Of deeds, not words, and such as suit
Another manner of dispute:
A controversy that affords
Actions for arguments, not words; 870
Which we must manage at a rate
Of prowess and conduct, adequate
To what our place and fame doth promise,
And all the godly expect from us.
Nor shall they be deceived, unless 875
W' are slurr'd and outed by success;
Success, the mark no mortal wit
Or surest hand can always hit:
For whatsoe'er we perpetrate,
We do but row, w' are steer'd by fate,[1] 880
Which in success oft disinherits,
For spurious causes, noblest merits.
Great actions are not always true sons
Of great and mighty resolutions;
Nor do the bold'st attempts bring forth 885
Events still equal to their worth;
But sometimes fail, and in their stead
Fortune and cowardice succeed.
Yet we have no great cause to doubt,
Our actions still have borne us out; 890
Which, tho' they're known to be so ample,
We need not copy from example;
We're not the only persons durst
Attempt this province, nor the first.
In northern clime a val'rous knight[2] 895
Did whilom kill his bear in fight,
And wound a fiddler: we have both
Of these the objects of our wroth,
And equal fame and glory from
Th' attempt, or victory to come. 900
- ↑ Tho Presbyterians were great fatalists, and set up the doctrine of predestination to meet all contingencies.
- ↑ Hudibras encourages himself by two precedents; first, that of a gentleman who killed a bear and wounded a fiddler; and secondly, that of Sir Samuel Luke, who had often, as a magistrate, been engaged in similar adventures.
