' hose,

From two-legg'd, and from four-legg'd foes.

Thus clad and fortify'd, Sir Knight,

From peaceful home set forth to fight.

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400

With so much vigour, strength, and heat,

That he had almost tumbled over

415

With his own weight; but did recover,