string or wind.
His grisly beard was long and thick,
With which he strung his Fiddle-stick;
For he to horse-tail scorned to owe
For what on his own chin did grow.

. . . . .

And now the field of death, the lists,
Were enter'd by antagonists,
And blood was ready to be broach'd,
When Hudibras in haste approach'd
With Squire and weapons, to attack 'em;
But first thus from his horse bespoke 'em,
'What rage, O citizens! What fury
Doth you to these dire actions hurry?

. . . . .

In name of King and Parliament
I charge ye all--no more foment.

. . . . .

... first surrender
The Fiddler as the prime offender,
Th' incendiary vile, that is chief
Author and engineer of mischief;
That makes division between friends
For profane and malignant ends.[4]
He and that engine of vile noise
On which illegally he plays,[5]
Shall (_dictum factum_) both be brought
To condign punishment, as they ought.'

. . . . .

This said he clapped his hand on sword,
To show he meant to keep his word.

. . . . .

He drew up all his force into
One body and into one blow.

. . . . .

The Knight, with all its weight, fell down

. . . . .

Like a feather bed betwixt a wall
And heavy brunt of cannon ball.

. . . . .

Crowdero only kept the field,
Not stirring from the place he held;
Though beaten down and wounded sore,
I' th' Fiddle, and a leg that bore
One side of him--not that of bone,
But much its better, th' wooden one.
He spying Hudibras lie strew'd
Upon the ground, like log of wood,

. . . . .

In haste he snatch'd the wooden limb
That, hurt in th' ankle, lay by him,
And, fitting it for sudden fight,
Straight drew it up, t' attack the Knight;

. . . . .

Vowing to be reveng'd, for breach
Of Crowd and skin, upon the wretch,[6]
Sole author of all detriment
He and his Fiddle underwent.

. . . . .

When Ralpho thrust himself between,
He took the blow upon his arm,
To