Page:Hudibras - Volume 1 (Butler, Nash, Bohn; 1859).djvu/75

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CANTO I.]
HUDIBRAS.
21

The beast was sturdy, large, and tall,
With mouth of meal, and eyes of wall;
I would say eye, for h' had but one, 425
As most agree, though some say none.
He was well stay'd, and in his gait,
Preserv'd a grave, majestic state.
At spur or switch no more he skipt.
Or mended pace, than Spaniard whipt:[1] 430
And yet so fiery, he would bound,
As if he grieved to touch the ground:
That Cæsar's horse, who, as fame goes,
Had corns upon his feet and toes,[2]
Was not by half so tender-hooft, 435
Nor trod upon the ground so soft:
And as that beast would kneel and stoop,
Some write, to take his rider up:[3]
So Hudibras his, 'tis well known.
Would often do, to set him down. 440
We shall not need to say what lack
Of leather was upon his back:
For that was hidden under pad,
And breech of Knight gall'd full as bad.
His strutting ribs on both sides show'd 445
Like furrows he himself had plow'd:
For underneath the skirt of pannel,
'Twixt every two there was a channel.
His draggling tail hung in the dirt,
Which on his rider he would flirt, 450
Still as his tender side he prickt,
With arm'd heel, or with unarm'd, kickt:
For Hudibras wore but one spur.
As wisely knowing, could he stir

  1. This alludes to Sir Roger l'Estrange's story of a Spaniard, who was condemned to run the gauntlet, and disdained to avoid any part of the punishment by mending his pace.
  2. Suetonius relates, that the hoofs of Cæsar's horse were divided like human toes. See also Montfaucon, Antiquité expliquée, vol. ii. p. 58.
  3. Stirrups were not in use in the time of Caesar. Common persons, who were active and hardy, vaulted into their seats; and persons of distinction had their horses taught to hend down towards the ground, or else they were assisted by their equerries.