But howsoe'er they make a pother,
The difference was so small, his brain

tain of Hudibras's being mounted on horseback like a knight (as he is copied from the moon in fig. 3),

there are allusions to the wandering motions
which luminary was held by the ancients to
(as evidenced by Plin. Nat. Hist. passim).

As white-pot, buttermilk, 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,

The cupboard where he kept his meat.
His doublet was of sturdy buff,

And though 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.
Through they were lined with many a piece
Of ammunition bread and cheese,

300

305

310

And fat black-puddings, proper food

315

For warriors that delight in blood.

For, as we said, he always chose

To carry vittle in his hose,

That often tempted rats and mice

The ammunition to surprise :

320

299. This line is referable to the comparative whiteness or lightness of some parts of Hudibras's prominent belly; and the 306th to the marks or wheals thereon (which constitute that whiteness), as if made by the blows of a cudgel; the resemblance of a cudgel being visible in the moon, in front of his person there.

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, 325

Ne'er left the fortify'd redoubt.

And though knights errant, as some think,

Of old did neither eat nor drink,

-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.
His puissant sword unto his side,
Near his undaunted heart, was ty'd;
With basket-hilt, that would hold broth,
And serve for fight and dinner both.

319. The likeness of a rat and a mouse, as given in Fig. 4.

347

350

may be seen in the moon (in pale light), near the arm of Hudibras.

354. It may now be necessary to state, that the com

In it he melted lead for bullets,

355

To shoot at foes and sometimes pullets;

To whom he bore so fell a grutch,

He ne'er gave quarter t' any such.
The trenchant blade, Toledo trusty,
For want of fighting was grown rusty,
And ate into itself, for lack

Of some body to hew and hack.
The peaceful scabbard where it dwelt,
The rancour of its edge had felt;
For of the lower end two handful
It had devoured, 'twas so manful,

360

365

mon principle which I find adopted by all the ancient writers, (namely, that of conceiving the same thing to represent many different things, according to the resemblances to different objects which fancy may ascribe to it) is the governing principle also throughout this Poem. The basket-hilt of the Knight's sword, for instance, represented in Fig. 5.