That done, a while they made a halt,
To view the ground, and where t’ assault:  420
Then call’d a council, which was best,
By siege or onslaught, to invest
The enemy; and ’twas agreed,
By storm and onslaught to proceed. 
This b’ing resolv’d, in comely sort 425
They now drew up t’ attack the fort;
When Hudibras, about to enter
Upon another-gates adventure,
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, blot 435
The glory he had newly got;
For 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,
The foe appear’d, drawn up and drill’d, 445
Ready to charge them in the field. 
This somewhat startled the bold Knight,
Surpriz’d with th’ unexpected sight. 
The bruises of his bones and flesh
The 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 appears 455
As if they had out-run their fears. 
The glory we did lately get,
The Fates command us to repeat;
And to their wills we must succumb,
Quocunque trahunt, ’tis our doom. 460
This is the same numeric crew
Which we so lately did subdue;
The self-same individuals that
Did run as mice do from a cat,
When we courageously did wield 465
Our martial weapons in the field
To tug for victory; and when
We shall our shining blades agen
Brandish in terror o’er our heads,
They’ll straight resume their wonted dreads. 470
Fear is an ague, that forsakes
And haunts by fits those whom it takes: 
And they’ll opine they feel the pain
And blows they felt to-day again. 
Then let us boldly charge them home, 475
And make no doubt to overcome.

This said, his courage to inflame,
He call’d upon his mistress’ name. 
His pistol next he cock’d a-new,
And out his nut-brown whinyard drew; 480
And, placing Ralpho in the front,
Reserv’d himself to bear the brunt,
As expert warriors use:  then ply’d
With iron heel his courser’s side,
Conveying sympathetic speed 485
From heel of Knight to heel of Steed.