When Hudibras, about to enter
Upon anothergates adventure,[1]
To Ralpho call'd aloud to arm,
Not dreaming of approaching storm.430
Whether dame Fortune, or the care
Of angel bad, or tutelar,
Did arm, or thrust him on a danger,
To which he was an utter stranger,
That foresight might, or might not, blot435
The glory he had newly got;
Or to his shame it might be said,
They took him napping in his bed:
To them we leave it to expound,
That deal in sciences profound.440
His courser scarce he had bestrid,
And Ralpho that on which he rid,
When setting ope the postern gate,
Which they thought best to sally at,[2]
The foe appear'd, drawn up and drill'd445
Ready to charge them in the field.
This somewhat startled the bold Knight,
Surpris'd with th' unexpected sight:
The bruises of his bones and flesh
He thought began to smart afresh;450
Till recollecting wonted courage,
His fear was soon converted to rage,
And thus he spoke: The coward foe,
Whom we but now gave quarter to.
Look, yonder's rally'd, and appears455
As if they had outrun their fears;
The glory we did lately get,
The Fates command us to repeat;[3]
- ↑ That is, an adventure of another kind; so Sanderson, p. 47, third sermon ad elerum. "If we be of the spirituality, there should be in us anothergates manifestation of the spirit." The Americans, in conformity with a prevailing form, might read it "another guess."
- ↑ Variation in editions 1674 to 1704—
To take the field and sally at. - ↑ This is exactly in the style of victorious leaders. Thus Hannibal encouraged his men: "These are the same Romans whom you have beaten so often." And Octavius addressed his soldiers at Actium: "It is the same
