Mean while the foe, with equal rage
And speed, advancing to engage,
Both parties now were drawn so close,
Almost to come to handy-blows; 490
When ORSIN first let fly a stone
At Ralpho:  not so huge a one
As that which DIOMED did maul
Aeneas on the bum withal
Yet big enough if rightly hurl’d, 495
T’ have sent him to another world,
Whether above-ground, or below,
Which Saints Twice Dipt are destin’d to. 
The danger startled the bold Squire,
And made him some few steps retire. 500
But Hudibras advanc’d to’s aid,
And rouz’d his spirits, half dismay’d. 
He wisely doubting lest the shot
Of th’ enemy, now growing hot,
Might at a distance gall, press’d close, 505
To come pell-mell to handy-blows,
And, that he might their aim decline,
Advanc’d still in an oblique line;
But prudently forbore to fire,
Till breast to breast he had got nigher, 510
As expert warriors use to do
When hand to hand they charge their foe. 
This order the advent’rous Knight,
Most soldier-like, observ’d in fight,
When fortune (as she’s wont) turn’d fickle, 515
And for the foe began to stickle. 
The more shame for her Goody-ship,
To give so near a friend the slip. 
For Colon, choosing out a stone,
Levell’d so right, it thump’d upon 520
His manly paunch with such a force,
As almost beat him off his horse. 
He lost his whinyard, and the rein;
But, laying fast hold of the mane,
Preserv’d his seat; and as a goose 525
In death contracts his talons close,
So did the Knight, and with one claw
The trigger of his pistol draw. 
The gun went off:  and as it was
Still fatal to stout Hudibras, 530
In all his feats of arms, when least
He dreamt of it, to prosper best,
So now he far’d:  the shot, let fly
At random ’mong the enemy,
Pierc’d TALGOL’s gaberdine, and grazing 535
Upon his shoulder, in the passing,
Lodg’d in MAGNANO’s brass habergeon,
Who straight, A Surgeon, cry’d, A Surgeon. 
He tumbled down, and, as he fell,
Did Murther, Murther, Murther, yell. 540
This startled their whole body so,
That if the Knight had not let go
His arms, but been in warlike plight,
H’ had won (the second time) the fight;
As, if the Squire had but fall’n on, 545
He had inevitably done: 
But he, diverted with the care
Or Hudibras his hurt, forbare
To press th’ advantage of his fortune
While danger did the rest dishearten:  550
For he with CERDON b’ing engag’d
In close encounter, they both wag’d