She first consider’d which was better,
To send it back, or burn the letter. 
But guessing that it might import, 355
Though nothing else, at least her sport,
She open’d it, and read it out,
With many a smile and leering flout: 
Resolv’d to answer it in kind,
And thus perform’d what she design’d. 360

Notes on HUDIBRAS’s epistle to his lady.

113 e Or who but Lovers can converse, &c.] Metaphysicians are of opinion, that angels and souls departed, being divested of all gross matter, understand each other’s sentiments by intuition, and consequently maintain a sort of conversation without the organs of speech.

121 f Or Heav’n itself a Sin resent, &c.] In regard children are capable of being inhabitants of Heaven, therefore it should not resent it as a crime to supply store of inhabitants for it.

173 g You wound like Parthians while you fly, &c.] Parthians are the inhabitants of a province in Persia:  They were excellent horsemen, and very exquisite at their bows; and it is reported of them, that they generally slew more on their retreat than they did in the engagement.

188 h Than Philip Nye’s Thanksgiving Beard ] One of the Assembly of Divines, very remarkable for the singularity of his beard.

237 i To what a Height did Infant Rome, &c.] When Romulus had built Rome, he made it an asylum, or place of refuge, for all malefactors, and others obnoxious to the laws to retire to; by which means it soon came to be very populous; but when he began to consider, that, without propagation, it would soon be destitute of inhabitants, he invented several fine shows, and invited the young Sabine women, then neighbours to them; and when they had them secure, they ravished them; from whence proceeded so numerous an offspring.

252 k Till Alimony or Death them parts.] Alimony is an allowance that the law gives the woman for her separate maintenance upon living from her husband.  That and death are reckoned the only separations in a married state.

THE LADY’S ANSWER TO THE KNIGHT.

That you’re a beast, and turn’d to grass,
Is no strange news, nor ever was;
At least to me, who once you know,
Did from the pound replevin you,
When both your sword and spurs were won 5
In combat by an Amazon. 
That sword, that did (like Fate) determine
Th’ inevitable death of vermine,
And never dealt its furious blows,
But cut the throats of pigs and cows, 10
By TRULLA was, in single fight,
Disarm’d and wrested from its knight;
Your heels degraded of your spurs,
And in the stocks close prisoners;
Where still they’d lain, in base restraint, 15
If I, in pity of your complaint,
Had not on honourable conditions,